NAIROBI, Nov.10 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for an inclusive platform of social participation in order to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) health targets.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO told a health forum in Nairobi via a video conference call that for the international community to achieve universal health coverage, it must prioritize the needs of those left furthest behind, including women, children and adolescents.
"WHO calls on every country to establish an inclusive platform of social participation and societal dialogue that brings together all segments of civil society, the private sector, academia, patients' groups and vulnerable populations such as poor women and children, to engage with parliaments and governments," Ghebreyesus said during the official opening of the 24th board meeting of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH).
The meeting aims to share evidence of progress and trends in women's, children's and adolescents' health in relation to the attainment of universal health coverage (UHC) and the 2030 SDG.
The PMNCH is an alliance of more than 1000 organizations in 192 countries and is administered by a secretariat hosted at the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland.
Ghebreyesus also noted that the global community cannot achieve its development goals without each other and therefore partnerships are not an option but a necessity.
Sicily Kariuki, Cabinet Secretary in Ministry of Health said that Kenya continuously strives towards fulfilling the right to equitable, accessible, quality and affordable health care to its citizens and in particular women, children and adolescents in order to meet the population needs of present and future generations.
