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Post-2015 Agenda: Ensuring indigenous peoples’ health and well-being

11903320_1615679632023703_863480998_n editWhat are the challenges to indigenous peoples health? How can the international community help indigenous people access health care services?

A special event was held at the United Nations Headquarters on 10 August to discuss these issues; the theme of this event was “Post-2015 Agenda: Ensuring indigenous peoples’ health and well-being." During the conference, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Kim-moon stated that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been designed to advance inclusion, share prosperity, and preserve the earth. The message of the agenda is “No-one must be left behind” including indigenous peoples.

Ms. Megan Davis, Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, discussed challenges that indigenous people are facing now including inadequate sanitation and housing, lack of prenatal care and widespread violence against women.
The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Volume II was launched during the conference. This publication cites that indigenous peoples face obstacles when accessing public health systems such as culture differences, language barriers, lack of facilities in their communities and etc.
Dr. Priscilla Migiro, Paediatrician, Kenya also contributed to the discussion. She mentioned that indigenous peoples deserve recognition from states; in addition to this the global community needs to work towards closing the data gap, improving health care facilities, creating innovative ways of delivering service, introducing maternal shelters and encouraging affirmative active in training health workers. These strategies will improve indigenous peoples lifestyles and promote a sustainable future for all.
Not only did the non-government organizations focus on indigenous people’s health and well-being, governments from various countries are also focusing attention on elevating indigenous people’s health care standard. During the Q&A session, the Italy government representative stated “This is a special year and Italy stands ready closely to indigenous peoples.”