Healthy life expectancy in the African region has increased on average by 10 years per person between 2000 and 2019, a World Health Organization (WHO) assessment reports. This surpasses global progress during the same period; according to the Tracking Universal Health Coverage 2022 report, healthy life expectancy increased to 56 years in 2019 from 46 in 2000. Although this number is significantly lower than the worldwide average, it offers optimism to the goal.
“The sharp rise in healthy life expectancy during the past two decades is a testament to the region’s drive for improved health and well-being of the population. At its core, it means that more people are living healthier, longer lives, with fewer threats of infectious diseases and with better access to care and disease prevention services,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “But the progress must not stall. Unless countries enhance measures against the threat of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases, the health gains could be jeopardized.”
“COVID-19 has shown how investing in health is critical to a country’s security. The better Africa can cope with pandemics and other health threats, the more our people and economies thrive. I urge governments to invest in health and be ready to tackle head on the next pathogen to come bearing down on us,” said Dr Moeti.
Source: WHO Africa. "Healthy life expectancy in Africa rises by almost ten years". https://www.afro.who.int/news/healthy-life-expectancy-africa-rises-almost-ten-years#:~:text=The%20Tracking%20Universal%20Health%20Coverage,compared%20with%2046%20in%202000. 04/08/22. [Date accessed: 04/08/22].
Edited by Adhitya Balachander
Yorumlar