Essential Health Services: What They Are and Why They Matter243

Essential health services are a set of health interventions that are considered to be essential for the maintenance of good health and the prevention of disease. They are typically provided by a variety of healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a list of 12 essential health services that all countries should aim to provide:

Maternal, newborn, and child health
Immunization
Control of diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections
Nutrition
Family planning
Mental health
Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases
Treatment of common injuries and illnesses
Emergency care
Rehabilitation
Palliative care
Health promotion

These services are essential for the following reasons:

They help to prevent and treat major causes of death and disability.
They improve quality of life and well-being.
They contribute to economic development.

Investing in essential health services is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve health outcomes. A study by the WHO found that investing in essential health services can lead to a 10% reduction in child mortality and a 5% reduction in maternal mortality.

Despite the importance of essential health services, many people around the world do not have access to them. In 2015, an estimated 400 million people did not have access to essential health services. This lack of access is due to a variety of factors, including poverty, geographic barriers, and discrimination.

There are a number of things that can be done to improve access to essential health services. These include:

Increasing funding for health systems.
Improving the training and distribution of health workers.
Removing barriers to access, such as cost and transportation.
Promoting health education and awareness.

Improving access to essential health services is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. Goal 3 of the SDGs is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

By investing in essential health services, we can help to achieve the SDGs and create a healthier, more equitable world for all.

2025-02-02

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