On World Health Day today, I am pleased to address you under the banner of this year’s theme “My Health, My Right.”
This year’s theme was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education, and information.
It tells us of the right to safe drinking water, clean air, and good nutrition.
It reminds us that quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination should be enjoyed by everyone.
This is what we must work towards.
Together, we must ensure that every person reaches their highest standard of physical and mental well-being.
We must ensure that each person’s race or religion, their political beliefs, or their economic or social conditions are no impediment to this.
On World Health Day, I would like to reiterate my vision for South-East Asia.
I envision a Region where people take a holistic approach to health and well-being and are physically and mentally empowered to achieve their full potential.
As we are reminded today, health is a basic human right. We want a Region where this right is enjoyed by everyone, starting from before birth, including the most vulnerable, and covering every community.
The manifestation of the right to health is that every person, irrespective of their circumstance or background, is entitled to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical well-being.
It transcends mere access to healthcare facilities and services and encompasses a comprehensive array of rights that enable people to lead healthy lives.
These include access to education, safe water and food, adequate housing, favorable working conditions, and a clean environment. These are the underlying determinants of health.
To fulfil this right, we need to ensure that both healthcare services and these underlying determinants are available, accessible, acceptable, and of adequate quality.
Today, it is appropriate to look back and recognise our collective achievements our South-East Asia Region. Indeed, we have much to celebrate.
Our universal health coverage service coverage index has seen significant improvement, rising from 47 (in 2010) to 62 (in 2021).
The density of medical doctors, nurses, and midwives has increased by 30.5%, reaching 28.05 per 10,000 population.
Maternal mortality has witnessed a remarkable reduction of 68.5% between 2000 and 2020. Under-five mortality rates, and neonatal mortality rates, have seen substantial declines, indicating improved child health outcomes.
Immunization coverage is improving, with most countries expected to achieve global targets by 2030.
New HIV infections and malaria incidence rates have declined significantly.
The average scores for International Health Regulations Core Capacities have shown improvement from 64 to 68 between 2015 and 2022.
Despite these successes, challenges remain.
Nearly 40% of our Region's population lacks coverage by essential health services, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government health expenditure remains unacceptably low, leading to high out-of-pocket expenses. Financial hardship in accessing basic healthcare is on the rise in several countries.
Tuberculosis continues to pose challenges, with a modest increase in TB incidence rates. Even more concerning is the 8.6% escalation in TB mortality rates in the Region in 2021, compared to 2015.
Furthermore, while the probability of death from noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases has decreased by 13% since 2000, it still remains unacceptably high at 21.6%.
Key population groups continue to face significant barriers to healthcare access, compounded by stigma related to certain health conditions such as TB, HIV/AIDS, disability, or mental health.
They also face discrimination in access to health systems based on gender, class, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. Gender inequalities persist in healthcare access and treatment. Violence against women and girls remains unfortunately pervasive.
Therefore, in addressing these challenges, we reaffirm our commitment to a human rights-based approach to health. Governments and organizations such as ours must uphold the principles of participation and accountability. As duty bearers, we must fulfil the right to health, and other human rights, and ensure their progressive realization.
Together, we must ensure that communities have a voice in decision-making processes, and that the health system is transparent and responsive to community needs.
In a world facing multiple crises, realizing the right to health is more crucial than ever.
Through increased investments in health, strengthening health systems, and the enactment of supportive policies, we can make the right to health a reality for every individual in the Region.
Let us renew our resolve to make the right to health a reality for all.
Let us set course toward a future where health is not a privilege but a promise—a promise to safeguard the dignity and well-being of everyone, everywhere.
On this World Health Day, let us not forget ‘My health, my right.’
Thank you.