7 April 2022
Today, April 7, marks the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948. As such it is also the WHO’s designated World Health Day.
In the midst of a pandemic, a polluted planet, increasing diseases like cancer, asthma, heart disease, on World Health Day 2022, WHO says it will focus global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy and foster a movement to create societies focused on well-being.
WHO estimates that more than 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes. This includes the climate crisis which is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. The climate crisis is also a health crisis.
“Our political, social and commercial decisions are driving the climate and health crisis. Over 90% of people breathe unhealthy air resulting from burning of fossil fuels,’’ WHO says.
“A heating world is seeing mosquitos spread diseases farther and faster than ever before. Extreme weather events, land degradation and water scarcity are displacing people and affecting their health. Pollution and plastics are found at the bottom of our deepest oceans, the highest mountains, and have made their way into our food chain.
Systems that produce highly processed, unhealthy foods and beverages are driving a wave of obesity, increasing cancer and heart disease while generating a third of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“Our political, social and commercial decisions are driving the climate and health crisis. Over 90% of people breathe unhealthy air resulting from burning of fossil fuels. A heating world is seeing mosquitos spread diseases farther and faster than ever before.
“Extreme weather events, land degradation and water scarcity are displacing people and affecting their health. Pollution and plastics are found at the bottom of our deepest oceans, the highest mountains, and have made their way into our food chain. Systems that produce highly processed, unhealthy foods and beverages are driving a wave of obesity, increasing cancer and heart disease while generating a third of global greenhouse gas emissions.”
WHO’s recommended actions to protect our planet and health for health workers and health facilities:
• Support efforts to reduce health care waste.
• Provide sustainably grown local food and ensure healthy food choices by reducing sodas and highly processed and packaged food in health facilities.
• Decarbonize health facilities.
• Identify opportunities to save energy.
• Ensure safe clean water at health facilities.
• Support purchase of environmentally friendly products that are easily recyclable or reusable.
• Advocate for health to be at the centre of climate change policies
For individuals actions include:
• Raising your voice and demanding climate actions to protect your health.
• Take action, inspire others – join WHO’s five-point plan:
o Walk or pedal to work at least one day a week. Choose public transport.
o Change to a renewable energy provider; don’t heat your rooms over 21.5C; turn off the light when not in the room.
o Buy your fresh groceries from local producers and avoid highly processed foods and beverages.
o Tobacco is a killer and a polluter. Stop consuming tobacco.
o Buy less plastic; use recyclable grocery bags.
WHO has drafted up a raft of social posts for people to post, such as: Nine out of ten people breathe polluted air. Stop burning fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas. #HealthierTomorrow
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