Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Geneva (Agenzia Fides) - "Despite progress in some countries, by and large we are still far from universal health coverage. We are in a deadlock in the status quo where the rich have higher levels of coverage, which the majority of the poor do not have, while those who have access often have to bear high costs, sometimes disastrous, in paying for services and medicine. " This was underlined by the Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for healthcare professionals, who spoke on May 18, as Head of the Delegation of the Holy See, at the 64th World Health Assembly, in Geneva. He underlined the concern expressed by the Pope "for the millions of people without access to healthcare services," the Archbishop appealed for "a true global solidarity, in which high-income countries not only make promises, but actually carry out their commitments with regards to improving development assistance. " The solidarity between rich and poor Countries , in order to ensure universal access to health care cannot be underestimated, said Mgr. Zimowski, and stressed Pope Benedict XVI`s appeal "in the cooperation of the human family."
Regarding the Strategic Plan of WHO for HIV2011-2015, the Holy See appreciates the emphasis on the elimination of new HIV infections in children, so far lagged behind the progress made in the treatment of adults. However, the Archbishop wanted to emphasize "the importance of training to change human behavior and for a responsible life as key elements of the prevention campaign."
Finally, the Head of Delegation expressed appreciation for "the focus on prevention and control of nontransmissible diseases and lifestyles in order to reduce premature mortality and improve quality of life." He then appealed to the international community "to encourage the transfer of knowledge in the field of measures and instruments for the prevention of accidents in children in low-and middle-income countries, where there is 95% of deaths of children due to accidents, and also helps to improve emergency care services and rehabilitation for non-fatal accidents in these environments in which, among other things, long civil wars dramatically increase the incidence of injuries in children and the victims end up in facilities that often do not have the means and resources to take care of the victims.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 19/05/2011)
