2024-01-15 20:41:15
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an appeal this Monday for a total of 1.3 billion euros to protect the health of the most vulnerable populations in the 41 emergencies underway around the world in 2024.
The appeal covers emergencies that require the highest level of WHO response, with the goal of reaching more than 87 million people. It is issued in a context of crises related to armed conflicts, climate change and economic instability, which continue to fuel displacement, hunger and inequality.
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“For those facing emergency situations, the interruption of essential health services often means the difference between life and death,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“From mothers giving birth during conflict, to helping young children in drought-affected regions, to those receiving cancer treatment or dialysis, healthcare saves lives. Healthcare services are also essential to break the cycle that too often leaves communities in a dangerous situation and dependent on more emergency aid,” he added.
Support in 2024 will save lives, distribute critical health supplies and equipment, and maintain essential health services to ensure continuous care, as expressed by the WHO in a statement.
The United Nations health agency recalls that the funding supports direct access to health care for communities in hard-to-reach areas, in partnership with local organizations; as well as the effective response to monitor, share information and document outbreaks and attacks on health workers. Other important actions are maintaining existing health systems and creating resilience once morest future threats.
The appeal points out the positive value of funding to support people in humanitarian need. Every euro invested in WHO produces a return on investment of at least 32 euros.
The WHO plans to use resources to address various health emergencies.
The financing would go to the African Region, with 305 million euros; the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with 644 million; the European Region, with 167 million; the Western Pacific Region, with 13.9 million; the Southeast Asia Region, with 45 million; and the Region of the Americas, with 119 million.
“With the support of donors, we will save lives, address the critical health needs of the most vulnerable and help communities emerge from crises with greater capacity to confront future health threats. WHO appreciates all the support received in 2023 , which has allowed us to help millions of people. As we enter 2024, the solidarity and support of the international community is more needed than ever,” said Dr. Tedros.
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Likewise, in a press conference that took place this Monday, the former British Prime Minister and WHO ambassador, Gordon Brown, detailed that the WHO has identified a total of 165,700,000 men, women and children from Ukraine to Afghanistan , passing through Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, the DRC, the Horn of Africa and Haiti, which, as a result of wars, epidemics, famines, droughts or floods, “immediately need emergency medical assistance and support” .
“Whether or not we can raise this money will determine who will live and who will die over the months of this year, but we have to remember that in the cascade of crises we face, every humanitarian crisis is also a health crisis,” Brown concluded.
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For his part, the executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, Michael Ryan, has proclaimed that humanitarian aid alone is insufficient, since it requires political decisions and economic incentives.
“We know that the solutions are not just humanitarian. Political solutions are needed. Economic solutions are needed. But we, humanitarian workers, are on the front lines. We are there to preserve life and save life until there is an economic recovery longer term,” Ryan concluded.
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