Promote rights-based approach to Ebola control, SERAP tells Jonathan
(Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has
urged President Goodluck Jonathan to “promote a rights-based approach to
healthcare for millions of disadvantaged Nigerians to control and combat the
Ebola disease.”
SERAP in a statement on Sunday by its Executive Director, Mr
Adetokunbo Mumuni, said “We note that the government’s reaction so far has
contributed to curtailing the spread of the disease. But the inadequacy of a
reactive approach to the problem is illustrated by the low survival rates of
victims here in the country when compared to those in countries with developed
and functioning healthcare systems.
“The unfortunate reality is that the full enjoyment of the
right to health still remains a distant goal for millions of Nigerians
especially those who continue to live in poverty as a result of years of
mismanagement and high level official corruption.
“This problem is further exacerbated by the absence of
functioning public health and health-care facilities, grossly insufficient
resources and official corruption. The result is that payment for basic
healthcare remains beyond the reach of majority of Nigerians.
“The Ebola outbreak provides an opportunity for the
government to formulate a coherent health policy that is based on human rights
principles. And President Jonathan needs to urgently provide the leadership to
make this happen. As a starting point, the President should now publicly
support the inclusion of a legally enforceable right to healthcare in the
constitution.
“A long term and preventive approach that conceives health
as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity is urgently needed. Any such policy must
adopt a holistic approach to the right to health by for example promoting the
effective enjoyment of associated rights such as the rights to food, housing,
work, education, human dignity, life, non-discrimination, and equality.
“One of the things
this government can immediately begin to do to prevent the spread of Ebola is
to commit adequate resources to provide and promote an environment across the
country where people can lead a healthy life, in particular by ensuring access
to safe and potable water and adequate sanitation, safe and healthy working
conditions, and a healthy environment.
“The government must ensure the participation of the
population in all health‑related decision-making across the country.
Investments should not disproportionately favour expensive curative health
services which are often accessible only to a small, privileged fraction of the
population, rather than primary and preventive health care benefiting a far
larger part of the population.
“There is absolutely no justification why Nigerians
especially the most vulnerable sectors of the population should not enjoy a
right to health that would assure to them medical service and medical attention
in the event of sickness, including the provision of equal and timely access to
basic preventive, curative, rehabilitative health services and health
education; regular screening programmes; appropriate treatment of prevalent
diseases such as Ebola, and the provision of essential drugs and care.
“Health is a fundamental human right indispensable for the
exercise of other human rights. Every human being is entitled to the enjoyment
of the highest attainable standard of health conducive to living a life in
dignity. As the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights affirms: ‘Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate
for the health of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing
and medical care and necessary social services.
“The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights provides the most comprehensive article on the right to health in
international human rights law. In
accordance with article 12.1 of the Covenant, States parties recognize “the
right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
physical and mental health,” the organisation added.
Comments
Post a Comment