World Health Day is celebrated each year on the 7th of April. The first world health day was observed in the year 1950 by the world health organisation (WHO) which was established back in the year 1948 to raise awareness about overall health by recognising the contributions made by medical faculty in people’s lives and by focusing attention on important public health issues that affect the international community.
What do you understand by the term “HEALTH”?
Health is not only limited to the physical aspect but it also includes mental as well as emotional aspects. A healthy person possesses all these 3 aspects. World Health Organization defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
World Health Organisation (WHO) also stated that health is central to human happiness and well-being. It also makes an important contribution to economic progress, as healthy populations tend to live longer and more productive.
Aim and Priorities of World Health Day by World Health Organisation –
World health day is an event that is celebrated around the whole world. Hence, it has its widespread motives and priorities.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these include:
- ‘Everyone should have the information and services they need to take care of their health and the health of their families.
- ‘To spur action from individuals, policy-makers, and health-care workers to make universal health care a reality for everyone.
- ‘To improve understanding of universal health coverage and the importance of primary health care as its foundation’.
- ‘Skilled health workers providing quality, people-centred care; and policy-makers committed to investing in primary health care.
The theme for World Health Day 2022
This year the theme for world health day is Health Promotion for Well-being, Equity, and Sustainable Development. The theme is designed by witnessing the urgency of forming a sustainable environment for achieving the goal of equitable health.
Role of World Health Organisation in promoting Global Health
- Promotes Development: Poor health outcomes are often related to poverty hence WHO aims to resolve this issue by promoting overall health through various initiatives which cover poverty alleviation too.
- Strengthens the Health Systems: World Health Organisationstrengthens the health system of poor countries by various means includingaccess to diagnostics and drugs, provision of funding, trained health staff, and disease monitoring.
- Fosters Health Security: The World Health Organisation aims to promote global health security by reducing the various risks associated with the outbreaks of emerging, re-emerging, existing diseases or infections. The Pandemic (Covid-19) is a perfect example of WHO’s commitment to fighting infectious diseases.