7th of April every year is World Health Day. The day is set aside to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948.
World Health Day provides a global opportunity to focus attention on important public health issues that affect the international community.
In celebrating this year’s anniversary, Fresh FM’s Correspondent, Olusola Olagunju sought medical experts’ views on this year’s theme: Our Health, Our Planet.
An Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, Mohandas Gandhi described “health as the real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver” Good health is central to handling stress, living a longer and more active life. It brings strength, self-confidence in one’s life and helps one to achieve dreams.
World Health Day was first observed on July 22, 1949, but the date was later changed to 7th of April every year. The day symbolises how unparalleled value of good health is celebrated. World Health Day is being Spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), an organization which promotes physical, mental, and emotional well-being, all over the world.
World Health Day 2022 focuses on Our Planet, Our Health, calling global urgent attention and actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy in the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet, increasing diseases like cancer, asthma, heart disease and so on.
Speaking on the importance of healthy living, a pharmacist, Dr Temitayo Ajayi said living healthy is paramount to one’s destiny fulfillment.
She further suggested ways of maintaining a culture of healthy living in the society.
“There should be hospitals,I mean hospitals that are hospitals indeed,they should make it affordable to individuals to take his or her health very seriously,go for medical checkup,it’s not only when you are sick,eat right, maintain good relationship and keep your environment clean”
Also speaking on this year’s theme, a senior lecturer at the University of Ibadan and Consultant Physiotherapist to University College Hospital, Dr. Adeolu Jaiyesinmi opined that human health is dependent upon the environment of existence.
“Whatever is the situation of the planet,it has some influence on our health eventually.In South Africa,we have lots of high mountains that are covered with Ice, with the global warming,the Ice is becoming melted, with the melting of Ice flooding into the sea,so the water level of the sea is arising,hence, you begin to hear of all these floods,,tsunami”.
Dr Jaiyesinmi further admonished Nigerians to take responsibility for their well being.
“A house divided against itself can not stand,the health sector is a house that is already totally divided.The solution is for government to become non partisan,we are not asking for equality but equity.Let every Nigerian be alert to their personal responsibility toward their own good health, health is wealth.
Health care workers are dealing with lives,a little carelessness can be very expensive,they must continually update themselves,to be at the cutting edge of their practices”
Also speaking on the significance of world health day, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji has appraised the commitment of the present administration in Oyo State toward the health of people.
“This government has commenced by renovating and upgrading.In line with World Health system, there’s a plan to recruit minimum of 2,000 personnel to work in Primary Health Care System.The government has approved that that every month for the running of primary health care system in the state,7.5% of the Federal allocation coming to the local government is to be devolve in to servicing of primary health care service in Oyo State”.
In all, everyone has a part to play in healthy living, people, the health workforce and the government should be more awake to the responsibilities because the healthier we are the more efficient and better we will be.
