Health for all is an achievable dream - Editorial in UN Special magazine for staff

Copytyped Irom May 2008 issue oI "UN Special" staII magazine, issue No. 673

Priorities

Health Ior all is an achievable dream. It could be so simple. We all seek it, we all want it, we
are all determined to reach it, to touch it, to Ieel it - poor countries, rich countries, developing
countries, developed countries. Health Ior all - how wonderIul and how very possible.
Hospitals with equipment that works; bottles oI oxygen that are Iull; a pharmacy stocked with
the most essential medicines; local dispensaries which oIIer basic health services, and, close
to home; Iacilities where deliveries guarantee healthy babies; quality care Ior the elderly and
the most vulnerable, and competitive salaries to keep health providers where they are.
Politicians, ministers oI health, academics, philanthropists, pharmas (big and small), health
proIessionals all agree it's a priority - universal health access Ior all. But then - wars, greed,
selI-interests and other priorities take charge. It could be so easy.

How hard can it be? We have quick access to guns and other killing machines. We can reach
the Moon, spend billions sending ashes into space to be buried on Mars... and yet, we still
have not been able to control and conquer preventable killer diseases such as malaria,
tuberculosis, AIDS. Some countries suIIer Irom increasing levels oI liIestyle - related
diseases linked with obesity or tobacco consumption - all preventable.

The money is there... and that is the saddest part oI all. Potential health workers are there: Pay
their studies, pay them a decent salary, respect them. Why is it that mortality oI children
under Iive is still at unacceptable levels while thousands die Irom vaccine preventable
diseases? Why is it that a child can die Irom hunger... hunger? The homeless Irom the cold?
When billions are spent on cat and dog Iood, on cosmetics, on diet pills, liposuction, Botox?
How can that be? Why is it that some heads oI state ride around in a Rolls Royce or similar
show oI ostentatiousness while children are walking bareIoot through open sewers? Why do
women have to walk Iive to ten kilometres a day just to have water - the same water which
may end up killing them and their children?

The Iollowing pages are a testimony to people who have a dream to make health accessible to
all. And dreams when they are collective, can come true.

Deputy Editor-in-ChieI
Maria Dweggah