Based on present traits, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that the world will face a scarcity of 10 million well being and care staff by 2030, the director-general mentioned on Thursday.
The “most acute shortages” shall be within the poorest nations, Tedros Ghebreyesus instructed a media briefing on the group’s seventy fifth anniversary.
Noting that many well being and care staff labored in “unsafe conditions, with low pay and inadequate training” even earlier than COVID-19, Tedros mentioned: “The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the world of the immense value of health and care workers. And yet an estimated 50% of health and care workers experienced burnout during the pandemic.”
“As the world rebuilds from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are calling on all countries to protect and invest in their health and care workforce, with safe working conditions, decent pay, protection of labor rights, and protection from violence and discrimination,” he mentioned.
Speaking about WHO’s seventy fifth anniversary, which shall be marked on Friday, Tedros mentioned: “The challenges we face today are very different to those in 1948, but our vision remains unchanged: the highest possible standard of health, for all people.”
On April 7, 1948, the WHO Constitution got here into power.
“It was, and is, a landmark document,” he mentioned, including it was the primary doc in historical past to formally acknowledge well being as a human proper.
Since then, life expectancy globally has elevated from 46 to 73 years, with the most important positive factors within the poorest nations, he mentioned.
– ‘SMALLPOX ERADICATED, POLIO ON THE BRINK’
“Smallpox has been eradicated, and polio is on the brink; These are actually two of the important highlights during the 75 years of existence of the organization,” Tedros mentioned.
“Forty-two countries have eliminated malaria; The epidemics of HIV and TB have been pushed back; 47 countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease,” the WHO chief mentioned.
He additionally famous that smoking and maternal mortality has fallen by a 3rd, little one mortality has halved previously 20 years alone, whereas previously 5 years, new vaccines for Ebola and malaria have been developed and licensed.
For the previous three years, WHO has coordinated the worldwide response to the COVID-19 pandemic-“the most severe health crisis in a century,” he mentioned.
However, the WHO director-general mentioned, not less than half the world’s inhabitants nonetheless lacks entry to a number of providers like household planning, primary sanitation, or entry to a well being employee.
“Since 2000, the number of people who experience financial hardship from out-of-pocket health spending has increased by a third, to almost two billion,” Tedros mentioned.
“Noncommunicable diseases now account for more than 70% of all deaths globally. Rates of diabetes and obesity have increased dramatically, driven by unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.”
While progress in opposition to malaria and tuberculosis has stalled, air air pollution and local weather change are jeopardizing the very habitability of our planet, he continued.
Underlining that COVID-19 confirmed the remaining “serious gaps” on the planet’s defenses in opposition to epidemics and pandemics, he mentioned: “For all these reasons and more, the world needs WHO now more than ever.”
Source: www.anews.com.tr
