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April 15, 2022

by Kimberly Deaño

World Health Day is celebrated annually every 7th of April which has been founded since 1948 by the World Health Organization. Each year, World Health Day has a topic which highlight health concerns of people globally. For this year’s World Health Day 2022, the theme is “Our Planet, Our Health”.

Are we able to reimagine a world where clean air, water and food are available to all? Where economies are focused on health and well-being? Where cities are liveable ad people have control over their health and he health of the planet? – World Health Organization, 2022

Today, our planet is still suffering from global warming which is caused by pollution and several more reasons. In this time, as we experience the COVID-19 pandemic, we produce more face masks, face shields, personal protective equipment for medical and those of sanitation personnel to aid and prevent more spread of the virus. As every day we use these materials to protect our health, the planet also undergoes from the overproduction and the pollution due to unorganized segregation and improper handling of wastes being thrown on the streets, rivers, seas, and other places that are not garbage areas.

With the ongoing pollution all over the world, there are increasing health issues and miseries, diseases such as, cancer, asthma, heart diseases and etc. For these reasons, WHO has focused their attention in keeping the humans and the planet healthy as possible. They also have promoted the “create societies focused on well-being” movement.

As per WHO, they have assessed more than 13 million deaths because of the environmental sources each year all around the globe. For the climate crisis, as it goes higher, health hazard also increases as it has effects on the diseases people are going through.

We live in the present world were we experience extreme weather conditions and sudden changes, such as hot temperature in the present but after a few minutes or hours, it changes to cold temperature. It will definitely affect those who are facing illnesses that cannot stand abrupt changes. There are also land degradation and water shortage, especially in areas that cannot be reached and are in poverty. The production of processed foods that contributes and escalation of health concerns such as obesity, cancer and heart diseases; these productions also increases greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Moreover, people living in cities that doesn’t have proper segregation of garbage, manufacturing companies, vehicles, or smokers that emits smokes, or burning of fossil fuels and other materials, breathe at least 90% of unhealthy air according to WHO.

If we, the people of the world think of each other’s well-being, we can definitely achieve a healthier environment, not just for ourselves, but also for those suffering with health problems. Reduction of pollutants in the air, land, water, and even our food and materials being used in our homes and work places is one of the first steps we can learn and do for our health’s sake and of course, our ecosystem. Connecting with nature promotes health and well-being of us people of the world and our mother nature. Taking step-by-step procedures and one-step-at-a-time, however small it is, will mostly let us grasp our desired Earth in the future.