Universal Health.
Universal health is about ensuring that all people and communities have access to health services without discrimination of any kind and without suffering financial hardship. It covers the full range of health services, including health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care, all of which should be of sufficient quality, comprehensive, safe, effective, and affordable for all.
Universal health is not just about ensuring everyone is covered, but that everyone has access to care when they need it, wherever they are.
As an expression of Health for All in the 21st century, universal health requires the involvement of all sectors of society in order to combat poverty, social injustice, educational gaps, and poor living conditions, among other factors that influence people’s health.
World Health Day isn’t all about hand-washing and healthy eating. It is a day observed worldwide by government and non-government health organizations focusing on promoting healthier living habits that increase the life expectancy of people around the world. There are organized activities, pledges and support plans such as conferences for health workers, briefings for local politicians, informational displays for children and young people, public marches and demonstrations, as well as free or easy access to medical tests.
Debates on related topics, art exhibitions, essay writing, competitions and award ceremonies also take place on World Health Day. This special day has become a collective action aimed at globally protecting human health and well-being.
World Health Day Annual Themes:
Each year since 1995, an annual theme is selected that highlights the years a priority area of concern. One of its most effective World Health day themes was Global Polio Eradication in 1995. Thanks to that year’s efforts, the level of polio awareness has risen considerably and now in many parts of the world people are freed from this dreaded disease.
World Health Day 2020: Theme
The tagline of World Health Day 2020 is ‘Support nurses and midwives’. To generate attention towards their contribution during the COVID-19 outbreak, the World Health Day will “highlight the current status of nursing around the world”.
WHO also pledges to make a “series of recommendations to strengthen” the nursing and midwifery workforce.
The year 2020 has also been designated by the World Health Assembly as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
Dr. ANSHUL MAHAJAN
Consultant Psychatarist