“When you are in prison, you have but one desire: freedom. If you fall ill in prison, you do not think about freedom, you think about health. Health is, therefore, more important than freedom.”
– Alija Izetbegović.
This has manifested to us in its strongest form during the past two years when the whole world suffered from a pandemic that affected all areas of life. This was not the first time global health was at great risk. So it was not in vain to consider (good health and well-being) the third goal of the sustainable development goals.
In order to learn more about World Health Day, we will begin by introducing the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO is affiliated with the United Nations and is concerned with matters of health and disease prevention. The World Health Organization was established on 7th April 1948, headquartered in Geneva (Switzerland). Its main objective is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health.
Given the importance of health, the anniversary of the founding of this organization was marked as a day to celebrate global health. People around the world celebrate World Health Day through large campaigns and in different ways, but all of them aim at one goal; which is to raise awareness about health issues, and demand the right to health care.
Through World Health Day, this organization sought to raise awareness about many health topics. Focus on a specific area of concern every year. And over the past fifty years, the organization has shed light on many crucial health issues.
These topics represented the difference between a healthy society and a fragile suffering one. The organization calls on the leaders of countries to work together. In order to respond to health risks threatening their societies. Also, to achieve justice and equality in health care. Among all members of society and of both sexes, from the vulnerable to the most powerful.
It also calls for addressing the inequity faced by the vulnerable sectors of society. And working to collect data that can be relied upon in creating a comprehensive health database. As a step towards improving the level of health care within the society. Also, create an international cooperation whose work transcends national borders.
If we look around, we will find many serious and diverse health issues that endanger the lives of many. So the World Health Organization finds an opportunity on World Health Day every year to focus attention on one of these issues. Also, to raise awareness about them, and shed light on their dangers.
Many topics have been discussed on World Health Day over the past years. Including Diabetes and Polio, to larger issues, such as road safety, and climate change’s impact on human health. The last of which was the theme of 2021; Building a fairer, healthier world, as we have witnessed various forms of injustice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and a disparity in the level of health services among members of the same society and of different countries. COVID-19 has hit all countries hard, but its impact has been harshest on those communities that were already vulnerable.
In 2022, the theme for World Health Day is “Our Planet, Our Health.” Through this campaign, WHO will draw worldwide attention to the measures they should be taking to protect the planet and their health and prioritize the well-being of societies.
We all realized the importance of health during the COVID-19 pandemic, which represented the greatest threat to global health in our current time, so it is our responsibility as individuals in this world to do everything we can to improve the conditions and circumstances within this society, and to help others improve theirs.
Therefore, we must begin with ourselves, to ensure our possession of good physical, mental, and social health, through living a healthy life by exercising and following a healthy, balanced diet. Then we turn to help others by donating blood, allocating a little time to volunteer in local associations and international organizations, participating in events that serve certain causes such as breast cancer awareness month events, or donating money to charities that seek to provide health care to those unable to obtain the care they need.
In conclusion, the World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence or absence of disease and infirmity.”
And we, at Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative, care for the mental and social health of Syrian women and aim to improve it and support those in need. We also seek, to the extent our means allow, to provide psychological support to women in need, and highlight the importance of mental health.
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