World Health Day 2023 (Health for all)

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 World Health Day 2023 (Health for all)

Background

We all know about the World health organization (WHO) is the largest international organization which deals with health and health related events and problems.

WHO was established on 7th April 1948, which has been celebrated as WORLD HEALTH DAY (WHD) every year. Theme for 2023 WHD is HEALTH FOR ALL.

In 2023, this will be 75th World health day and as well as the 75th anniversary of WHO establishment. In this article we will discuss about the various improvement and remaining problems in the world which may directly or indirectly affect health of the people.

 

WHO achievements

WHO had done many things regards to health of the people but followings are some major achievement of WHO during its long journey of 75 years.

Eradication of small pox

This is the viral disease recognized in two forms Variola minor with 1% mortality rate and Variola major with approximately 30% mortality rate.

In 1967, WHO launched the intensified plan to eradicate smallpox and followed successful campaign to archived global immunization. In 1980 the WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY announced smallpox as the eradicated disease.

 

Poliomyelitis (polio) near to eradication !

World health assembly in 1988 embraced resolution to eradicate polio and set into the motion Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Wild polio cases reduced to 99% since 1988. Out of three strains (type 1, type 2 and type 3) as at 2022 only type 3 remains in two countries namely Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

Children immunization close to universal

Currently immunization prevented approximately 3.3-5 million deaths every year from the diseases like Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, influenza and measles.

Now immunization is the human right and is the component of primary health care. Immunization coverage is improving but it dropped from 86% in 2019 to 81% in 2021.

First Ever Malaria Vaccine



Through pilot programme coordinated by WHO, 1 million Children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi have received world's first malaria vaccine.

 

Formidable Challenges remain

WHO mentioned some formidable Challenges in its recently released media talks which are difficult to deal. Some of the challenges are:

  1. Confluence of crises such as armed conflicts, spread of infectious diseases, Non-communicable diseases, insecurity and fragility, antimicrobial and drug resistance and climate change etc.
  2. Misinformation, disinformation and loss of trust in institutions
  3. Science and health institutions at gunpoint.
  4.  Commercial determinants of health such as tobacco industries which are profit-driven
  5. Persistent health inequalities, which hindering the pathway to achieve UN SDG goal Health for all.
  6. It brings complexity for the world to ensure sufficient and predictable funding for WHO which meets value of the organization.

 

Conclusion

So WHO with other collaborative health organizations and agencies achieved immense health goals that saved lot of people's lives. But with this we cannot sit there are many problems that are to be faced and tackled such COVID-19 which has been affected 760 million people globally including 6 million deaths.

 

What is your opinion for Covid-19 crisis how this can be tackle?


References 

https://www.who.int/campaigns/75-years-of-improving-public-health

https://www.who.int/teams/health-product-and-policy-standards/standards-and-specifications/vaccine-standardization/smallpox


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