April 7: World Health Day

World Health Day was celebrated all over the world on April 7, 2014. Theme for 2014 was “Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs)”. The campaign for World Health Day this year is ‘small bite: big threat’. Mosquitoes, flies, ticks and bugs may be a threat to your health – and that of your family – at home and when travelling.
What are Vectors? 
Vectors are organisms that are transmit pathogens and parasites from one infected person or animal, to another e.g. mosquitoes, bugs, ticks, freshwater snails, etc.
Which VBDs (Vector Borne Diseases) are of concern especially in India?

• As per WHO, VBDs make up for more than 17 % of diseases.
• Some VBDs are almost present globally viz. malaria, dengue, schistosomiasis, Human African trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, Onchocerciasis, etc.
• In India, VBDs affecting people include malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, kala-azar, lymphatic filariasis and chikungunya. 
• In India, issues related to these VBDs are addressed by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• People suffering from diabetes are more susceptible to VBDs because of the fact that high blood sugar in their bodies (resulting in high susceptibility), and lower levels of immunity, makes them more prone to VBDs.

World Health Day
World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), in order to focus on increasing the life expectancy by adding good health to the lives of people and promoting healthier living habits. The First World Health Assembly was held by WHO in 1948 where it was decided to celebrate April 7 (to mark WHO’s founding) of each year, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day. 
Objective: April 7 every year is seen as an opportunity by the WHO to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Formation: April 7, 1948
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Head: Margaret Chan
Parent Organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Themes of World Health Days:

• 1950:“Know your Health Services”.
• 1951:“Health for your Child and World’s Children”.
• 1952:“Healthy surroundings make Healthy people”.
• 1953:“Health is Wealth”.
• 1954:“The Nurse: Pioneer of Health”.
• 1955:“Clean water means better Health”.
• 1956:“Destroy disease carrying Insects”.
• 1957:“Food for All”.
• 1958:“Ten years of Health progress”.
• 1959:“Mental illness and Mental Health in the World of today”.
• 1960:“Malaria eradication – A world challenge”.
• 1961:“Accidents and their prevention”.
• 1962:“Preserve sight- prevent Blindness”.
• 1963:“Hunger= Disease of millions”.
• 1964:“No Truce for Tuberculosis”.
• 1965:“Smallpox – constant alert”.
• 1966:“Man and his Cities”.
• 1967:“Partners in Health”.
• 1968:“Health in the World of Tomorrow”.
• 1969:“Health, Labor and Productivity”.
• 1970:“Early detection of Cancer saves Life”.
• 1971:“A full life despite Diabetes”.
• 1972:“Your Heart is your Health”.
• 1973:“Health begins at Home”.
• 1974:“Better food for a healthier World”.
• 1975:“Smallpox: Point of no return”.
• 1976:“Foresight Prevents Blindness”.
• 1977:“Immunize and protects your Child”.
• 1978:“Down with High Blood pressure”.
• 1979:“A healthy Child: A sure future”.
• 1980:“Smoking or Health: Choice is yours”.
• 1981:“Health for all by year 2000 AD”.
• 1982:“Add life to years”.
• 1983:“Health for all by year 2000 AD: Countdown has begun”.
• 1984:“Children’s Health: Tomorrow’s Wealth”.
• 1985:“Healthy Youth- Our best Resource”.
• 1986:“Healthy living: Everyone a winner”.
• 1987:“Immunization: A chance for every Child”.
• 1988:“Health for All: All for Health”.
• 1989:“Let’s talk Health”.
• 1990:“Our Planet our Earth: Think Globally Act Locally”.
• 1991:“Should Disaster Strike, be prepared”.
• 1992:“Heart beat: A rhythm of Health”.
• 1993:“Handle life with care: Prevent violence and Negligence”.
• 1994:“Oral Health for a Healthy Life”.
• 1995:“Global Polio Eradication”.
• 1996:“Healthy Cities for better life”.
• 1997:“Emerging infectious diseases”.
• 1998:“Safe motherhood”.
• 1999:“Active aging makes the difference”.
• 2000:“Safe Blood starts with me”.
• 2001:“Mental Health: stop exclusion, dare to care”.
• 2002:“Move for health”.
• 2003:“Shape the future of life: healthy environments for children”.
• 2004:“Road safety”.
• 2005:“Make every mother and child count”.
• 2006:“Working together for health”.
• 2007:“International health security”.
• 2008:“Protecting health from the adverse effects of climate change”.
• 2009:“Save lives, make hospitals safe in emergencies”.
• 2010:“Urbanization and health: make cities healthier”.
• 2011:“Anti-microbial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow”.
• 2012:“Good health adds life to years”.
• 2013:“Healthy heart beat, Healthy blood pressure”.
• 2014:“Vector-borne diseases”.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2014

Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs