Global Leaders Urge Action for Health Equity
During the ongoing fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Population and Development, global leaders emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to health services, particularly for young people and vulnerable communities. The session, running from April 7 to 11, focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages. Despite progress in reducing maternal and child mortality, speakers highlighted significant gaps in health equity that must be addressed to fulfill the right to health for everyone.
Health as a Fundamental Human Right
Catharina Jannigje Lasseur, Chair of the Commission from the Netherlands, opened the session by asserting that health is a fundamental human right, not a privilege. She acknowledged the advancements made in healthcare, such as declines in maternal and child mortality rates and increased life expectancy. However, she pointed out that many health-related targets remain unmet. Women and girls continue to face violence and lack bodily autonomy, while access to comprehensive sexuality education remains limited for many young people. Lasseur stressed the importance of creating resilient and equitable health systems that cater to individuals from birth through old age, particularly in communities affected by humanitarian crises and climate change.
The opening segment also featured remarks from several high-profile speakers, including Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, and Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Their statements reinforced the need for a collective commitment to health equity and the importance of addressing the challenges faced by marginalized populations.
Demographic Trends and Health System Challenges
The Commission’s discussions included insights from Cheryl Sawyer, Chief of the Population Trends and Analysis Branch at the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. She highlighted the varying demographic trends across the globe, noting that while some countries experience high fertility rates, others face declining birth rates. Despite these differences, all populations are moving towards longer life expectancies and smaller family sizes, a phenomenon known as “demographic transition.” Sawyer emphasized that countries are at different stages in this transition, which impacts their health system needs.
In low-income countries, where population growth is projected to continue, renewing political commitment to strengthen health systems is crucial. Sawyer warned that the rising number of births will require significant investments in public health interventions, including childhood immunizations. Furthermore, the global population aged 60 and older is expected to increase by 72% over the next 25 years, necessitating changes in health and social protection systems to accommodate the growing demand for long-term care.
Addressing Maternal Mortality and Health Barriers
Alessio Cangiano, acting Chief of the Population and Development Branch at UNFPA, emphasized the urgent need to tackle maternal mortality. He highlighted midwifery as a cost-effective healthcare delivery model, particularly in both stable and humanitarian contexts. Community health workers also play a vital role in expanding healthcare access to underserved populations, ensuring prenatal and postnatal care, and increasing vaccination rates among children.
Cangiano called for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, noting that systemic barriers still hinder many individuals, particularly women and girls, from obtaining necessary services. He stressed that providing access to modern contraception and skilled attendance at birth yields significant returns on investment in health outcomes.
Financial Priorities and Health Coverage Gaps
During the session, concerns were raised about the deprioritization of health in government budgets, particularly in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. Cangiano pointed out that promoting universal health coverage is essential for ensuring access to quality health services without financial hardship. He noted that since 2000, domestic government health expenditure as a share of GDP has remained low in many of these countries, which poses a significant barrier to achieving health equity.
Moreover, Pascale Allotey from the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that approximately half of the global population, around 4.5 billion people, lack access to essential health services. This situation forces many individuals to choose between health care and basic household survival. Allotey emphasized that progress towards universal health coverage is possible, citing successful strategies employed by countries that have effectively addressed critical health challenges.
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