‘Health is an outfit that looks different in everybody’
7th April marks World Health Day, a day set aside to celebrate the progress that has been made in global health and draw attention to areas where more work needs to be done.
History of the esteemed day
World Health day 2023
WHO’s view point of health
The global health campaigns
Achievements of the subcontinent of India in the field of global health
The idea of health and disease has undergone several phases throughout history. From the spread of diseases regarding sanitation problems to communicable diseases and then to non communicable ones, every phase reinforced the world with new technology and created simpler and more accessible ways of being healthy.
As the saying goes, ‘never has staying healthy been so easy’.
Let’s appreciate the decision makers on this novel occasion of World Health Day.
History of the esteemed day
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a UN agency guided by science and dedicated to the wellbeing of people. It was founded in 1946 with its constitution finalizing by 1947. Finally it conducted its 1st theme based assembly on April 7, 1948, thus marking the day as WORLD HEALTH DAY.
World Health Day 2023
- To celebrate the World Health Day, each year, a theme is selected highlighting a priority area of public health concern in the world.
The theme of the World Health Day 2023 is ‘Health For All’, targeted towards making health and healthcare more accessible for everyone and everywhere.
In addition, WHO’s 75th anniversary year is an opportunity to look back at the public health successes that have improved quality of life during the last 7 decades and an opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today and tomorrow.
WHO’s viewpoint of health
WHO defines health as,
‘a state of physical, social and mental well-being and not merely the absence of an infirmity’.
Thus it focuses not only on making the physical health of a person disease-free but also the societal and mental aspect of the health. This involves major field of life like drug abuse, child delinquencies, anxiety or depression like areas in life and much more.
The modern concept throws light on how mental and social health can deprive a person from being healthy by disturbing one’s endocrine and neural mechanisms of the body.
But needless to say, WHO has been focussing on these areas as well and started many campaigns for the same.
The Global Health Campaigns
Since its inception, WHO has targeted hundreds of diseases for both cure and eradication from the human dwelled areas.
Polio, Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Malaria, tropical diseases gave been targeted since very early.
Other recent areas include a meticulous focus on non communicable disease, programmes on mental health, and completely immunizing every nation.
It has been running its programmes in a phased manner and with targets and goals according to the potential of different nations.
Thus, different decades brought into notice different levels of health and forms of being healthy.
Achievements of the subcontinent of India in the field of global health
India has been an enthusiastic member of WHO for a long time now. It has witnessed a no. of advances when it comes to health and wellness. Some worth mentioning ones are:
India was declared polio free on March 27, 2014 by WHO
It works for the full immunization of every child throughout the nation against 8 EPI diseases.
India successfully organized numerous catch up campaigns against diseases like Measles and Rubella under WHO, markedly limiting their spread
It has set up various disease surveillance platforms for screening and early detection of infirmities, thus providing early and effective treatment
Despite cure, it promotes the concept of positive health
Despite every achievement and advancement in the field of health, it is nevertheless crucial to mention that global health is an ocean made of a collection of drops that a common man contributes to it.
Our health is in our hands. Trust the decision makers, go for a healthy lifestyle and make an impact.
Afterall,
Only a life lived in the service of others is worth living.
