The healthy life expectancy of high- and upper-middle-income people in Africa has increased by nearly ten years over the past 20 years, higher than the 5-year average global health expectancy over the same period. This progress can be attributed to primary health services and infectious disease control improvements.
New York, NY (Merxwire) – The World Health Organization recently published a report Tracking Universal Health Coverage in the WHO African Region to 2022, which noted that healthy life expectancy (the age at which a person is in good health) increased from 46 to 56 years in Africa, much higher than in other regions. Among them, the prevention and control of infectious diseases have achieved remarkable results, which is very helpful in prolonging life expectancy.
Recently, the World Health Organization released the life expectancy data of 47 African countries from 2000 to 2019. The original 46 years old jumped to 56, a significant increase of 10 years. Although still far below the global average of 64 years, Africa has gained ten years of life expectancy this time, an improvement that ranks first in the world. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said that the achievements of the African health sector in improving the health and well-being of populations are to be commended.
Since 2005, the United Nations has been committed to developing sustainable development programs, sparing no effort to improve global health and well-being. The improvement of essential health services in Africa in recent years has reduced child and maternal mortality and the spread infectious diseases. According to statistics, maternal, newborn, and child health data has risen from 24% in 2000 to 46% in 2019. From 2010 to 2017, the incidence of AIDS among adults aged 14 to 49 years in sub-Saharan Africa has dropped by 37%, showing that active control in Africa has rapidly expanded the effectiveness of infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria since 2005.
However, experts worry that a lack of sustainable funding for health systems, which has kept other diseases out of sync, will threaten these advances in Africa. It is suggested that African countries strengthen measures to deal with the threat of cancer and other non-communicable diseases. Otherwise, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases will become national health concerns.
Dr. Moeti also believes that medical services are closely related to people’s health. When people live healthier, longer, and less infectious diseases, the medical burden will be reduced, and patients will have better access to care and disease prevention services.
After the global COVID-19 attack, compared with other advanced countries, medical services in Africa have suffered more damage. In 2021, the WHO surveyed 36 African countries; over 90% have experienced some essential health services Disruptions. With vaccination, neglected tropical diseases and nutrition services are most affected.
In addition, which found that of the 47 countries in the African Region, all but seven countries (Algeria, Botswana, Cape Verde, Swatini, Gabon, Seychelles, and South Africa) have heavily funded health budgets insufficient. WHO also emphasized that increasing the financial resources of health care services is one of the essential tasks of African governments at present and called on governments to establish local surveillance systems and public health financing to prepare for the following health threat.