Essay on “World Health Day-7 April” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

World Health Day- 7 April

World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7^th April from the year 1950. Under the sponsorship for the World Health Organization (WHO). The Day is celebrated to create “ awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization”. Activities related to that particular theme and the resources provided-continue beyond the 7^th April, which is , the designated day for celebrating the World Health Day.

The widely accepted definition of health is stated as follows: “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. This truly has been the motto of the WHO. In more recent years, this statement has been modified to include the ability to lead a “socially and economically productive life.” The WHO definition is not without criticism , as some argue that health cannot be defined as a state at all, but must be seen as a process of continuous adjustment to the changing demands of living and of the changing meanings we give to life. The WHO definition is therefore considered by many as an idealistic goal rather than a realistic proposition.

World Health Day 2007 : Invest in health, build a safer future

It is an occasion to raise awareness of key global health issues. This year’s theme is international  health security. The aim of   the Day is to urge governments, organizations and businesses to “Invest in health, build a safer future”.

Key messages for World Health Day :

1.Threats to health know no borders.

2. Invest in health, build a safer future.
3. Health leads to security; insecurity leads to poor health.

4.Preparedness and quick response improve international health security.

5. The World Health Organization is making the world more secure

The theme of the World Health Day for the year 2006 was to reduce child mortality, improve  maternal health and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. The slogan for World Health Day 2006 was “Working together for health”.

India’s healthcare industry has been in focus due to natural calamities like the floods in Bombay, the tsunami devastation and more recently, the bird flu threat which shook world over. The people of India with some support from the media have now understood the importance of preparedness to deal with such problems.

Health Care for All

There are some general health care measures for good health, which should be followed regularly.

1. Diet

Water is the most important item in our food and drink, which flushes out our body constantly to remove all harmful wastes from our body system. A tumbler of water taken as the first thing in the morning initiates bowels movement and expels the solid waste from our body. The regular evacuation of bowels prevents constipation and irritation of the inner lining of the gut, as well as reabsorption of dissolved toxic waste products from large intestine. Thus, it improves appetite, digestion, general well- being and also reduces the chance of piles, fissures and development of malignant tumour in the large gut. Water should be taken sometime after the meals.   

1.Breakfast : Fruits, sprouting cereals, a cup of milk (skimmed for the elderly), boiled egg (only the white part for the aged) should find a place in the daily items. These not only supply heat and energy. But also vitamins, minerals, roughage or fibers that prevent constipation by ensuring daily bowels movement.

2.Beverage and Drinks : Light tea is preferred to coffee and that should not be taken too frequently. It is better to limit the quantity to one cup in the morning and one in the evening or with snacks. In summer, homemade lemon juice drink is more helpful, safe and delicious than bottled cold drinks. Fruit juice prepared at home is the best as it is fresh and hygienic and pure.

3.Meals: Staple food for Indians is rice and ‘chapati’ . For any sort of trouble in the digestive system , rice is preferable as it is fully boiled and  easily digested. On the other hand, for controlling body weight and blood sugar , a limited number of ‘chapatis’ is preferred to rice. To achieve the same, enough green, leafy vegetables, whole cereals, fruits, and salads in sufficient quantity are always advocated. Intake of fried items must be vanaspati, cake and pastry should be stopped especially after the age of 40 years.

4.Snacks : People over 35 age group who do very little manual labour should avoid items containing hidden fat like cake, biscuit, fried preparations etc. at least one fourth of stomach should remain empty after each food intake.

1. Postures and Exercises

At office or at home one must always sit on a chair with firm, non- yielding seat and with straight back. Those having  constant deskwork must be provided with inclined table or desk to avoid prolonged bending of neck, as it leads to cervical spondilytis even at a very early age. Physical exercise in the form of light outdoor games, walking and free hand exercise at home should be necessary in order to keep the muscles and joints fit and the body weight under control. Cycling and swimming are very good exercises. Lack of regular exercise and sedentary life style lead to obesity, high blood pressure, heart and brain stokes and arthritis at a very early stage in life.

1. Rest and Relaxation

Rest and relaxation are parts of physical and mental strains. Physique and mind should be given rest through relaxation. Meditation, sleep and other recreations. Thereby energy is regained and the body resistance maintained. Let us recollect the age- old dictum “Early to bed and early to rise, keeps a man healthy, wealthy and wise”. However, over relaxation or rest and over involvement in work should be avoided to lead a stress free life free from tensions. We should find time for social and cultural activities.

Mineral Water

The term ‘mineral water’ is distinguished from ordinary water by its contents of certain mineral salts and other constituents. Bottled mineral water, therefore, means mineral water supplied in bottle. While ‘ pure drinking water’ means water fit for drinking- free from disease – causing microorganism and chemicals that are harmful for health.

Mineral water is of two types 1) natural mineral water and 2) fortified mineral water. Natural mineral water is that type of water obtained directly from potable natural or drilled sources like spring, artesian well, drilled well or from an underground formation. Fortified mineral water is the water which is derived from any source of potable water, which may be blended / treated/ fortified with mineral salts for achieving required standard.

Chlorination is an important process that destroys pathogens quickly and is cheap but some viruses are chlorine resistant. Candle filters cannot make the water ‘germ free’ as viruses and bacteriophages, if any, pass through the pores. Lodine is more effective germicide than chlorine and is more potent to kill bacteria, and some viruses. 

Medical Tourism

Medical tourism can be broadly defined as provision of ‘cost effective’ private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment. This process is being facilitated by the corporate sector involved in medical care as well as the tourism industry- both private and public. Medical tourism refers to travelling to other  countries to obtain medical , dental, and surgical treatment. At the same time they could also tour, and fully experience the attractions of the countries they visit. Exorbitant costs of healthcare in industrialized nations, ease and affordability of international  travel, favourable currency exchange rates in the global economy, rapidly improving technology and standards of care in many counties of the world, and most importantly  proven safety of healthcare in select foreign nation have all led to the rise of medical tourism.

Themes of previous World Health Days

• 2007 : International health security
• 2006 :Working together for health
• 2005 :Make every mother and child count
• 2004 :Road safety
• 2003 :Shape the Future of Life: Healthy Environments for Children
• 2002 :Move for Health
• 2001 :Mental Health: Stop Exclusion, Dare to Care 
• 2000 :Safe Blood Start with me
• 1999 :Active Aging Makes the Difference
• 1998 :Safe Motherhood
• 1997 :Emerging Infectious Diseases
• 1996 :Healthy Cities for Better Life
• 1995 :Global Polio Eradication

    UNICEF

Improving the health of children is one responsibility among many in the fight against poverty. Healthy children become healthy adults: people who create better lives for themselves , their communities and their countries. Improving the health of the world’s children is a core UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund) objective. Since our founding, we have made significant progress in immunization, oral dehydration to save the lives of infants with severe diarrhea, promoting and protecting breastfeeding fighting HIV/ AIDS, micronutrient   supplementation and health education.

UNICEF has an extensive global health presence, and strong partnerships with governments and non- governmental organizations at national and community levels. UNICEF understands the reasons why children are dying. On a daily basis, we work to bring practical solutions to the women and children at greatest risk. UNICEF knows what is takes to ensure the survival and health of children and women.

UNICEF approaches all of the threats to child health – and there are many – with extensive experience, efficient logistics and creativity.

Millennium Development Goals

At the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000, the 189 states of the United Nations reaffirmed their commitment to work toward a world in which eliminating poverty and sustaining development would have the highest priority. The Millennium Declaration was signed by 147 heads of state and passed unanimously by the members of the UN General Assembly.

The Millennium Development Goals, which grew out of the agreements and resolutions of world conferences organized by the United Nations in the past decade, have been commonly accepted as a framework for measuring development progress. The goals focus the efforts of the world community on achieving significant , measurable improvements in people’s lives. They establish yardsticks for measuring results not just for developing countries but also for the rich countries that help to fund development programs and for the multilateral institutions that help countries implement them.

Health education is defined as the process by which individuals and groups of people learn to behave in a manner conducive to the promotion. Maintenance or restoration of health.

Education for health begins with people as they are, with whatever interests they may have in improving their living conditions. Its aim is to develop in them a sense of responsibility for health conditions, as individuals and as members of families and communities. In communicable disease control, health education commonly includes an appraisal of what is known by a population about a disease, an assessment of habits and attitudes of the people  as they relate to spread and frequency of the disease, and the presentation of specific means to remedy observed deficiencies.

Health education is included in the curriculum of most schools. In the United States, some forty states require the teaching of health education. A comprehensive health education curriculum consists of planned learning experiences which will assist students to achieve desirable understandings, attitudes and practices related to critical health issues including , but not limited to , the following; emotional health and a positive self image; appreciation, respect for, and care of the human body and its vital organs; physical fitness; health issues of alcohol, tobacco and drug use and abuse; health misconceptions and quackery; effects of exercise on the body systems and on general well being; nutrition and weight control;  sexual relationships, the scientific, social and economic aspects of community and ecological health; communicable and degenerative diseases including sexually transmitted diseases; disaster preparedness; safety and driver education;  choosing professional medical and health services; and choices of health careers.