Messages for World Health Day 2005
Message 4
In order to make a difference, we must all join forces and act. Together we can do it. Each one of us has a role to play.
Even though we know what to do, global progress has stagnated in improving the survival and well-being of mothers and children. At the current pace, it would take more than 150 years to reduce child mortality by two-thirds in sub-Saharan Africa alone. Rapid and coordinated action is needed to reach every mother and child with an essential and affordable package of proven interventions. This action will require strengthened political and technical leadership, and commitment of financial resources. It will also require concentrated efforts to recruit, train and deploy sufficient numbers of skilled health care providers.
Everyone is responsible for making a difference.
Source: Ahmad, Lopez, Inoue (2000)
Global trends in under-five mortality, 1960–2000, with projections to 2015
Note: Recent trends extended to 2015; linear trend needed to achieve a two-thirds reduction from 1990 levels.
Note: Recent trends extended to 2015; linear trend needed to achieve a two-thirds reduction from 1990 levels.
- The global community. International aid and global health policy must support coordinated action across different programmes and sectors. This can be done by working in global partnerships around commonly agreed principles and goals, maximizing the allocation and use of available resources, addressing the growing crisis in the lack of trained health workers, and strengthening the implementation of programmes. The global community can also promote the sharing of knowledge, skills and experience within and between countries, as well as support south-to-south collaboration.
- Governments. National authorities can develop comprehensive policies, strategies and plans for ensuring universal access to appropriate and effective health promoting and life-saving interventions. These strategies should include ways to mobilize national partnerships, involving all appropriate sectors (e.g. education, health, legislation, social welfare), that aim to bring health services closer to communities, as well as strengthen both home care practices and health-seeking behaviour. They should include a particular focus on meeting needs for skilled health care providers, as well as generating and ensuring long-term commitment and investment, and monitoring progress.
- Other concerned parties. Nongovernmental organizations, including community-based groups, health professional bodies, academic institutions, commercial enterprises, and the mass media have crucial and complementary roles to play. These include health service delivery, recruitment and training of health personnel, health education, resource generation, and sensitizing governments and the international community to the health needs of mothers and children. The private sector, including both health and non-health related businesses and entities, comprises not only potential donors, but also potential providers of entitlements and services to their employees and communities.
- Individuals. Individuals can inform themselves of their rights and responsibilities, participate in community-level activities, and practise behaviours that ensure the health and survival of their families. Practising key health behaviours – such as eating more and healthier foods during pregnancy, breastfeeding, taking children for vaccinations, and using appropriate health services for sick children and during pregnancy – can save lives (WHO, 2003b, 2004d). Men, as decision-makers, household heads and, above all, partners, have a key role to play in promoting the health of women and children.