Ms May Ikokwu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Save Our Heritage Initiative (SOHI) on Saturday advocated for health equality and justice for all especially indigenous people.
Ikokwu made the call in an interview in Abuja in commemoration of 2022 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) with the Theme: “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”.
She said that according to World Health Organisation (WHO), a third of the world’s population does not have ready access to essential medicines.
“WHO says, unlike in high income countries, in low and middle income nations, 50 to 90 percent of the cost of medicines is paid out of the patient’s own pocket.
“The situation is exacerbated, by low rates of health coverage in many places. For example in Latin America only 35 percent of the population is covered, 10 percent in Asia and less than 8 percent in Africa,” she said.
The Culture Advocate said that Universal Declaration of Human Rights day gives an opportunity to address myriad of inequalities by closing the gaps.
She urged government and relevant stakeholders to step up acceleration of health equality by ensuring that fully functioning Primary Healthcare facilities are located close to local communities where they are most needed and also guarantee justice for all irrespective of tribe or religion.
Ikokwu said the values, and rights enshrined in the Universal Declarations of Human Rights provide guideposts for collective actions that do not leave anyone behind.
According to her, everyone must be protected whether a migrant, a person with disability, poor or out of reach indigenous people.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on Dec. 10.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the day, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language.
