‘Building a fairer, healthier world’, will be the focus of this year’s World Health Day, is celebrated on 7th April. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that- This World Health Day, we’re calling for action to eliminate health inequities, as part of a year-long global campaign to bring people together to build a fairer, healthier world. The campaign highlights WHO’s a constitutional principle that “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”
A Little History
In December 1945, Brazil and China proposed the formation of an all-encompassing and independent international health organization. Subsequently, in July 1946, in New York, the proposal was approved and on 7th April 1948, 61 countries came together to sign in the agreement for the formation of this NGO.
The day was first observed on 22nd July in the year 1949, but the date was later on changed to 7th April, the same date when WHO was officially established. Therefore, in 1950, the day was officially observed for the first time.
“The objective of World Health Day is to raise global awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization (WHO)”, states WHO.
Latest Stats By WHO
- For the first time in 20 years, global poverty levels are predicted to rise and hinder the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals
- Up to 60% of people living in some countries of the Region lack coverage with essential health services
- More than 1 billion people living in informal settlements or slums are facing increased challenges in preventing infection and transmission of the coronavirus
World Health Day And Surging Cases Of COVID-19
While the country is still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, today on World Health Day, the ETV Bharat Sukhibhava team spoke to some of its panel doctors regarding the new strain of the novel coronavirus that has hit India and the cases are constantly on a surge.
Regarding the severity of the “second wave” of COVID-19, as it is being said, Dr. Sanjay K. Jain, MBBS, MD (Medicine), associated with Apple Hospital, Indore says that since COVID-19 is a viral infection, the virus always tends to change its structure over time. The structure of the novel coronavirus has also changed and in other words, we can say that the virus is mutating. Along with the changed structure, the way the virus is affecting has also changed. Therefore, the virus is infecting at a faster rate and people are having severe symptoms including body ache, sore throat, cold and dry cough. While in contrast to the severe symptoms, another thing that we are seeing is that many people who are testing positive for the virus are asymptomatic as well, which is dangerous as they can be the carriers of the virus if they do not isolate themselves. More hospital admissions are required on an urgent basis. But comparatively, the death rate is rather lower, he says, probably because people are getting tested and treated immediately.
Senior Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Hem Joshi also expresses concern about the condition. He explains that although people with comorbidities are still at a higher risk, the number of patients visiting him, whose whole family has been infected with the virus has increased. However, if the condition of an infected person is not severe, then solely by isolating at home, taking the medicines prescribed by the doctor regularly, and following all the guidelines, they can manage their condition and prevent from infecting others.
On being asked the same thing to a child specialist doctor, Paediatrician Dr. Sonali Navle Purandare says that during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was believed that the virus does not affect children much because their immunity is strong. However, with the new wave that has begun in our country, cases of the novel coronavirus have risen in children too. She explains that the mutation is affecting children of all ages, right from a 2-3 months old baby. The symptoms seen in them are not very different and the common ones are cough, cold, and fever.
At the same time, another Paediatrician Dr. Latika Joshi says that if the symptoms are not looked after in children, they can become carriers of the virus in the family. So even if your child is having any mild symptoms, get them tested immediately and seek medical advice.
Discussing mental health in the light of the new wave of the novel coronavirus, senior Psychiatrist Dr. Veena Krishnan, based in Dehradun explains that the mental health of people is being heavily affected. When initially this year, the cases began declining and the vaccination drive began, people became very hopeful that their life was heading towards normalcy. But, with the sudden surge in cases all over the country, people are facing more depression and anxiety than last time. They are feeling helpless and doomed. Although the cases of people suffering from mental conditions are not very as such, the intensity of anxiousness has increased. We can also say that there is a relapse of cases.
Therefore, amidst the new mutant of COVID-19 that is affecting people at a high rate, remember that we must not compromise our health at any cost. Eat healthy and nutritious food and exercise regularly to keep your immunity boosted so that the virus does not have a severe effect on your body.
Apart from this, maintaining your mental health too is important. Look for facts over fake social media forwards and carefully choose what you read. Avoid reading too much news, which is likely to negatively affect your mental state. Also, do not let people mislead you with fake information about the vaccines. Vaccines are safe and getting yourself vaccinated will prevent you from severe complications of the virus if you get infected.
COVID-19 has hit the whole world very hard, but its greatest impact is on the marginalized and financially backward communities, who are unable to seek medical requirements on time. Therefore, as the theme of the day states, we should together work on preventing health inequities and ensure proper and timely health services to everyone in need, regardless of their social and financial backgrounds.
