Today is World Health Day - the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. The WHO works worldwide to promote health, ensure safety, and serve the vulnerable. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the work of the WHO and all public health organizations (from local to global) has never been more important. In non-pandemic times, public health organizations, like the WHO, work 24/7 to track disease, develop & distribute vaccinations and other treatments, and provide education. The pandemic has highlighted the work and importance of the public health workforce as well as the interconnectedness of our world, where a virus can spread from one side of the globe to another in a matter of hours.
The theme of World Health Day 2021 is aspirational — building a fairer, healthier world for everyone. We know that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic includes global access to the vaccine, decreases in disease spread throughout communities worldwide, and effective treatments available to everyone.
The WHO constitution states that —
“the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”
The places where we live, work, worship, socialize, and play may make it harder for some individuals to reach their full health potential, while others thrive.
In the small town where I live, the average life expectancy in my neighborhood is 73.3 years. If I lived in a neighborhood just 2.3 miles south of my home address, my life expectancy would be 71.3 years. Both are considerably lower than the average life expectancy for individuals living in Pennslyvania (78.1 years).
Why the difference in life expectancy in my hometown? My guess is that the living conditions 2 miles south of my house include - inadequate housing and a population that is poorer, lacks the money to buy healthy foods, lacks health insurance, and is constantly stressed by concerns over finances and personal safety.
Our communities define our health status.
To improve health - for all - we need to improve housing conditions, pay livable wages, provide access to health care, ensure individuals have access to healthy foods, improve air and drinking water quality, provide safe and affordable public transportation, and so much more. This is what World Health Day 2021 is all about.
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified health inequalities across the globe. And while vaccine distribution is ramping up in the United States (all adults will have access by April 19th), global distribution of the vaccine is going to take years. Take a hard look at the map below and note the countries that will have to wait years before the vaccine is accessible. Many of these same countries also lack healthcare infrastructure, clean water, a stable economy, and adequate nutrition.
These are the wicked health problems we face — all of us. These are the problems that will not be solved with a simple solution. These are the problems that need all of our attention. These are the problems that we must face in 2021 and the reason why the WHO has asked us all to rally around this year’s World Health Day theme of —
Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone.
The timeline illustrated in the map is the reason we must all continue to wear our masks, maintain physical distance, avoid crowds, and wash our hands. Our world is deeply connected and no one will be healthy until we all are.
Here’s to each of us committing to doing our part to build a fairer, healthier world for everyone this year. Happy World Health Day.