The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Achieving the goal unitedly

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Tuesday, Apr 07, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Achieving the goal unitedly

Nothing on earth is more international than disease said Paul Russel. Health and disease have no political or geographical boundaries Disease in any part of the world is a constant threat to other regions of the world.

Origin of world Health day:

The world Health organization, (W.H.O) has its origin in April 1945, during the conference held at San Francisco to set up the United Nations, (U.N.). The representatives from Brazil and China proposed on International Health organization. The formal existence of the WHO as specialized agency began on April 7th 1948. This concept was drafted in 1946 under the inspiring Chairmanship of Rane Sand of Brussels, an advocate of social medicine.

In 1948, WHO held the first world Health Assembly. The assembly decided to celebrate 7th April of each year with effect from 1950 as “World Health Day”.

Aim of World Health Day:

The world Health Day is celebrated to create an awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of Concern for WHO activities – related to that particular theme and the resources provided.

Over the past 50 years, this has brought to light important health issues on mental health, maternal health, child health and environmental changes.

World Health Day 2009: “Save Lives, Make hospitals safe in emergencies”:

The focus of the world Health Day 2009 is on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of the health workers to treat those affected by emergencies. Ensuring that the health facilities are not impaired and its staff function at their maximum capacity in the aftermath of disasters such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones and even terror attacks, major accidents, can help minimize or prevent casualties.

World Health Day 2009 focus on safety of health facilities as well as readiness of the health centers and their staff are not only expected to continue to provide primary health care but also to provide services to answer these disasters.

There is a growing consciousness regarding the importance of investing in well built health infrastructure to withstand disasters and remain operational to serve people in immediate need.

Events around the world will centre on advocacies for safe and proper infrastructure, ultimately leading to saving more lives through better health facilities. In 2004, during 26th December Tsunami, 30 of the 240 health clinics in Aceh province, Indonesia were destroyed. In 2001, Gujarat, a magnitude of 7.7 earth quake destroyed 3812 health facilities. These are some examples of disaster situations where health services are affected and at times, when they are most needed.

The goal of raising awareness in this issue is to effect changes that will ensure that health facilities and services are able to function in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters, protect the lives of patients, serve the affected population and keep the health workers safe. This means

Ensuring the structural resilience of health structures with existing technologies.

Keeping the equipment and supplies of the health facilities intact.

Improving the preparedness and risk reduction capacity of health workers.

Involving communities in this effort.

In commemoration of the World Health Day 2009, the Department of Community Medicine is organizing a Poster Competition based on the theme of World Health Day 2009 under the patronage of Mr. M. K. Rajagopalan Honorable Chancellor of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Prof. D.R. Gunasekaran, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth.

This world Health Day theme is intended to generate more momentum that will help to sustain and mainstream disaster risk reduction into health sector initiatives.

This can be achieved by health sector professionals collaborating with experts from other fields such as urban planners, architects and engineers.

Preventive actions are cost effective compared to the costs incurred in case of an emergency or a disaster. So at this juncture, let us all join our hands with other professionals to achieve the above said goal of World Health Day 2009.

Prof. D.R. Gunasekaran,