“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver: – Mahatma Gandhi.
World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 every year, the theme for world health day 2021 is Building a fairer, healthier world. The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization, as well as other related organizations.
For this year, WHO notes that COVID-19 has highlighted that some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others – entirely due to the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age.
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, states WHO, and it harms our societies and economies.
Hence it is necessary that those gaps be bridged and opportunities for better health care to be provided for those that rarely get it especially the Covid19 vaccines currently on the move in various countries.
This year’s World health day celebrates the work of all health front line workers fighting day and night to keep children safe and healthy. We also celebrate the front line workers that availed themselves during the Corona pandemic and worked tirelessly to help people cope during that period. Their sacrifices which included staying away from family for long periods of time, taking care of infected patients one on one, carrying out strenuous jobs round the clock to ensure the survival of patients brought in. They stood at risk of contracting the virus yet they worked with commitment.
Ways you can celebrate these great people would be;
- Call a health worker you know and appreciate him or her.
- Send care packages to hospitals and health care centers.
- Spread the word about the work they do.
- Volunteer at a health center.
- Show support to them.
- Send a card saying ” wishing you good health today on world health day”.
This activities can go a long way in showing appreciation for their hard labor and continued work.
The Covid19 pandemic reminds us of how valuable vaccines are to curb the spread of diseases which have terrible consequences. And health workers are currently administering vaccines at different parts of the world, they deserve all the support they can get and by volunteering at local health centers to assist them effectively Dole out the doses of AstraZenaca vaccine is a good humanitarian deed.
Take better care of your health today and help those who can’t afford better health care do same especially when it is within your means. Help the world today and always stay safe and healthy, keep using nose masks and washing your hands regularly under running water. Be intentional about your hygiene and nutrition.