Health and climate change

So much has been written on climate change of late, and so much is being done around the world to counteract the adverse effects of climate-related phenomena like global warming. Awareness about these climatic conditions and changes may have increased as a result, but public action in this regard still has not increased in proportion.

The recent emphasis on climate change has been extended to this year’s World Health Day observation as well, to be observed on April 7; the 2008 theme calls for global action to ‘Protect health from climate change’.

This theme was announced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland last year. The day’s events are also organised by the WHO to urge governments, organisations and businesses to pay more attention to climate change and its effects on the future of the world.

The WHO was born in 1948 out of international commitment to build global security and peace. By highlighting on an important global issue such as climate change, it is expected that the world will again be brought closer with this common goal in mind.

Climate change will place even greater pressure on the environment and the world’s resources including its water. Sustainable development meanwhile leads to a healthy environment and enhanced public health.

The First World Health Assembly was held by the WHO in 1948. Observing April 7 as World Health Day, to create awareness about a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for health workers, started in 1950. April 7 commemorates the day of the founding of the WHO. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the WHO.