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2009 Theme
World Health Day 2009 focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Health centres and staff are critical life-lines for vulnerable people in disasters - treating injuries, preventing illnesses and caring for people's health needs.
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World Health Day, on 7 April, marks the founding of the World Health Organization and is an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year.
World Health Day marks the founding of WHO. It is the Organization's most visible effort to raise awareness of a key global health issue selected each year. The First World Health Assembly created the event in 1948 and it has been celebrated on 7 April annually since 1950. WHO organizes international, regional and local events on the Day and throughout the year to highlight the selected priority health area.
In 2008, World Health Day focuses on the need to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change.
The theme “protecting health from climate change” puts health at the centre of the global dialogue about climate change. WHO selected this theme in recognition that climate change is posing ever growing threats to global public health security.
Climate change
The health impacts of climate change are already evident in different ways: more people are dying from excessive heat than before, changes are occurring in the incidence of vector-borne diseases, and the pattern of natural disasters is altering.
The health impacts of climate change will be difficult to reverse in a few years or decades. Yet, many of these possible impacts can be avoided or controlled. There are established steps in health and related sectors to reduce the exposure to and the effect of changing climate.
Moreover, many of the steps needed to prevent climate change have positive health benefits. For example, increased use of bicycles and public transport instead of personal cars in industrialized countries will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will also improve air quality and lead to better respiratory health and fewer premature deaths. The increase in physical activity from cycling and walking may lead to less obesity and fewer obesity-related illness. The sooner these steps are taken, the greater their impact will be on public health.
Objectives of World Health Day
The objective of World Health Day 2008 is to catalyse public participation in the global campaign to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change. WHO aims to put public health at the centre of the UN agenda on climate change.
This is an opportunity for the international agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and governments as well as WHO to:
* Establish links between climate change and health and other development areas such as environment, food, energy, transport;
* Hold events/activities in countries to publicize issues related to the impact of climate change on health;
* Involve as wide a spectrum of the world population as possible in efforts to stabilize climate change;
* Create advocacy campaigns for generating momentum that compels governments, the international community, civil society and individuals to take action;
* Protect poor and vulnerable populations from the effects of climate change, especially in Africa.
Our Participation is needed
* Raise awareness and public understanding of the global and locally relevant health consequences of climate change.
* Advocate for interdisciplinary and intersectoral partnerships from the local to international level that seek to improve health through rapid deployment of mitigation strategies to stabilize climate change and development of proactive adaptation programmes to minimize health impacts.
* Generate effective actions by local communities, organizations, health systems and governments to reduce the impact of climate change on health through urgent application of mitigation and adaptation techniques.
* Demonstrate the health community’s role in facing the challenges globally and in regions, countries and communities.
* Spark commitment and action among governments, international organizations, donors, civil society, businesses and communities (especially among young people) to anchor health at the heart of the climate change agenda.
Poorer is worst hit
The physical effects of climate change will vary in different geographical locations. The human health impacts from climate change are further modified by such conditions as level of development, poverty and education, public health infrastructure, land use practices and political structure. Initially, developing countries will be hit the hardest. Countries with high levels of poverty and malnutrition, weak health infrastructures and/or political unrest will be the least able to cope. Moreover, if we fail to address climate change and its effects on health, we risk jeopardizing even further our ability to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
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