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Highlights
- This year, the 72nd World Health Day was celebrated with the slogan "Our Planet, Our Health."
- The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for an equitable health service around the globe.
- The WHO is finding the best ways to deliver healthcare assistance to Ukraine
The World Health Day is celebrated every year on the 7th of April to increase the understanding of the ongoing health problems that concern people around the globe. This year the day was cherished with the slogan "Our Planet, Our Health," marking the 72nd year of the celebrations.
The concept first started in the year 1948 and has brought essential health issues under attention since its inception. The day comes as an excellent prospect to focus global attention on some of the essential aspects of health around the world.
Objectives of World Health Day
- To increase awareness of universal health coverage and the significance of primary health care as its foundation
- To urge action from individuals, policymakers, and healthcare workers to make universal health care a certainty for everyone
- To provide all human being with access to information and facilities required to maintain a good health
- To rope in more skilled health workers for providing quality healthcare and policymakers dedicated to investing in basic health care
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for an equitable health service around the globe and the creation of well-being societies without violating economic limits. Besides these, some of the significant concerns are:
- Burning of fossil fuels has led to air pollution, and nearly 90% of the world's population is breathing unhealthy air
- Increased temperature because of climate change has witnessed a rapid surge of diseases spread by mosquitos
- In several regions, people are being displaced due to extreme temperatures, land degradation, and water scarcity. This has caused an adverse impact on their health
- Increasing incidences of cancer, heart disease and obesity driven by processed and unhealthy foods
- Increasing pollution is making way to the human food chain through land and water
WHO Europe raises concern over healthcare crisis in Ukraine
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has triggered serious medical issues and health crisis across Ukraine. The condition has been further worsened by attacks on health facilities by Russian troops throughout Ukraine. This has put a severe strain on the healthcare system of the nation, depriving many civilians of the basic and emergency healthcare needs.
Yesterday, on the occasion of World Health Day, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, expressed solidarity with the health workers of Ukraine and expressed gratitude for their devotion and efficiency. The Ukrainian health workers have been persistently providing services and care in the unbelievable circumstances of human suffering and devastation.
Having visited Ukraine, Dr Kluge gathered insights into the country's immediate and long-term health needs and found the best ways for WHO and its partners to deliver assistance.
He further ensured that people around the WHO European Region, in whatever circumstances, would get the treatment and care they needed.
He outlined the major three priorities for Ukraine in this time of utmost crisis:
- Keeping health services operational in Ukraine by delivering medical supplies and assistance across the hard-hit areas of the country
- Working with neighbouring countries of Ukraine to make sure that the health needs of those fleeing from Ukraine are being met
- Supporting Ukraine's Ministry of Health to help build back a better health system for Ukraine
