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Obrador; the Director of PAHO; the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of
American States (OAS) and President of the Commission, Néstor Méndez; and the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.

In celebration of World Health Day, PAHO/WHO also invited countries to create chains of

human solidarity in order to show their commitment to universal health, and to share the photos
of these on social media using the #HealthForAll hashtag.

People-centered care

Primary health care (PHC) is the foundation for achieving universal health. It is an approach that
involves integrated, quality health services that focus on promotion, prevention, treatment, cure
and rehabilitation. PHC puts care at the heart of the community and is not limited to the first
level of care, nor to a limited package of health services.

“We need transformative primary care within an integrated, efficient, organized health system,
with interdisciplinary health teams that work in networks that include basic and specialist levels,
and where the individual is at the center of kind, respectful and quality care,” said Dr. Etienne.

PAHO also advocates for all people have access to education, food, housing, financial
protection, safe drinking water, safe environments and other determinants of good health that
fall outside the health sector itself.

Solidarity and equity

This year’s World Health Day campaign also focuses on solidarity and equity, core values of
universal health. These values emphasize the need for society as a whole to contribute to the
promotion of health for all people, particularly the most disadvantaged. They also emphasize the
need for decision makers to focus policies and programs on the provision of quality services that

ensure access to health for these populations, without leaving anyone behind.

“Health care expenses are a major barrier to access for people in poverty and discourage many
from seeking care, putting their lives at risk,” said the Director of the Department of Health
Systems and Services at PAHO, Dr. James Fitzgerald.

In most countries in the Region, the levels of out-of-pocket spending on health account for over