Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for the Prince Mahidol Award Conference, in Bangkok, from 24-28 January:
Every year, millions of people die from easily preventable diseases. The reason is simple yet tragic: a staggering 1 billion people around the world lack access to health-care systems.
But together we can make a difference. Health care is a right, not a privilege. And universal health coverage can help make that possible.
With it we can break barriers — the barriers of economic status, age and gender — so that every child, every woman, and everyone has access to a healthy life.
My name is Ban Ki-moon, and I believe in universal health coverage. I also believe that if we all join together we can save lives.
Choose health. And join us in our commitment to health-care equality.
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Fonte: UN