It Takes Solidarity to Win the War Against COVID-19 and Achieve Health and Well-Being For All

Our health and well-being are under siege.

Coronavirus, together with a host of other infectious diseases that appeared  in recent years, are threatening to reverse the gains made around the world in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sustainable development cannot be achieved without ensuring healthy lives and well-being of all people.

Since its inception, the United Nations has been actively involved in promoting and protecting health worldwide. Leading that effort within the UN system is the World Health Organization (WHO), whose creation came into force on 7 April 1948 - a date that we now celebrate every year as the World Health Day.

Today, WHO is still spearheading the response against diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cancer and emerging diseases  such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), Ebola, Zika virus and, more recently, COVID-19.

It is a daunting task. One that requires the cooperation of many other partners, including Governments, private sector, civil society, academia, media, faith-based groups and others.

Significant progress in health and well-being has been achieved over the years. For example, globally, 17,000 fewer children than in 1990 die each day from preventable diseases. However, despite this progress, more than five million of them continue to die before their fifth birthday each year. Four out of five child deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia: a tragic statistic.

Eswatini has also made progress in this area. Infant mortality rate was reduced from 80 per 1,000 live births in 2012 to 67 in 2014. Increasing immunization coverage for children under the age of five, and the introduction of new vaccines, have contributed to this progress.

World leaders have committed to reducing the infant mortality rate to 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030. It remains a daunting task for all countries but one that needs to be achieved if we are to ensure healthy lives for all people at all ages. One preventable child death is one too many.

Mothers who die from pregnancy complications or childbirth is also another area of concern. Globally, the maternal mortality rate has fallen by 37 percent since 2000 while antenatal care offered to mothers in developing regions has increased from 65 percent in 1990 to 83 percent in 2012. However, mothers in developing regions are 14 times more likely to die from childbirth than mothers in developed countries.

Eswatini has also made significant progress with its maternal mortality rate falling from 593 per 100,000 childbirths in 2012 to 474 per 100,000 childbirths in 2017. This is still quite far from the 70 deaths per 100,000 childbirths target of the SDGs.

The Government, with support from the United Nations and partners, continues to strengthen maternal health services by rehabilitating maternity units in hospitals and constructing health centres and clinics. The capacity of healthcare workers and community health motivators continues to be strengthened to ensure safe pregnancies and deliveries.   

Prevalence in HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis has stabilised; however, Eswatini  is experiencing an increase in noncommunicable diseases which resulted in about 12% of total deaths between 2013 and 2017.  The UN and partners continue to support the Kingdom towards its commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2022.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is paramount in achieving overall health and well-being. However, half of the global population still does not have access to essential health services. At a time when the world fights COVID-19, termed by the UN Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres, as: “the worst global crisis since World War II”, ensuring access by all to medical and health services is critical in enabling recovery for all and curbing the spread of the deadly disease.

Over 2.6 million COVID-19 infections have been reported worldwide with over 180,000 deaths. However, more than 700,00 people have recovered: an important statistic to acknowledge in consideration of access to essential medical services. The COVID-19 crisis calls for solidarity across the globe and a sustained focus on the SDGs, particularly SDG3.   

COVID-19 has increased vulnerability of high risk groups, including pregnant mothers, young children, elderly, women and girls, people with disabilities, LGBTQIs, migrants, sex workers and those living in confined spaces such as detention centres.

In these hard times for everyone, we continue to strive to “Leave No One Behind”, as guided by agenda 2030. The UN and partners continue to advocate for the rights of vulnerable groups to be recognized and respected during this COVID-19 crisis.

In homage with our brave and selfless healthcare workers and in order for us to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, it is up to us, as individuals, to play our part and do our very best to prevent the spread of the virus. Don’t underestimate the power that you have: you are important warrior in our battle against COVID-19. Start by washing your hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer, coughing or sneezing into a flexed elbow, remaining one to two metres apart from others, and following Government’s regulations during the lockdown period.

As the UN, we stand in solidarity with the people of Eswatini, Government, and our partners. We continue to strive for a people-centered response to COVID-19 by protecting health workers who are in the frontlines of the response, engaging with communities, respecting human rights and inclusion, fighting for gender equality and dignity for all.

The humanitarian and socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 are vast, unforeseen and many remain unknown. In response to the need to address humanitarian needs in the pandemic, the UN, National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Government and humanitarian partners are working closely to deliver a National Humanitarian Response Plan, aiming to ensure that nobody is left behind in the pandemic and, in turn, in the achievement of Agenda 2030.

The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming. However, if we stand in solidarity with one another, we can beat it! The United Nations in Eswatini will continue to serve the people of Eswatini throughout the crisis and beyond, delivering as ONE UN and working closely with the Government and partners. We will strive to keep our promises for the people and the planet.

In this Decade of Action, let us stand together to fight all threats to our health and well-being. Let us continue to ensure healthy lives and well-being of people of all ages by 2030.