Greetings to the warm-hearted people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of Rivethics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that we are what we eat. Therefore we must eat healthy to stay healthy. Our topic today is the World Health Day, which comes up today, April the 7th with the theme, Universal Health Coverage (UHC for short).
UHC means that all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. It includes the full spectrum of essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. Unfortunately, achievement statistics show a grim picture as we can see from the following:
• At least half of the world’s population still do not have full coverage of essential health services.
• About 100 million people are still being pushed into “extreme poverty” (living on $ 1.90 or less a day) because they have to pay for health care.
• Over 800 million people (almost 12 percent of the world’s population) spent at least 10 percent of their household budgets to pay for health care.
Achieving UHC is one of the targets the nations of the world set when adopting the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. Countries that progress towards UHC will make progress towards the other health-related targets, and towards the other goals. Good health allows children to learn and adults to earn, helps people escape from poverty, and provides the basis for long-term economic development.
We can help our governments and communities make faster progress on this all-important goal by being our healthiest best at all times. Good health is the reward of a healthy lifestyle and good eating habit. Our health is too important to be ignored. It is said that so many people spend their health to gain wealth, only to spend all the wealth to regain their health. Don’t let that be you. Deliberately invest in your good health by following these simple tips that work for me:
• Think positively
• Exercise daily
• Eat healthy
• Worry less
• Read more
• Be happy
• Forgive easily
• Love readily
Our guest speaker for today, a seasoned medical expert, will throw more light on the theme and also give a review of the World Autism Day, which came up on 2nd April. She is Dr. Vetty Agala, a distinguished Public Health practitioner and the President of the Nigerian Medical Women Association, Rivers State Chapter. Please enjoy the episode.
Our good people of Rivers State, please remember to always let your manners speak for you.
God bless and keep you and your families and God bless Rivers State.
Her Excellency, Justice (Mrs.) Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, the Wife of the Governor of Rivers State and initiator of the RivEthics Character Development Initiative
You can also listen to and download the Pidgin English version of this Episode below