On Friday, April 14, 2023, Ghana, under the direction of the Ministry of Health, observed World Health Day and kicked off the yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organisation (WHO). All relevant parties pledged to intensify their cooperation with WHO to ensure that all Ghanaians have access to health care.
Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Ghana’s Minister of Health, who oversaw the launch in Accra, emphasised the crucial part WHO has played in advancing Ghana’s health sector agenda over the years and reaffirmed Ghana’s ongoing support for the group in its efforts to promote health for all.
“Over the years WHO has set the public health agenda, developed and promoted norms and standards and spearheaded efforts to strengthen health systems, eliminate, eradicate and control diseases,” remarked Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu. The Ghanaian government hopes for an even more fruitful partnership with WHO in order to completely implement the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
Dr. Francis Kasolo, the WHO representative in Ghana, praised the partnership between Ghana and WHO for strengthening the health system and advancing the achievement of UHC and Sustainable Development Goal 3.
According to Dr. Kasolo, “WHO and Ghana have worked together over the years to strengthen health security, create resilient health systems, and effectively combat both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.” Therefore, this 75th anniversary is an opportunity to consider past achievements in public health and to work together in a united manner to find answers to current problems.
Professor Fred Binka, Foundation Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, asked for stronger support from member nations and partners during a public presentation on the topic “WHO yesterday, today, and the future” to strengthen WHO’s leadership in global public health.
Given the new global public health issues, Professor Fred Binka stressed that the world needs WHO more than before. To ensure that the WHO is independent and runs efficiently and effectively so that it can continue to carry out its mandate, member states and partners must step up their contributions.
Diplomats, government agency leaders, development partners, United Nations agency heads in Ghana, former and present WHO employees, and other stakeholders attended the event.
The launch of initiatives inviting the government, partners, and the public to share their tales of what health means to them will take place during Ghana’s year-long anniversary celebration. In order to jointly celebrate public health accomplishments and draw attention to the pertinent issues slowing the expansion of universal health coverage (UHC) and health-related SDGs, special monthly topics will be determined in accordance with the global Health Days planning.