Health Ministry, WHO form Solidarity Human Chain as part of World Health Day celebrations

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along with World Health Organization (WHO) on April 4, 2019, formed a Solidarity Human Chain as part of the World Health Day celebrations to reaffirm their commitment to bridging gaps and working collaboratively towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The theme of World Health Day 2019 is Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere. Speaking at the function, Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary (Health), stated that this event emphasises our commitment to ensure all people and communities have access to quality healthcare services, where and when they are required, without suffering financial hardship. She also administered the solidarity pledge to work towards making universal health care available to everyone, everywhere.

Manoj Jhalani (AS&MD), Dr S Venkatesh, DGHS, Dr Henk Bekedam, WHO Representative India, along with other senior officers of the Ministry and representatives from WHO were also present at the function.

Secretary (Health) Sudan stated that Ayushman Bharat has two components – Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) for Primary Health Care and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) for secondary and tertiary care. These components are linked to address the major challenges of ensuring continuum of care, two-way referral system and gatekeeping. She said that the government is committed to strengthening 1,50,000 health facilities as Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) which will deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care closer to where people live in the rural and urban areas.

“As of today, more than 17,000 HWCs are operational across the country and are providing services for non-communicable diseases in addition to existing services for reproductive and child health, communicable diseases etc,” Ms Sudan elaborated.

Speaking at the event, World Health Organization Representative to India Dr Henk Bekedam said, “A well-equipped primary health care delivery system is the key to achieving universal health coverage. This will require bringing quality care closer to people; strengthening peripheral health centres with linkages to secondary and tertiary care; and equipping primary health care providers to effectively deliver a package of preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services.”

April 7 of each year marks the celebration of World Health Day. This year’s World Health Day will focus on equity and solidarity, according to a PIB release.