Oyo State government has charged residents of the state to prioritise their physical and mental health as their individual right to life.
The commissioner for health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, stated this at an event organised to commemorate the 2024 World Health Day, held in Ibadan with the theme, “My Health, My Right”.
She said health is an individual right that every human being must enjoy regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status or geographical location.
Ajetunmobi maintained that due to health challenges in the world, it had become imperative to ensure that every individual enjoys the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
According to her, human beings must also have the autonomy to make decisions that affect their health and well-being, with regards to access to healthcare services, making informed choices about lifestyle behaviours or advocating for policies that promote health equity.
The commissioner, who appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde for his support in delivering quality healthcare to residents of the state, said the theme of the 2024 World Health Day aligned with Omituntun 2.0 Agenda on health policy with special attentions to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
She said, “The theme of the 2024 World Health Day, ‘My health, my right’, aligns with Omituntun 2.0 Agenda of Governor Seyi Makinde, that gives special focus to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which ensures that all individuals have access to essential healthcare services without financial hardship, quality healthcare, improving healthcare infrastructure, equipment, and personnel to provide high-quality services, health promotion and disease prevention, by encouraging healthy lifestyles, vaccinations, and early detection of diseases.”
The commissioner enjoined the people to recommit themselves to the pursuit of health equity and social justice, work tirelessly to dismantle the barriers that prevent individuals from exercising their right to health, and build a world where health is truly recognised as a universal human right and where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their potential.
