World Health Day 2021

WORLD HEALTH DAY 2021 - UNFOLDING THE THEME

1. 2021

2. About This Day The World Health Organisation was established on  7 th April 1948. 7 th April is commemorated as World Health Day since 1950.

3. THEME Each World Health Day is given a Theme, to draw attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world each year. The WHO organizes international, regional and local events on the Day related to a particular theme. World Health Day is acknowledged by various governments and non-governmental organizations, who also organize activities and highlight their support in media reports.

4. THEME OF 2021 WORLD HEALTH DAY

5. OUR WORLD IS AN UNEQUAL ONE COVID-19 has highlighted that some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others. Inequalities caused by position, status and voice in society and the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age. All over the world, some groups not only have limited access to quality health services but also struggle to make ends meet with little daily income, have poorer access to safe housing conditions and quality education, fewer employment opportunities that pay a living wage, inequality, and have little or no access to safe environments, clean water and health care services, and experience food insecurity. These conditions can lead to unnecessary suffering, avoidable illness, and premature death, and it harms our societies and economies.

6. THIS IS NOT ONLY UNFAIR: IT IS PREVENTABLE WHO is calling on leaders to ensure that everyone has living and working conditions that are conducive to good health. At the same time urging leaders to monitor health inequities, and to ensure that all people are able to access quality health services when and where they need them.  COVID-19 has hit all countries hard, but its 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.

7. LEADERS SHOULD WORK TOGETHER COLLECT RELIABLE DATA TACKLE INEQUITIES ACT BEYOND BORDERS Work hand in hand with affected communities and individuals to address the root causes of inequities and to implement solutions within and beyond the health sector to address them. The impact will be greatest when governments and communities work together, in a coordinated approach. Ensure collection and use of timely and reliable health data  - disaggregated by gender, age, income, education, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant to the national context. Only then is it possible to assess inequities across population subgroups and take actions that have impact.   Adopt a whole-of-government approach to  tackling the root causes of ineaquities   and increase investment in primary health care. This is key to meeting today’s challenges of ensuring Health for All and to building the resilience of tomorrow.  Act beyond national borders.  For example, only when we can protect, test and treat the whole global population can we end the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as assuring an equitable supply of vaccines, tests and treatments, we must strengthen national and international mechanisms and build community trust and participation into their delivery and uptake to ensure access for all globally. 

8. WHO is committed to ensuring that everyone, everywhere, can realize the right to good health.

9. https://www.who.int/data/gho