World Health Day : Health for all – everyone, everywhere
Universal health coverage is WHO’s number one goal. Key to achieving it is ensuring that everyone can obtain the care they need, when they need it, right in the heart of the community. Progress is being made in countries in all regions of the world.
But millions of people still have no access at all to health care. Millions more are forced to choose between health care and other daily expenses such as food, clothing and even a home.
This is why WHO is focusing on universal health coverage for this year’s World Health Day, on 7 April.
World Health Day is a chance to celebrate health and remind world leaders that everyone should be able to access the health care they need, when and where they need it. Advocacy events will be held around the world to fuel the momentum of the #HealthForAll movement and to highlight our goal of achieving a fairer, healthier world – in which no one is left behind. The focus will be on equity and solidarity – on raising the bar for health for everyone, everywhere by addressing gaps in services, and leaving no one behind. The tagline for World Health Day is: Health for all – everyone, everywhere.
Goals
- To improve understanding of universal health coverage and the importance of primary health care as its foundation.
- To spur action from individuals, policy-makers and health-care workers to make universal health care a reality for everyone.
Why universal health coverage and primary health care?
Universal health coverage means that all people have access to the quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. We believe this is possible and it starts with strong primary health care. Primary health care is a whole-of-society approach to health and wellbeing centred on the needs and preferences of individuals, families and communities. To make health for all a reality, governments need to invest in quality, accessible primary health care. Health workers need to care and advocate for patients and educate them on how to get and stay healthy. Individuals and communities need to be empowered to take care of their own health. Health is a human right. Together, we can make health for all a reality.
Calls to action
General public
- Health care is your right and the right of your family, let’s tell our leaders all people deserve quality health care.
- Talk to your local health worker about getting the information and support you need to take care of your own health and the health of your family.
- Quality health care is good for our health, good for economies and good for society. Let’s call on world leaders to make health for all a reality!
Policy-makers
- Health is a political choice; make sure it is considered in all government policies.
- More investment in primary health care is needed to make universal health coverage a reality; you can make it happen.
- This year, commit to gathering better health data so we can target resources and make changes where they are needed most.
Health workers
- You are the voice for your patients. Unite with your peers and let local leaders know that you support health for all.
- Health workers have the power to change people’s lives with quality health advice and care. Let’s make sure everyone can access the skills and expertise of health workers like you.
- Empower your patients to take care of their own health.
- You play a vital role in learning about their needs and teaching them what they can do to get and stay healthy.
Uneven access to health services drives life expectancy gaps: WHO
World Health Statistics 2019: Monitoring health for the SDGs
Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
Tokyo Declaration on Universal Health Coverage: All Together to Accelerate Progress towards UHC
