The Meaning of “Health for All by the Year 2000”

In recent years there has been some improvement in the worlds health. The latest assessment of the world health situation reveals that the reduction of mortality rates has been slowing down. Clearly health services are failing to reach out to those who do not have access to them. The threat posed by such major diseases as malaria schistosomiasis filariasis trypanosomiasis leishmaniasis cholera or leprosy either has not lessened in recent years or has actually increased. Almost 1/4 of the worlds population remains infected with worms. The action necessary for improving the human condition is urgent. There is now agreement throughout the world that there is a need for a new strategy in order to realize the goal of health for all. By health for all is meant that health is to be brought within reach of everyone in a given country. It means that health should be considered as an objective of economic development and it is dependent upon continued progress in medical care and public health. Primary health care is the basis of the strategy of health for all. Unless health services are made accessible to each and every member of the community health for all by the year 2000 will be nothing but a mirage. Health is influenced by a complex of environmental social and economic factors that are ultimately related to each other. The challenging part to the delivery of health services is community involvement. The absolute prerequisites to reach health for all by the year 2000 are multisectoral approach community involvement appropriate health technology and total health services coverage.