Thomson Reuters Foundation: Without investing in women and girls, there will be no health for all
Diane Gashumba, minister of health in Rwanda, and Carin Jämtin, director-general at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

“…Improving the health of women, girls, and adolescents — populations who are key to social and economic progress — can be a driver for health and sustainable development goals, which makes closing the gap in [sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)] interventions especially urgent. … The majority of SRHR interventions are health promotive, preventive, cost-effective, and can be delivered at the primary health care level, making them highly feasible to incorporate into universal health coverage (UHC) programs. We, as ministers of health and finance and as development cooperation partners, must make a resolute call for the prioritization and integration of services. … All countries, no matter how rich or how poor, owe it to their citizens to progressively realize gender equality and their population’s right to health. … It will take dedicated and accelerated efforts from the global community and governments … to fulfill the promise of health for all. The upcoming High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019 is an important opportunity for the international community to turn our commitments into action. … All states have a responsibility to provide high-quality, affordable health care for its citizens. On this UHC Day, let us make this rallying call a reality. Let us partner and stand together to ensure that no one — and particularly not one woman or one girl — is left behind” (12/12).