Health Care Deprivation is Violation of Human Rights – WHO

Dr Walter Molumbo, the Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria, has said that health deprivation should be treated as a violation of human rights.

He made these remarks during a health walk organised by WHO Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja on Tuesday, commemorating the 2024 World Health Day.

World Health Day is observed annually on April 7th and serves as a global platform to draw attention to pressing health issues. The theme for the 2024 WHD is ‘My health, my right’.

Dr Molumbo said that the establishment of WHO by Member States 76 years ago was rooted in the belief that health is a fundamental human right and that any form of health deprivation should be regarded as a violation of this right.

“Today is an opportunity to remember that any health deprivation should be treated as a human rights violation. A child missing vaccination is a human rights violation. A mother dying while giving birth is not acceptable and should be treated as a human rights violation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kachollom Daju, the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said that the ministry is working with WHO to boost healthcare delivery in Nigeria, reaffirming its commitment towards raising awareness about citizens’ rights to healthcare and quality treatment.

We aim towards raising awareness about citizens’ rights to healthcare and quality treatment, and this underscores the commitment to monitor health through a human rights lens.

In the present administration of the renewed hope agenda, the health sector is being reinvigorated, it has been reengineered to ensure that we have Universal Health Coverage for all, starting from the Primary Health Care at the community level, all the way to the Tertiary level, she said.

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