Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, yet many people worldwide lack access to even the most basic healthcare services. This is particularly true for women and children, often our community’s most vulnerable and marginalized members.
For women, lack of access to healthcare can have devastating consequences, including maternal mortality and morbidity, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. For children under 5, lack of access to healthcare can lead to preventable deaths from infectious diseases, malnutrition, and other conditions.
It is important to note that children under five and women are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases due to weakened immune systems. Immunization protects against these diseases and significantly reduces the likelihood of complications, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Unfortunately, despite the availability of effective vaccines, many children and women still do not have access to them. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 20 million children worldwide do not receive basic immunizations, and around 1.5 million children under 5 die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases.
There are various reasons why immunization coverage is low, including poverty, lack of access to healthcare services, inadequate education and awareness about vaccines, and cultural or religious beliefs.
As an NGO working in the field of global health, we have seen firsthand the life-saving impact vaccines can have on communities worldwide. Immunization is one of the most cost-effective and impactful public health interventions, preventing millions of deaths yearly from vaccine-preventable diseases. This is why we support efforts to improve vaccine access and affordability, strengthen healthcare systems, and educate communities about the importance of vaccination As we commemorate World Health Day, let us renew our dedication to achieving “Health for All”, by collaborating to overcome vaccination obstacles, we can support interventions that make life-saving vaccines accessible to all.
