The worldwide celebrations on the 7th April every year as The World Health Day, mark the founding day of the World Health Organization in the year 1948. In the First Health Assembly of the Organisation held in the same year, a suggestion for creation of a 'World health Day' to mark the founding of WHO was voiced and as a consequence, from 1950, 7th April is being observed as the World Health Day annually. The celebrations generate an opportunity to draw the worldwide attention to global health care which is a vital issue as far as the poor and developing nations are concerned. World Health Day is a worldwide opportunity provided to focus on key public health issues that affect the international community in general.
Whatever said and done, threats to health know no boundaries. It is shocking to go through the information about new diseases, viruses and conditions that are affecting the mankind day by day. Public at large are not really aware of the seriousness of the situation. Strong collaboration among developed and developing countries with an increased focus on information sharing and the strengthening of public health systems and surveillance could only be the means to control, contain and eradicate the menace whenever it occurs. It is imperative that public from the root level should be taught about the dangers of the diseases and the ways as to how to prevent or get cured This is what WHO accomplishes through observing the World Health Day.
World Health Organisation
When diplomats from all over the world met in San Francisco to form the United Nations in 1945, one of the things that was proposed, was setting up a global health organization. As a result, the constitution of WHO came to force on the 7th April 1948.
It is a body responsible for directing, coordinating and monitoring the matters relating to the global health within the United Nations system. The World Health Organization aims at providing each and every member of the society easy access to fundamental and vital healthcare. It has taken in hand the task of providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries. Eradication of poverty and diseases is also on the top most agenda of the WHO.WHO has 147 country offices, six regional offices with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Doctors, epidemiologists, scientists, managers, administrators and other professionals over 8000 in number from all over the world work for WHO. The first World Health Assembly of WHO in 1948 was attended by 53 delegates of its 55 member states. In the Assembly it was decided that WHO's top priorities would be malaria, women's and children's health, tuberculosis, venereal disease, nutrition and environmental sanitation. New communicable diseases such as HIV, AIDS etc that are not even known during the formation of the Organisation and spread of new epidemics have added to its responsibilities.
After golbalisation, the world has very much shrunk as far as communication and travel are concerned. And health care has become a collective responsibility of all Nations and imperative to fight against transnational threats. WHO has to keep a constant vigil over this matter and provide appropriate guidance and take action wherever necessary.
WHO has a good number of records for its commendable service with regard to health related issues; eliminating onchocerciasis (or river blindness) from West Africa after a prolonged and hectic efforts for 30 years is the one among the yeomen services of WHO. It is reported that about 600 thousand cases of blindness have been prevented and 18 million children spared from the disease.
World Health Day Celebration
By celebrating the World Health Day the World Health Organization attempts to raise awareness of a key global health issue that is selected each year to deal with. This task is accomplished by organizing international, regional and local events for the Day and the selected priority health area is highlighted. Different activities on a specific health theme selected for the year go through almost throughout the year in order to ensure that the theme in question gets full attention of the public at large. Long term advocacy programmes such as outdoor concerts, health forums, clean-up campaigns ect. are arranged to woo the public whereby they can be taught the facts of the priority health area. Issues related to the impact of the specific health crises are published through various media. Campaigns are organized to exert pressure on governments, the international community etc, to take appropriate steps and on civil society and individuals to make them aware of the related issues.Some of the focal themes that were chosen for WDH celebrations in the past are Global Polio Eradication, Healthy Cities for Better Life, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Safe Motherhood, Active Aging Makes the Difference, Safe Blood Starts with Me, Mental Health: Stop Exclusion, Dare to Care, Move for Health, Shape the future of life and Working Together for Health. Recent World Health Day themes have included emerging infectious diseases that are posing ever growing threats to global health security, maternal health, and mental health.
Conclusion
Health and good estate of body are above all good.Gautama Buddha: 'The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, and not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.'Good health is the dream of every human being. But in reality, huge numbers of people throughout the world experience ill health. Lifestyle-related diseases like cancers, nervousness, mental breakdown, heart and industrial disease, alcoholism and drug addiction are commonly prevalent and poor people are afflicted by diseases of poverty like malnutrition, tuberculosis and many infectious diseases due to lack of even basic primary health care facilities. According to WHO's report in 2002, "lack of physical activity leads to more than 2 million deaths per year and combined with improper diet and tobacco use, causes most premature coronary heart diseases and also increases the risk of several cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, blood lipid disorders, osteoporosis, depression and anxiety".
Achieving a satisfactory level of health and well-being for all people across the world is the motive of WHO and the purpose of it observing WHD. Provision of primary health care, clean environment, potable water, adequate sanitation, food, shelter and education for the poor is the need of the hour. Every one of us individually should understand the mission and live up to the objective of WHO.