World Health Day - April 7:

Health is wealth!

The theme of this year’s World Health Day which falls on April 7 will be Save Lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies. It focuses on the resilience (ability to recover from a setback) and safety of health facilities and the health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Events around the world will highlight successes, advocate for safe facility design and construction, and build momentum for widespread emergency preparedness.

How the WHO was founded

Most of you must be aware as to how the United Nations was formed by diplomats from a range of countries in 1945. One of the organisations formed was the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which first met in 1946. During this meeting, there were calls for the establishment of an organisation in the United Nations, which would be dedicated to health issues.

The new organisation was expected to carry on the work of the Office International d’Hygine Publique (the International Office for Public Hygiene) and the health units of the League of Nations.

These organisations were established in the early years of the 20th century, but were overburdened by the huge health consequences of the aftermath of World War I. As a result they were unable to function effectively when World War II started.

The new organisation was also expected to be responsible for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, which provided medical aid to millions of people in the aftermath of the devastating military action in Europe during the last part of World War II.

Heeding the call

The World Health Organisation(WHO) was founded on April 7, 1948. Since then, the organisation has carried out a huge amount of valuable work, including the global eradication of smallpox and the implementation of a wide range of public health strategies. Now, 193 countries are members and the organisation is still working to improve many aspects of health around the world.

At the first World Health Assembly in 1948, the delegates called for a World Health Day to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation. This has been held on April 7 every year since 1950. The day is used to draw attention to particular priorities in global health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is based in Geneva, Switzerland with satellite offices around the world. Established in 1948 as a United Nations agency for health, WHO’s constitutional objective is to ensure that “all people attain the highest possible level of health”. As set out in the WHO’s constitution, health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease”.

The governing body of the WHO is the World Health Assembly that is made up of representatives from the 191 nations who are members of the United Nations.

For every one of the UN member nations, a major issue is providing health care to its citizens. Whether rich or poor, every country deals with problems such as: Which medicines and vaccines should be made available to the citizens of our country? Who should pay for those medicines, the government or individuals? How will these drugs be distributed within our country? How should the government provide for those people who are too poor to pay for medical care?

The UN symbol features a projection of a world map (less Antarctica) centered on the North Pole, inscribed in a wreath consisting of crossed conventionalised branches of the olive tree. The olive branches symbolise peace and the world map depicts the area of concern to the UN in achieving its main purpose, peace and security. The projection of the map extends to 60 degrees south latitude, and includes five concentric circles.

Facts: Internet