Each year on April 7th, the world slows down for a moment and focuses on the health of every human in existence on the globe. The first world health day was celebrated in 1948 and has done nothing but create awareness of specific health themes each year. Over the last fifty years, such medical issues being focused on are mental health, maternal and child care, and climate change. These celebrations are marked differently throughout our country and other countries as well.
For 2020, the theme of world health day is “Giving ALL Access to Healthcare.” This message is to help spread awareness and bring light to the topics of ensuring that all living humans have the health coverage that they have a right to. Both governmental and nongovernmental organizations support this cause and help to raise funds for healthcare worldwide. The World Health Organization backs this cause. They are also responsible for:
- Promoting Development. Poverty is linked to poor health. By promoting development poverty falls and the overall health of a given population improves.
- Fosters Health Security. The WHO takes steps to increase health security by reducing health risks from outbreaks of new, existing and mutating diseases.
- Strengthens Health Systems. In poorer countries, many health systems are inadequate. The WHO strengthens these systems through various means which may include the provision of funding, access to drugs and relevant technology, data collection systems, and trained staff.
- Harnesses information, research, and evidence. The WHO uses evidence as a sound basis for setting health priorities, strategies and measuring results. In consultation with leading health experts, WHO provides authoritative health information.
- Enhances Partnerships. The WHO works closely with many health organizations around the world. They aim to improve or enhance the work of these organizations by encouraging them to use their evidence-based practices and follow their technical guidelines when implementing their health programs.
- Improves Performance. The WHO also strives to improve the performance of its own organization. In order to improve the performance or effectiveness of an organization, there need to be clear results which can be measured and compared.
World health day has focused on many health topics in the last decade. Some of those specific focused medical topics were:
- 2009: Save Lives. Make Hospitals Safe for Emergencies
- 2010: Urbanization and Health
- 2011: Antimicrobial Resistance
- 2012: Ageing and Health
- 2013: Healthy Blood Pressure
- 2014: Small Bites, Big Threats
- 2015: Food Safety
- 2016: Diabetes
- 2017: Depression: Let’s Talk
- 2018: Universal Healthcare: Everyone, Everywhere.
- 2019: Say Ahh: Act on Mouth Health
With each year’s theme, the World Health Organization provides a tool kit that includes advertising materials, ideas on how to get more community involvement, clearly defined messages to share, and information on how to plan and run events in your own community.
How can I spread the word about World Health Day?
On April 7th, begin the day by taking an hour to evaluate your own health. Whether good or bad, make a plan to stick to regarding medical check-ups, vision exams and dental workups for the year. Schedule your blood tests and your physical exam, especially if you have not had one for a long period of time.
You can take the time to interact with friends and family on social media discussing the importance of health care and medical care worldwide. You could share your medical story if you are living with cancer, illnesses or other life-altering issues. You could ask someone that is living with a medical issue to tell you about it, so you can also spread the word to others. By simply opening up these lines of communication, it takes the stigma or taboo edge off of medical subjects, which is very important.
How will the theme for 2020 benefit society?
The theme for 2020, ‘Giving ALL Access to Healthcare” will encourage people to take control of their health. Billions of people worldwide suffer from poor health and the growing burden of different diseases and issues. The World Health Organization believes that this theme will help to make disease more known and help to work towards more prevention and healing.
‘Giving ALL Access to Healthcare’ motivates people to take charge of their own health by taking specific action to prevent disease and protect their overall health. Beyond the individual level, the campaign will position oral health professionals as key stakeholders in educating patients on the wider implications of protecting their health. Helping them recognize that preventive care is always the best option, but early detection and treatment are also crucial to ensuring the best outcomes against disease and associated health complications. The campaign will also aim to secure a commitment from policymakers to address the oral disease burden and integrate oral health into policies that address other diseases.
The World Health Organization campaigns provide the best platform and resources for spreading awareness, raising funds, and educating the public about these important issues. By attempting to leverage community awareness and action, this helps to continue the growth on a global level in a positive manner. The WHO encourages everyone to stay up to date on current campaigns and information about the upcoming World Health Day on their website at www.worldoralhealthday.org
Resources Used:
World Health Organization
NIH
ACS
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