RIFKA ZIYARD
COLOMBO: The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on April 7, 1948. With effect from the year 1950, April 7 of each year marks the celebration of World Health Day. The celebration aims to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the WHO.
The theme this year is Building a fairer, healthier world.
WHO notes that COVID-19 has highlighted, some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others.
However, all over the world, some groups struggle to make ends meet with little daily income, have poorer housing conditions and education, fewer employment opportunities, experience greater gender inequality, and have little or no access to safe environments, clean water and air, food security and health services. This leads to unnecessary suffering, avoidable illness, and premature death. And it harms our societies and economies.
COVID-19 impact has been harshest on those communities which were already vulnerable, who are more exposed to the disease, less likely to have access to quality health care services and more likely to experience adverse consequences as a result of measures implemented to contain the pandemic.
The World Health Organization is calling on leaders to ensure that everyone has living and working conditions that are conducive to good health. Hence WHO theme focuses on Building a fairer, healthier world!
Refer https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2021
for more details.
