Message of Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, on World Health Day 2018

Today 7 April, on its 70th anniversary, the World Health Organization celebrates World Health Day by drawing global attention to this year’s theme, “Universal health coverage (UHC): everyone, everywhere”. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978 which called for health for all by the year 2000. 

Over the past 70 years, there have been major advances in health and health technology, including life-saving medicines for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, hypertension and diabetes. In the African Region, health outcomes have been improved through strategies such as distributing insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria, and vaccinating against the human papillomavirus which causes cervical cancer.