Latest news with #UHC
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Health
- Scoop
Gender Equality And Human Rights Are Indivisible, Foundational And Unconditional
"When human rights are treated like an 'à la carte menu' by governments, and not what they truly are - indivisible, foundational and unconditional... we move fast into dystopia," said Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Right To Health. "We saw during COVID-19 lockdown time that people who were from the most marginalised groups, were furthest pushed behind. These included: peoples from gender diverse communities, women in all diversities, women in sex work, women who use drugs, or young girls, for whom there was hardly any access to care, support and services. Gender-based violence was being more reported during the pandemic. We have learnt the harder way that how we want to ensure marginalised people are included in strengthening the health systems and making them resilient in gender-transformative manner," said Dr Harjyot Khosa, Regional External Relations Director, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and member of Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC 2030. "We need to engage marginalised communities in all their diversities to adapt and redesign health systems to better protect them within the framework of universal health coverage," Dr Khosa added. She was speaking at a special Side Event alongside 78th World Health Assembly organised by Global Centre for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI), International Planned Parenthood Federation, Fos Feminista, CNS, and partners. Are health systems designed for gender diverse peoples? Dr Harjyot Khosa reminded that health systems are defined and designed for heterosexual married people, like 'good couples' as per the harmful social norms rooted in patriarchy. 'So, perception and level of stigma and misogyny within healthcare systems is what we all grapple with every day. Sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice has to be the first push to deliver on UHC at all levels,' she said. "Just because of the colour of your skin, people become a victim of sexual assault. When they go the police, they are turned away because they are 'not citizens of the country.' Or a woman is denied mental healthcare because of language barriers. These are the realities I face daily in Dominican Republic,' said Dr Eliezer Lappots-Abreu, Executive Director, Health Horizons International, Dominican Republic. "Although we live in Dominican Republic where health access and universal health coverage is part of the norm, but it is not accessible for everybody because it excludes women of colour and immigrants. One of my patients, a Haitian woman, was diagnosed with cervical cancer but when we connected her to services to treat her cancer, she was turned away because of the language barrier. When we arranged a translator for her, we were told that they can understand her but unable to serve her without documentation. Patient wondered if her options was to get palliative care or just die in the house,' he added. UHC is not about coverage alone but Universal Health Care 'It is not accidental that 'C' in 'UHC' (Universal Health Coverage) stands for 'coverage' in the official language but it should be about Care – Universal Health Care. No wonder due to governments focussing on UHC, or coverage, we see increasing space for 'health insurance.' Universal Health Care (and not Universal Health Coverage) better links us with the spirit of Alma Mata Declaration of 1978 (which heralded WHO led call to deliver on Health For All),' said Baba Aye, Health and Social Services Officer, Public Services International (PSI), who earlier worked for two decades in the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria. "We cannot talk of universal health care without health workers for all," said Baba Aye of PSI. He said that when 13% of maternal mortality are from unsafe abortions, and two-thirds of healthcare workers are women themselves, imagine the struggle in countries where abortion is criminalised. Connect the dots: Leprosy, gender justice, human rights, and SDGs Leprosy (also known as Hansen's disease), once feared as an incurable disease, is now treatable with modern medicine. When diagnosed early and accurately, and treated early with right medicines, it is not disabling too. But leprosy-related stigma and discrimination continues to cause havoc in lives of people affected with leprosy and blocks access to care even today. But only when we put leprosy under gender lens, we get to see the alarming inter-sectional stigma and discrimination that impacts women with leprosy. 'Women with leprosy face unique and often invisible struggles. At home, they are often unable to express their problems, even to other women. This is not the case for men. In family matters, whether it is making decisions or purchasing essentials, women are frequently excluded. Gender discrimination plays a major role here,' said Maya Ranavare, President of Association of People Affected by Leprosy. 'Women with leprosy receive lower wages than men for the same work, which is a clear example of gender inequality. These issues are compounded by the stigma of leprosy. But perhaps the most serious impact is in the area of healthcare. Women with leprosy often suffer in silence. Social stigma, economic dependence, and a lack of agency prevent them from seeking timely medical help or sharing their experiences. This intersection of gender and disease requires urgent attention. If we want to truly support people affected by leprosy, we must also address the gender-based injustices they face every day,' she added. 'We need to ensure people living with HIV are covered under UHC (under Indian government's health insurance). Although government of India has done a commendable job in ensuring people living with HIV receive lifesaving antiretroviral therapy and support at government-run healthcare facilities across the country, there are other healthcare needs too which people face - and often have to pay. Out-of-pocket expenses often become catastrophic costs for people with HIV, especially women who face inter-sectional stigma and discrimination at all levels,' said Daxa Patel, co-founder and former President of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI Plus) and leader of Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV (GSNP Plus). Gender inequality and violation of rights exacerbate during conflicts and humanitarian crises Parwen Hussaini of Afghanistan is at risk of her life along with her lesbian lover Maryam (Maryam is under arrest). Parwen was born in Gazhni province of Afghanistan and identifies as a lesbian and Afghan. She narrowly escaped persecution and arrest by the Taliban on 20th March 2025 and she is now in Iran. Parwen and her lover were engaged to get married when they tried to escape. Her lover (Maryam) is being tortured and imprisoned by the Taliban and in prison for over one and a half months (as on 10 May 2025). Nemat Sadat, CEO of 'Roshaniya' (an advocacy network dedicated to assisting LGBTQI+ Afghans) and one of the first Afghans to have openly come out as gay person and to campaign for rights, gender freedom and liberty, said: 'We have a list of over 1,000 LGBTQI+ peoples who still remain in Afghanistan. To this date, we have supported the safe evacuation of 265 people to different countries and we hope that Parwen will also get to a safe place.' 'The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has disempowered a lot of excluded and marginalised peoples including women, LGBTQI+, people living with HIV, persons with disabilities, sex workers, among others. So, when it comes to gender justice the issue of gender-based violence becomes central. There is physical violence, domestic violence, and sexual harassment and sexual abuse. They are raping women rampantly. Due to the conflict there is also increased risk for the displacement of women and girls in South Sudan (which puts them at greater risk of violence). There is also limited access to justice and support for young women, women with disability, and people with HIV because of their condition,' said Rachel Adau, Executive Director of the Women's Empowerment Centre South Sudan. Let us hope that at the upcoming UN intergovernmental High Level Political Forum where UN Sustainable Development Goals for health (SDG3) and gender equality (SDG5) are under review, governments commit to get on track to deliver on all SDG goals and targets. We cannot 'pick and choose' rather deliver on all SDGs. Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
World-renowned pipe band coming to Windsor to raise money for charity
The 78th Fraser Highlander Pipe Band will hit the stage this weekend at the Fogolar Furlan Club. The air will be filled with the sounds of Scotland on Saturday night and it's all for a good cause. The world-renowned 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band — former world champions — will take the stage Saturday at the Fogolar Furlan Club. Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band Source: The 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band/Facebook. The event promises an evening of live piping and drumming, celebrating Scottish heritage and musical excellence. The event will be hosted by a familiar face, former CTV anchor Jim Crichton. The doors open at 6 p.m., the show runs from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online via Eventbrite for $27.96 or at the door for $30. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods or monetary donations to support local food banks, including the UHC Hub of Opportunities Windsor. June Muir is the CEO of the organization that provides supportive employment and career resources for area residents, in addition to offering daily food parcels for those in need in our community. Many are finding it difficult to afford groceries at the current inflationary prices. Last year, there were 234,000 visits to the Hub's Food Pantry for food assistance. The numbers are steadily growing, not just for those seeking employment, but also for those who are working, but finding it tough to put food on the table for themselves and their families. For Muir, this is an opportunity to enjoy homegrown Canadian talent and help neighbours, families, seniors, and youth in our city and surrounding areas. 'It's going to be so much fun,' said Muir. 'And to hear some of the music, the pipes that will be playing and then knowing that you're giving back to the community, bring those canned goods. It's $27 and change to come and cash at the door, $30. How can you miss out?'
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
‘Here's What to Expect Next,' Says UBS About UnitedHealth Stock
UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH) investors have had little to shout about in 2025. The stock has shed 40% of its value year-to-date due to a host of negative developments. Confident Investing Starts Here: A positive early-year narrative began to unravel following underwhelming first-quarter results and a May 13 update, which revealed a CEO transition and the suspension of forward guidance – moves that hinted at deeper structural issues. Chief among the concerns were rising costs tied to Medicare Advantage members at UHC and coding challenges among new Optum enrollees from 2024. The situation deteriorated further when the Wall Street Journal reported that the Department of Justice had launched a Medicare fraud investigation into the company. Against this troubled backdrop, UNH's annual meeting on June 2 brought a potential turning point. Returning CEO Stephen Hemsley announced that the company plans to reinstate its 2025 guidance alongside its Q2 earnings report on July 29, while also cautioning that the new outlook would be 'prudent.' That comment alone sent a signal to Wall Street that the revised forecast could come in well below prior expectations. UBS analyst AJ Rice notes that investors have interpreted Hemsley's tone as a cue to brace for a more conservative guide than the current consensus EPS of $22.50 for 2025. In the days following the meeting, buy-side expectations have drifted lower, with many now anticipating a 2025 EPS closer to $20. Is that a too pessimistic take? Rice isn't sure. 'In our on-going discussions with the company, we do not get affirmation that such an estimate is correct, but we also do not get discouragement that such a number is out of line,' he explained. In light of the uncertainty, Rice has adjusted his model to reflect the $20 EPS view. His revised assumptions include a 50 basis point cut to Medicare Advantage margins (now at 1.5%) and a trim to Optum Health's margin from 5.0% to 4.5%. He also flags potential weakness ahead across the broader risk insurance portfolio. While UNH previously claimed conservative pricing in its commercial book, management has since clarified that this mainly applies to the Exchange business, which has shown weaker enrollment compared to peers. Meanwhile, higher-than-expected costs persist in the core commercial risk book, fueling worries about broader 'mis-pricing' – particularly given the volatility already observed in government-related segments. 'Finally,' Rice concludes, 'we believe the company wants to offer a new 2025 outlook that it can be assured of delivering and, therefore, we expect the number to be even more conservative than normal, when all is said and done.' Accordingly, the analyst has lowered his price target from $400 to $385, still implying a 27% upside over the next 12 months. Despite the trimmed outlook, Rice maintains a Buy rating on the stock. (To watch Rice's track record, click here) His view is largely echoed across the Street. Of the 26 analysts covering UNH stock, 18 rate it a Buy, with 7 Holds and just 1 Sell, resulting in a Moderate Buy consensus. The average price target stands at $361.91, suggesting potential 12-month returns of ~20%. (See UNH stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Partnership aims to bridge the employment gap for those in need
The Soup Shack in downtown Windsor is collaborating with the UHC – Hub of Opportunities to provide employment resources to those who need them most.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Soup Shack collab with UHC
Windsor Watch The Soup Shack in downtown Windsor is collaborating with the UHC – Hub of Opportunities to provide employment resources to those who need them most.
