The Ghanaian office of the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that it is still dedicated to cooperating with all stakeholders to support Ghana's health sector priorities in order to provide the best possible level of health for all Ghanaians.

The improvement of Ghana's UHC service coverage index from 35 in 2010 to 47.8 in 2021 was cited as evidence that the country had achieved substantial progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), but it was crucial that those gains be maintained by following Ghana's UHC roadmap.

These guarantees were made in a statement that Sayibu Ibrahim Suhuyini, WHO Ghana's communications officer, signed and released in Accra to commemorate the organization's 75th birthday, which falls on Friday, April 7.

WHO formation

In 1948, countries of the world came together and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being.

Working with 194 member states across six regions and on the ground in more than 150 offices, WHO envisions a world where Health for All is realized. The theme for the celebration is Health for All.

Health for All

The statement said, at the heart of Health for All was the attainment of UHC through primary health, and where people could have access to affordable, equitable, good quality and sustainable health care.

It said in Ghana, around 36.2 per cent of health expenditure came out of people's pockets and as a result, significant number of persons continued to be pushed further below the poverty line due to spending on health.

It, therefore, called for national health strategies to position primary health care as the entry point into a health system which not only treated ill health, but also prevented illnesses and promoted good health, thereby reducing the need for more expensive curative services.

It said the right to health was a basic human right that promoted health and wellbeing, dignity, and a good quality of life for everyone, despite who they were, where they lived or what they do.

Anniversary

Touching on the anniversary, the statement quoted the WHO Representative in Ghana, Dr Francis Kasolo as saying that, it was an opportunity for them to reflect on the remarkable achievements of their collective efforts to advance the health and wellbeing of the people of Ghana.

"It is also the chance for us to rally around a common agenda and strengthen our commitment to tackle emerging health challenges towards achieving health for all,” it said.

Support to Ghana

The statement mentioned some of WHO's support to Ghana to include technical and financial support in building a resilient health system that was capable of withstanding shocks.

It said the WHO had also extended support in the fight against diseases, leading to the interruption of wild poliovirus as well as the elimination of Guinea worm, Trachoma, Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and Neonatal Tetanus as public health problems.

The organization, it further stated, had assisted the country in the development of strategic documents such as the National Action Plan for Health Security, National strategy on non-communicable diseases including Mental Health, Comprehensive Multi-Year Plan for the Expanded Programme on Immunization and the National Innovative Health Financing Strategy.

On immunisation, the statement said in contrast to the global immunisation picture, in Ghana, 1.24 million children received the third dose of the Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus (DPT) containing vaccine in 2022 compared to the 1.17 million children who received the same vaccine in 2019.

This, it described as remarkable performance adding that, it was achieved through concerted support provided by WHO and other partners to sustain the delivery of essential services, including immunization.