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World Health Day - Invest in health, build a safer future

Dr. Rabindra Pandey
MPH (RCH SPECIALIZATION)
NUB, BANGLADESH

(The article has won the first prize in the essay competition
on Slogan of WORLD HEALTH DAY 2007,
in all university competition of Bangladesh)

“Life and health are out most precious possessions. We have the knowledge and unprecedented resources to build a healthier, safer world.” - Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the UN

Background
In the year 1948, the World Health Organization held the First World Health Assembly. The Assembly decided to celebrate 7th April of each year, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day. Each year on April 7th, the world celebrates World Health Day. On this day around the globe, thousands of events mark the importance of health for productive and happy lives. The World Health Day is celebrated to create “awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization (WHO)”. Activities - related to that particular theme and the resources provided - continue beyond 7th April, that is, the designated day for celebrating the World Health Day. Every year World Health Day puts different themes than previous year for example in 2006 the theme was “Working together for health” and this year "international health security". The aim of the Day is to urge governments, organizations and businesses to "Invest in health, build a safer future".
Health is maintained through the science and practice of medicine, but can also be improved by individual effort. Physical fitness, weight loss, a healthy diet, stress management training and stop smoking and other substance abuse are examples of steps to improve one's health. This year's theme is international health security.

An increasing measure of the health of populations is height, which is strongly regulated by nutrition and health care among other standard of living and quality of life. The aim of the Day is to urge Governments, organizations and businesses to "Invest in health, build a safer future". Health systems need to be ready to handle crises affecting public health, thus minimizing damage to people, the community and the economy.

 Health and poverty
Low health status is considered one of the principal no income characteristics of poverty. Poor People are most susceptible to illness and premature death from dietary causes, and their Children are prone to low birth weight and also generally lack access to medical care. As a result, poor people suffer disproportionately from ill health. The poorest 20% of the global population are 14 times more likely to die in childhood than the richest 20% of the world’s population. Similarly, in Asia, more women die during pregnancy in a week than women in Europe in a year (DFID, 2000).

Good health is both an end and a means to reducing poverty. Illness causes suffering and pain, which poor people identify as a key aspect of being poor. Perhaps the largest cost is when a household income earner is unable to pursue his or her livelihood. Illness or death of a family member also causes poverty through loss of the income-earning capacity of the deceased. This lost income and associated cost of treatment can push people further into poverty. Poor households often build up debts, sell land, or reduce spending on other items to pay for health care. For those who lack material and other productive assets, labor power and a healthy body are the core components of their livelihood and even survival strategy (World Bank, 2000)

 World Health Day and Theme of World Health Day 2007:
 Emerging and epidemic-prone diseases and outbreaks, such as SARS and avian flu, as well as the continuing spread of HIV/AIDS, humanitarian emergencies, and other acute health threats can all be defined as public health emergencies. International health security is the first line of defense against health shocks that can devastate people, societies and economies worldwide. Implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) from June 2007 will help to build and strengthen mechanisms for outbreak alert and response at national and international levels, and contribute to making the world more secure.  

Human concerns & International health security issues- A prospective view;
World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Singapore, have launched the World Health Day 2007 theme of international health security and sent a global message to "Invest in health, build a safer future." We have to focus on the urgent need to improve international health security because “Globalization has increased countries’ vulnerability and interdependence. Health issues are among the major challenges that call for stronger strategic focus and closer international cooperation." In a highly interconnected world, diseases spread fast and recognize no boundaries. The eight issues linked to international health security are:

1) Emerging diseases: new, highly contagious diseases, such as SARS and avian influenza, know no borders. Their potential to cause international harm means that outbreaks cannot be treated as purely national issues. In the last few decades, new diseases began emerging at an unprecedented rate.

Economic stability: public heath dangers have economic as well as health consequences. With fewer than 10,000 cases, SARS cost Asian countries US $ 60 billion of gross expenditure and business losses in the second quarter of 2003 alone.

Invest in health, build a safer future”-
From the angle of economics also health can be regarded as capital because capital is whatever people make to help them make other things. Having health helps a person make things, so health is capital. Health care is purchased to enhance health. Health enhances our enjoyment of life. It is also consumption good. Health enhances labor productivity. An investment is any action that increases capital, including human capital. Health care is an investment good, too

Health is wealth so without a sound health and sound mind nobody can make a sound nation. In 21st century if we really want a safer future then we have to invest much more resources like man, money and materials in health sector. The WHO slogan highlights the crucial need to invest in human resources and strengthened health systems to enable the international community to effectively meet the public health risks and challenges. To make safer future of the world we have to work together. "When the world is collectively at risk, defense becomes a shared responsibility of all nations.

The 2007 World Health Day slogan ‘Invest in health, build a safer future’ addresses one of the most vital concerns of out times. Globalization, rapid travel and trade make it much easier for new and existing diseases to leap over national borders and threaten our collective security. It seems quite urgent to reduce the vulnerability of people around the world to new, acute or rapidly spreading risks to health, particularly those that threaten to cross international borders. In a globalize world, health issues present new challenges that go far beyond national borders and have an impact on the collective security of people around the world. Increased collaboration among developed and developing countries will enable the international community to be better prepared to strengthen national capacities to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. This will provide a global safety net to deal with key cross-border public health issues and in turn help to make the world more secure. It is urgent to introduce key issues of international health security to a global audience in order to provoke debate among governments, community leaders, civil society, the corporate sector and United Nations agencies on how best to protect people from new and acute threats to their health.

Conclusion & Recommendation;

When health threats become so great that they menace a country’s infrastructure and health system, and threaten that of its neighbors, only a global vision of health shared by all countries and promoted by WHO can build trust and improve international health security. Each nation’s capacity to prevent and manage public health emergencies and to take part in joint initiatives with other countries is vital to decreasing vulnerability to health threats, increasing international health security, broadening partnerships and building diplomatic relations. In this way, approaching public health within a context of collective global solidarity enhances the security of all nations. Strengthening health systems globally is an altruistic act directed towards those in need that also serves national interests of reducing domestic vulnerability to international health risks. If all stakeholders – countries, international organizations, civil society and the private sector – work together effectively to address global public health challenges, whether that means a localized outbreak, the threat of a pandemic, or access to medicines, vaccines and other public health goods, the world can become a safer and healthier place.

World Health Day for 2007 “reflects one of the most vital concerns of our times: How can we stay safe in a globalized world, where diseases can spread from one continent to another in mere hours?” Pandemics, natural disasters, chemical and nuclear accidents, climate change and its consequences, and bioterrorism all have the potential to affect international public health security. Multinational partnerships are needed to expand access to drugs and vaccines, improve public health infrastructure in developing countries, and launch better public health work force education programs worldwide to ensure safer future. The regulations require countries to maintain surveillance and response capacities that allow them to detect, assess, and report important public health events, and to intervene with public health measures. "They are also encouraged to share information in a transparent way and to collaborate in solidarity among countries Emergency Preparedness and Response at the country as well as international level is also an investment to secure health.”Health security in countries is the basis of international      health   security".
 
                    “Threats to health know no borders. In an age of widespread global trade and travel, new and existing diseases can cross national borders and threaten our collective security. Only through strong collaboration among developed and developing countries, together with an increased focus on information sharing and the strengthening of public health systems and surveillance. Their implementation will help to build and strengthen effective mechanisms for outbreak alert and response at national and international levels. We must continue to invest and build.”

- Dr .Margaret Chan
Director-General
World Health Organization