Statement on the Political Declaration on UHC
For over 60 years, FIGO has collaborated with the world's top health bodies to work towards the improvement of women's health globally.
FIGO is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), and attending the 146th WHO Executive Board Meeting in Geneva.
This week we shared our statement on the Director-General's Follow Up Report on UN High Level Political Forum on UHC: moving together to build a healthier world.
As a global federation, FIGO commends the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and all 193 UN Member States, who adopted the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage: moving together to build a healthier world in 2019.
FIGO was especially pleased to note that our call for sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equity to be considered at the heart of the UHC agenda was included in the declaration.
Women comprise 51% of the world’s population. Yet many barriers to quality of care disproportionately affect women throughout their lives, from conception, pregnancy, birth infancy and childhood through to adolescence, adulthood and older age. This has a significant impact on health outcomes and overall wellbeing.
If women can access quality, cost-effective and efficient health care, and services that respond to their specific needs, they can fulfil their potential and contribute fully to their communities. Therefore, ensuring the sustainability of health systems in the long term, and therefore no-one is left behind.
FIGO affirms the WHO's 2019 monitoring report and acknowledge that progress, although significant in many areas, has been unequal, has sometimes missed vulnerable populations, and the pace of progress toward many key targets has slowed.
With a membership from throughout 132 National Member Societies, FIGO has an unparalleled opportunity to focus on projects and partnerships aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of all women across the life course. In order to fulfil our aims, we collaborate closely with other professional groups, including Midwives and Nurses in the delivery of programme activity, an area we hope to expand in the coming year.
By moving together, we can deliver a future where the strong political vision and commitment to ensure universal health coverage, as agreed during last year's UN High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage – moving together to build a healthier world, becomes a reality.