The World Health Organization (WHO) has set this year’s theme, Our Planet, Our Health, to urge people, communities, governments and agencies around the world to share their stories of what we are doing to protect the earth.
This health agency urged governments to prioritize long-term human well-being and ecological stability in all decisions, as well as to keep fossil fuels in the ground and halt new prospecting or fossil-fuel-related projects.
To ensure human health, it is essential to implement policies for the production and use of clean energy, reinvest subsidies in public health, and promote CO2 reduction.
Another necessary aspect, the organization stressed, is the application of WHO air quality guidelines to reduce the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and both chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma.
Government and public health efforts must also focus on guaranteeing clean and safe water, supporting the purchase of green products that are easily recyclable or reusable for hospital facilities, and advocating for health to be at the heart of climate change policies.
Data from the Pan American Health Organization shows that advances in public health, environmental protection, economic development and other factors have made it possible to improve the health of people across America over the past few decades.
“However, it is estimated that one million people die prematurely every year from problems related to known and avoidable environmental hazards,” both companies published.
Air and water pollution, inadequate sanitation, including solid waste disposal, risks associated with certain hazardous chemicals, and the adverse effects of climate change are the most pressing environmental public health threats in America.
These problems are compounded by weak health governance and potential inequalities in access to hospital services, as well as the sector’s limited leadership, expertise and resources in environmental health. World Health Day is celebrated every April 7th on the anniversary of the founding of the WHO in 1948.
Celebrations of this international day have been held since 1950 and in recent years the organization’s campaigns have focused on promoting health care, reaching all corners of the world and enabling access to health care within communities and families.
jf/cdg