Top Vatican official calls for greater global assistance for heath

(May 23, 2012) The leader of the Holy See’s delegation to the 65th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday, reiterated a call for greater global solidarity and commitment in assistance for health. Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers said most low-income countries need the support of the international community, especially of high-income countries in order to overcome the funding shortfalls in health. Acknowledging the progress made in some countries, the archbishop said there is still much more to be done. There is the need therefore, for greater commitment at all levels in order to ensure that the right to health care is rendered effective by furthering access to basic health care. In this regard he said, the Holy See delegation supports the integration of universal coverage in high-level meetings related to health or social development, as well as its inclusion as a priority in the global development agenda. Archbishop Zimowski pointed out that the Catholic Church with over 120,000 social and healthcare institutions world-wide, is in many developing countries, one of the key partners of the State in healthcare delivery, providing services in remote areas to rural low-income populations, enabling them to access services that would otherwise be out of their reach. He said the efforts and contribution of such organisations and institutions towards universal access, merit the recognition and support of both the State and the international community, without obliging them to participate in activities they find morally abhorrent. Thus Pope Benedict XVI asks “international agencies to acknowledge them and to offer them assistance, respecting their specific character and acting in a spirit of collaboration”. The weeklong World Health Assembly is scheduled to close on Saturday.