(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI, 16th December, 2018 (WAM) -- Health is a fundamental source of happiness for any human being. Any amount of wealth may prove worthless for an ailing individual, an editorial in a local English language daily has said.
The editorial, in today's edition of The Gulf Today, said, "Hence, it is sad to note that the International Universal Health Coverage Day passed by on 12th December, without many people even realising it."
In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution urging countries to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage, UHC, - the proposal that everyone, everywhere should have access to quality, affordable health care - as an essential priority for international development.
"The idea is to raise awareness of the need for strong health systems and universal health coverage with multi-stakeholder partners," added the editorial comment, noting, "A vast section of the world population still lacks coverage for even the most essential health services."
Primary health care plays a vital role in bringing health services closer to people's homes and communities, thereby improving access. In October, 1,200 delegates from 120 countries gathered in Astana, Kazakhstan, for a Global Conference on Primary Health Care.
"They adopted the Declaration of Astana, vowing to strengthen their primary health care systems as an essential step towards UHC," the local daily further explained, quoting Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, World Health Organisation Regional Director for Europe, assaying during the conference that the Declaration of Astana is a call to step up action, which should empower the world to make primary health care a reality in all our countries.
Active lifestyle is an antidote to health issues and Dubai deserves praise for putting much effort on this front. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, has been actively implementing the vision to make sport a way of life in the Emirate.
Dubai has several programmes geared towards motivating individuals and institutions to embrace a physically active lifestyle. The Hamdan bin Mohammed Order of Merit for Sports Education School is one such initiative that focuses on schools and aims to spread health and happiness among school children through the practice of sports.
The Dubai Fitness Challenge the flagship fitness movement Sheikh Hamdan launched in 2017, is the world's only city-wide initiative of its kind that promotes an active lifestyle and long-term wellness and features a varied line-up of fun, social and entertaining fitness activities.
"World leaders should take proactive action and work towards making bigger and smarter investments in health. All sectors involved should commit to help move the world closer to UHC by 2030 as envisaged," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.
WAM/Esraa Ismail
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