April 7 is marked as World Health Day, This year, we are seeing as an opportunity to get motivated and take adequate actions to tackle the health challenges of today and tomorrow.”
Health is not just about eating healthy, according to World Health Organization (WHO). It is also about how the world can come together to help everyone live a long and healthy life. This could be through making new discoveries, new medicines and vaccines. With this very thought and to raise awareness about health issues and ensure health and healthcare facilities are accessible to everyone, everywhere, WHO marks April 7 every year as World Health Day.
Here is why the World Health Day holds so much importance for the World and India:
World Health Day was kick-started as the day to mark the foundation of WHO. Back in 1948, countries of the world came together and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being. Two years later, in 1950, the first World Health Day was celebrated on April 7 and since then, it is observed every year on the same day.
Theme For World Health Day
Every year, World Health Day is marked with a unique theme. This year, WHO has decided to celebrate the day with the theme “Health For All”. This theme is in line with the thought that health is a basic human right and everyone must have access to the health services they need when and where they need without facing any financial hardships.
This year, also marks WHO’s 75th anniversary year, as a result to mark the occasion, WHO will also look back at public health successes that have improved quality of life during the last seven decades. WHO says “This year, we are seeing as an opportunity to get motivated and take adequate actions to tackle the health challenges of today ̶ and tomorrow.”
According to WHO data –
- 30 per cent of the global population is not able to access essential health services even till today
- Two billion people face catastrophic or impoverishing health spending, with significant inequalities affecting those in the most vulnerable settings
- About 930 million people worldwide are at risk of falling into poverty due to out-of-pocket health spending of 10 per cent or more of their household budget
What can you do to protect our planet and our health?
Governments
Prioritize long-term human wellbeing and ecological stability in all decision-making.
Prioritize wellbeing in all businesses, organizations, social and ecological goals.
Keep fossil fuels in the ground. Stop new fossil fuel exploration and projects and implement policies on clean energy production and use.
Stop fossil fuel subsidies. Re-invest fossil fuel subsidies in public health.
Tax the polluters. Incentivize carbon reduction.
Implement the WHO air quality guidelines.
Electrify health care facilities with renewable energies.
Reduce air pollution levels to reduce the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.
Tax highly processed foods and beverages high in salt, sugars and unhealthy fats.
Implement policies to reduce food wastage.
Repurpose agriculture subsidies towards sustainable and healthy food production.
Build cities with green spaces that promote physical activity and mental health.
ake the pledge! Adopt WHO’s green manifesto.
Tobacco pollutes the planet and our lungs. Create smoke free cities and tax tobacco.
Devise policies on waste and plastic reduction.
ntegrate mental health and psychosocial support with climate action and policies to better prepare for and respond to the climate crisis.
Work together with community leaders that include representatives of refugees and migrants on mitigation and adaptation measures of climate change and support initiatives led by refugee and migrant communities at local level.
Corporations
Switch off lights after working hours.
Support teleworking when possible.
Remove highly processed and packaged foods from the workplace.
Reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of your activities.
Protect, promote and support breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is healthy and sustainable food for babies.
Ensure safe water is accessible for workers.
Health workers and health facilities
Support efforts to reduce health care waste.
Provide sustainably grown local food and ensure healthy food choices by reducing sodas and
highly processed and packaged food in health facilities.
Decarbonize health facilities.
Identify opportunities to save energy.
Ensure safe clean water at health facilities.
Support purchase of environmentally friendly products that are easily recyclable or reusable.
Advocate for health to be at the centre of climate change policies.
Mayors promote
Promote energy efficient buildings.
Engage low-carbon public transport.
Build new bike lanes and footpaths.
Protect biodiversity and create new parks and gardens.
Switch to renewable energy for municipal operations.
Ensure low-income households and health care facilities have access to clean, affordable energy.
Partner with the local business community to support sustainability.
Regulate the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages in public spaces.Individuals
Share your story: our planet, our health.
Raise your voice and demand climate actions to protect your health.
Take action, inspire others.
Walk or pedal to work at least one day a week. Choose public transport.
Change to a renewable energy provider; don’t heat your rooms over 21.5C; turn off the light whennot in the room.
Buy your fresh groceries from local producers and avoid highly processed foods and beverages.
Tobacco is a killer and a polluter. Stop consuming tobacco.
Buy less plastic; use recyclable grocery bags.
A well-being economy has human well-being, equity and ecological sustainability as its goals. These goals are translated into long-term investments, well-being budgets, social protection and legal and fiscal strategies. Breaking these cycles of destruction for the planet and human health requires legislative action, corporate reforms and individuals to be supported and incentivized to make healthy choices.
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