7th April: World Health Day.

The theme this year is "Together for Health. Stand with Science."

Science has given us vaccines, antibiotics, clean water systems and treatments that have transformed human life. We are living longer and healthier than any generation before us.

Most of us, anyway.

Australia has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. But this high national rate is not one shared equally across society.

First Nations males can expect to live nearly nine years less than non-Indigenous males. First Nations people are far more likely to develop kidney disease, diabetes and heart disease — and far less likely to have easy access to the specialists, services and culturally safe care needed to manage them. In remote communities like ours, the nearest specialist can be a plane ride away. Fresh food costs a fortune. Overcrowded housing makes managing a chronic illness feel impossible before you've even started.

This isn't a distant problem. This is our community. Our families.

So yes — stand with science. We need it more than ever, especially in a world full of misinformation. But let's also be honest that science and good health policy mean nothing if they don't reach everyone equally.

Health is a human right. And bridging gaps in healthcare is essential for a fairer and more resilient world.