RIGHT TO HEALTH IS FUNDAMENTAL

The dignity of a person cannot exist where the basic fundamental right and access to quality public health care is undermined or overlooked.  The right to life is intrinsically attached if not a Siamese twins with the right to the dignity of a person.

The human right to health means that everyone has a right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which includes access to all medical services, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy working conditions and cleaner environment.

Swaziland is a member of the United Nations (UN) and has accordingly complied with its Section 236 (1) (d) where it states that;
“In dealing with other nations, Swaziland shall;
(d) Endeavor to uphold the principles, aims and ideals of;

l The United Nations,
l The Commonwealth,
l The African Union,
l The Southern African Development Community
l And other international organisations of which Swaziland is a member.
The United Nations Sustainable Millennium Goal number four (4) which reads thus; “The broader health for the best possible physical, mental and social being.” The World Health Organisation (WHO) further states that; a broader health goal would consolidate the three specific health goals of the original MDG’s to better address the emerging patterns of mortality and morbidity, particularly in relation to non-communicable diseases.

WHO says good health contributes to development, as healthy people are better able to participate in development. Health is a beneficiary of policies in other sectors: agriculture, food, water, environment, transport, energy and urban planning, education and security. Health is also an indicator of what development is about; it reflects progress across economic, social, environmental and security spheres.

Swaziland in its Constitution Section 69(8) incorporated its commitment to the respect and regard of health as a fundamental human right and stated the following;
“Without compromising quality, the State shall promote free and compulsory basic education for all and shall take all practical measures to ensure the provision of basic health care services to the population.”

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