World Health Day is celebrated on the seventh of April every year. 2020 marks the international year for nursing and midwifery staff.
Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognized the right to health and defined it "the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health " and obliges states to take the necessary measures to improve all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene, and to prevent, treat and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases, endemic, as well as creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.
PNGO commends all Palestinian health workers providing health services to patients, with limited capacities, shortage in medicine, PPEs, ventilators and other needed requirements, and put their lives at risk to save others. The health sector in PNGO also commends health workers all over the world in their service to humanity and for their presence in the frontlines to protect societies from the spread of the epidemic and to preserve the safety of the world.
On this occasion, PNGO Network is seizing this opportunity to commend the efforts of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, health NGOs and all agencies working to contain the spread of the pandemic and work in an integrated manner through full and balanced coordination.
PNGO health sector also emphasizes on this occasion:
- Holding the Israeli occupation fully responsible as an occupying power and obligating it to protect the health of Palestinians under occupation, including Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and ensuring that health services reach all citizens without discrimination.
- Work to take immediate steps to provide the health sector with the necessary needs of equipment and supplies to enable it to respond and face the outbreak of the Corona virus.
- Urging donor c and humanitarian organizations to support Palestinian NGOs to provide basic services such as education and health care.
- Call on the Palestinian government to raise the proportion of spending on the health sector to fulfill the obligations of the State of Palestine in international treaties and covenants, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Constitution of the World Health Organization.
- Continuing to work to reduce the spread of the virus and intensify efforts to aware and educate citizens about the dangers of not following the procedures and instructions issued by the official responsible authorities.