According to data from the World Health Organization, some 4.6 million people (over half the world’s population) lack full access to basic health services.

With the slogan “My Health, My Right”, the World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen to celebrate its 76th birthday, bringing the focus of this year’s World Health Day on the millions of people around the world who are at risk of losing, if not already, their right to health care.

“This year’s theme was chosen to stand up for the right of everyone, everywhere, to have access to quality health services, education and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, free from discrimination,” it says on its page.

According to the WHO’s Council on Health Economics for All, while health is recognised as a human right in the constitutions of at least 140 countries, these countries do not pass and enforce in practice laws that guarantee citizens the right to access health services. “At least 4.5 billion people – more than half of the world’s population – will not be fully covered by basic health services in 2021,” the organization notes.

A life is lost every 5 seconds

On the occasion of the day, the WHO recalls disease and natural disasters as the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, but also stands by the suffering caused by human hands.

“Conflict destroys lives, bringing death, pain, hunger, and mental distress,” it says, “photographing” the recent Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars, coincidences of conflicts valued at incalculable destruction and a heavy toll of blood for civilians.

The second work of man, at the cost of one life every five seconds, is none other than air pollution from burning fossil fuels, which “is exacerbating the climate crisis while denying us the right to breathe clean air.”

“Know your rights.”

The WHO sums up the day’s message in five principles for the general population, through which it defends the right to health, even for those without a “voice” to claim it.
1. “Know your health rights”. Every person is entitled to:

-safe and quality health care, without discrimination
-protection of privacy and confidentiality of health data
-to be informed about his or her treatment and to give consent after being informed
-physical autonomy and integrity.

2. “Make decisions about your health.”

3. “Protect your right to health as a human right.” Everyone should have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without facing financial barriers. If access to health care is not possible, something is wrong. WHO proposes:

Reach out to political leaders, join health communities making demands for action, take part in petitions (e.g., collecting signatures), and participate in public debates.
Organise your community – e.g., at work, at church – and move towards agreement on what needs to change and how.
4. “Highlight the right to health as an intrinsic pillar of human rights.” Respect for the right to health requires respect for the right to access to safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working conditions, free from violence and discrimination.

5. “Defend health as a key priority”. The WHO advocates participation in health decision-making through a multitude of actions, such as participation in municipal and other local meetings and assemblies, health councils, steering groups, review committees, etc.

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