This year’s World Health Day’s theme aims to spread awareness for urgent actions through healthy, green initiatives. But one may ask “Why is World Health Day Important?”
World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7th April. The event is marked in commemoration of the anniversary of the World Health Organisation in 1948.
Every year, a specific theme is chosen to shed awareness on a particular health topic of concern. The theme calls upon global concern and deliberation in our undertakings to contribute towards a healthy body and a healthy planet. It encourages a movement to foster societies focused on a wholesome well-being.
While the planet is barely convalescing from the on-going onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, the planet has been bombarded with a series of long-lasting damages. Adding to that is the perpetual battle of climate crisis and pollution. All these have led to the plummeting of chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.
According to a report by World Health Organisation (2021), 71% of all deaths globally is accountable to the increasing wave of premature deaths caused by chronic non-communicable diseases. India being the 2nd most polluted city in the world is home to over 1.3 billion people. A new report generated by the latest United Nations Interrogate Panel on Climate Change 2021 report predicts that repercussions caused by climate change in India will be irreversible if New Delhi doesn’t take drastic measures by the next 2 decades.
The health and climate crisis are attributable to our political, social and commercial decisions. This year’s World Health Day’s theme aims to spread awareness for urgent actions through healthy, green initiatives. There is a need for a systemic overhaul of the policies made by the government by prioritising long term human well-being and ecological stability. The public has to be incentivized to make healthier choices starting from their very homes to uplifting and taking a part in the policies devised and implemented by the government.
In India, as with any developing country, while the government has been bearing most of the burden, there are in operation some well functioning NGOs like “Wishes and Blessings” that act as good Samaritans in their service towards the health of the marginalized people. The organization initially started with providing aid to visually impaired children. Today, the organisation is providing service towards the elderly, orphans, people with disabilities, destitute, and the homeless.
The NGO has been working on 20 different welfare objects and has impacted over 10, 00,000 lives. Based in Delhi NCR the organisation is currently operating in 8 states across the country. They work across all spectrums surpassing age, gender, social and economic demographics. They have set up day care centres, bespoke strategies, SOS relief, charitable homes for the elderly, initiated programmes like the Daily Meals Programme which has a direct impact on a person’s health and thereby contributing to the health of the planet.
Human beings envision a world with clean air, safe water, adequate sanitation, availability of healthy food, liveable cities, climate resilience and freedom from hazardous chemicals. But the question now arises- Are we doing our part enough as responsible citizens? This is a question we all need to ponder upon as we are being faced with alarming consequences of our planet’s health in modern times. The situation only seems to get bleaker by the day.
As we celebrate World Health Day, keeping in mind the theme, let us all make an effort starting from our very homes for eg switching off the lights to save energy, walking or taking the bus to ensure low carbon transport, plant more trees and plants, buying vegetables and groceries from your local farmers and producers, saying no to plastic, supporting and donating to NGOs who are delivering a commendable service to ease the plight of the mass underprivileged, engaging in healthy activities like exercising and yoga, practising meditation, taking care of one’s mental health and implementing awareness about the same.
The onus is not the government’s alone. We as members of Mother Earth are all responsible for making our home a healthier and safer place. As we strive towards our goal of a healthy body and a healthy planet, if you would like to know more about our organisation or would like to contribute through your efforts or in whatever way monetarily, do reach out to us or stay in tune with us. Together we can do better!
About the Author
Themreiphi AC is a content writer at Wishes and Blessings. She has a degree in Liberal Arts and a masters in Political Science. She believes in the idea of Kint-sugi and Wabi-sabi – embracing one’s imperfections and finding beauty and value in experiences. She would want a fairer equitable world, poorer of poverty, richer of social justice – with greater individual liberty to compete, think and dream.