The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization, as well as other related organizations. In 1948, the WHO held the First World Health Assembly.
– Wikipedia
Your health questions to answer and act-on.
What is the condition of your health?
When was the last time you got a comprehensive health check-up?
Have you recently taken any particular health check due to advice from your doctor, family, friend, or even the media?
Sincerely answering these questions and taking any required action will go along way in keeping you in good health. These are amongst numerous penitent health questions worthy of an immediate response. Answers and actions arising from these questions could prevent a lot of debilitating health conditions. Sudden death can be reduced.
In a country like Nigeria, some of these responses and actions could reduce family accusations of diabolic attacks. It could reduce the blames of witches and wizards!
Help yourself. Get your health checked. After all, it could be cheaper when the health condition is not advanced or an emergency. Also, we have all heard that prevention is better than cure. Take care of your health now.
For instance, a few months ago, the world marked World Glaucoma day. How much do you now know about Glaucoma – the thief of sight? Did you take any action? Glaucoma is an eye care condition that presents without symptoms until vision is lost. A regular and comprehensive eye exam can prevent this ‘thief’ from stealing your sight.
2020 World Health Day Theme
For this 2020 World Health Day which marked 72 years since WHO came into existence, the Year of the Nurse and Midwife was chosen as the theme for this year. There is no better time to honor the very important roles of nurses and midwives especially with the continued battle against the covid19 global pandemic. Alongside other healthcare workers, the nurses and midwives have been at the front line in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the World Health Organization, more than two-thirds of the health workforce in the WHO Western Pacific Region are nurses. So this year World Health Day was an opportunity to highlight what they do for us all around the world. We celebrate them. Over the years, World Health Day has highlighted very important healthcare areas. Some of these included:
World Health Day, 2019
Universal Health Coverage
50% of the world population lacks access to essential health services
100 million pushed into poverty due to health costs
UHC aims to hit an important target of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
World Health Day, 2018
Universal Health Coverage: everyone, everywhere
According to who, Universal health coverage (UHC) is about ensuring all people and communities have access to quality health services where and when they need them, without suffering financial hardship
World Health Day, 2017
Depression let’s talk
Anyone can be affected by depression regardless of age, gender, social status, or country of origin. Most, unfortunately, depression sometimes leads to suicide which has become the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year old, according to WHO
World Health Day, 2016
Together on the front lines against diabetes
The global prevalence of diabetes has been steadily increasing in the past few decades. In the Western Pacific Region alone, it is estimated that 131 million people (8.4% prevalence) were living with diabetes in 2014.-WHO
World Health Day, 7 April 2015
From farm to plate: Make food safe
Food safety simply means we assure ourselves that what we eat does not cause harm. It also means that food is prepared and eaten as required to avoid harm to the consumer. Food safety has become a focus of public concern as the globalization of the food chain continues to rise.
What is the essence of World Health Day?
As the world continues to mark world health days, many countries will continue to be looking at their health program data. They will be drawing insights from these data. This exercise will help them know areas of progress that may need improvement. They will also see areas of no expected outcomes and decide on new strategies.
In my own beloved country, we may not have all the needed data. There could also be a failure to utilize available data. Our government and politicians must channel funds into research and development towards enabling a better healthcare system.
In some countries, not having a health insurance policy is tantamount to breaking the law! In some of these countries, no registered company would fail to provide health insurance for its employees. These are the type of issues we should be clamoring for in our beloved country Nigeria.
In Conclusion
Universal health coverage is our collective project. You and I can advocate for a healthcare system that covers the well-being of the people. Health is wealth.
I wish you good health.
This article is a readapted blog post I originally published on okwydavis.com as World Health Day 2018: What To Know And Do
