UN Day: WHO calls for peaceful co-existence, health promotion

….Commends Nigeria’s contribution to UN peace keeping operations.

By AKOR SYLVESTER-Abuja

As the United Nation (UN) commenced activities to mark it’s 77th Anniversary in Abuja at the weekend, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for peaceful co-existence and promotion of health by the leaders for sustainable development.

The Country Representative, World Health Organisation Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo who spoke to newsmen during a walk organised by the UN in Abuja to commemorate the day, stressed the need for Government at all levels to position health in policies, strategies and interventions for the health care development of their countries.

“If we don’t position health in our policies, in our strategies, in our intervention, if there is no requirement for all developmental efforts then, we are likely to face the same thing we saw during COVID-19 pandemic.

“Health is a human right and not a privilege. One of the things the

UN system is doing is to carry along that message with high level so that leaders, president, head of Government, everybody should see it as a priority

“But not only the leaders, and also the community, in whatever they do they need to realize that the real wealth is really health in African”, Mulombo said.

He commended Nigeria for contributing significantly to the United Nations’ peace keeping operations.

Molumbo said Nigeria has supported development initiatives for her people and has been an active partner in global multilateralism

According to him, this year’s theme is “The UN and Nigeria: partnership for peace, prosperity and sustainable development”.

He said, “Today we are kick starting the celebration of the UN day which falls every year on October 24, so this is a kind of advance event which we intend to start with a heavy event, we are celebrating the 77th anniversary of the UN Which was established in the aftermath of the second world war.

“It is a collective commitment for member states, to avoid all the consequences we saw during the second world war”.

Mulombo explained that the United Nations is an organisation that was established to put mechanism for lasting peace, solidarity, and mutual corporation to avoid the consequences of the second world war.

Speaking also, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, said: “I really appreciate the United Nations for holding this wonderful event. We are now facing very difficult issues, including poverty, insecurity, food crisis, etc. But today is symbolic to show solidarity with Nigeria to have a concerted effort to overcome this kind of very difficult issue.”

Also speaking, the High Commissioner of the Canada High Commission, James Christoff, informed that the event showed the importance of cooperation within the international community:

“This shows a symbol of the importance of solidarity and cooperation within the international community”, he said.