The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate and Primary Health Care are visiting different localities in Malta and Gozo to disseminate the message of this year’s World Health Day "Universal Health Coverage: everyone, everywhere".

World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated on April 7, led by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The WHO was founded on the principle that all people should be able to realise their right to the highest possible level of health.

This year’s slogan is ensuring that everyone can obtain the care they need, when they need it, right in the heart of the community.

The health authorities said in a statement that universal health coverage is guaranteed in Malta thanks to accessible health care that is free for all at the point of care.

This year, the Health Ministry is collaborating with councils to continue to educate and empower the public in making healthy lifestyle choices.

The authorities said that by leading a healthy lifestyle, the majority of chronic diseases and deaths could be prevented. Moreover, by adopting a healthy lifestyle one could help manage such conditions and prevent or delay further complications. Early pick up of risk factors could lead to further prevention and a better quality of life.

Community care clinics were being given a fresher look, new services were being introduced including healthy lifestyle clinics, podiatry and speech and language clinics, ensuring that a myriad of services were within reach.

Mental health was another area of prioritisation this year with the launch of the Mental Health Strategy 2020-2030, as seen with the introduction of 24/7 psychiatric support at the Accident and Emergency Department.

Other initiatives already underway included the improvement in services provided for people dealing with diabetes and cancer through the provision of new medicines, new equipment, new services, and an increase in the capacity for research.

The recently launched transgender strategy was another example of the government’s commitment to profoundly improve the quality of life of all groups within our society, the authorities said.

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