On April 7, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) will be 75 years old.he anniversary, along with its 194 Member States and other partners, in calling for renewed momentum for health equity.
Seventy-five years ago, after the deadliest and most destructive war in human history, the Constitution of the World Health Organization entered into force: a treaty between the nations of the world, which recognized that health was not only a fundamental human right, but also fundamental to peace and security.
Over the past seven and a half decades, there has been extraordinary progress in protecting people from disease and destruction, including eradicating smallpox, reducing the incidence of polio by 99%, saving millions lives through child immunization, decreased maternal mortality and improved health. and well-being for millions more.
“The history of WHO demonstrates what is possible when nations come together for a common purpose,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We have much to be proud of, but much work to do to realize our founding vision of the highest attainable level of health for all people. We continue to face vast inequalities in access to health services, significant gaps in the world’s defenses against health emergencies and threats from products that harm health and the climate crisis. We can only meet these global challenges with global cooperation.”
To meet these challenges, WHO urges countries to take urgent action to protect, support and expand the health workforce as a strategic priority. Investments in education, skills and decent jobs for health must be prioritized to meet the growing demand for health and avoid a projected shortage of 10 million health workers by 2030; mainly in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO also recently announced a global education program on basic emergency care targeting 25% of nurses and midwives in 25 low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2025. This 25x25x25 emergency care program will provide nurses and midwives with the skills and competencies to make a big difference in saving lives and reducing disability.
Looking ahead to the next 75 years and near the turn of the century, a renewed commitment to health equity will be the key to addressing future health challenges. In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO roadmap to recovery includes an urgent paradigm shift towards promoting health and well-being and preventing disease by addressing its root causes and creating the conditions for May health prosper. The WHO is urging countries to deliver health by prioritizing primary health care as the basis for universal health coverage.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that protecting health is critical to our economies, societies, security, and stability. Learning from the worst pandemic in recent history, WHO stands ready to support countries around the world as they negotiate a pandemic agreement, revised International Health Regulations, and other financial, governance, and operational initiatives to prepare the world for future pandemics.
Over the past five years, WHO has invested in science and digital health, creating a Science Division headed by the Organization’s first Chief Scientist. This has come at a time when science is under sustained attack every day. Countries must protect the public from misinformation and disinformation. The future of health depends on how well we advance health through science, research, innovation, data, digital technologies, and partnerships.