The theme selected for this year aims to advocate for universal access to essential health services, education, and information, alongside ensuring access to safe drinking water, clean air, adequate nutrition, quality housing, fair working conditions, and a healthy environment, while also promoting freedom from discrimination for all individuals worldwide.
Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
- Health Education – You have the right to quality information about factors affecting your health, regardless of your location. It’s crucial to verify the credibility of health information sources, as not all sources are reliable. Additionally, refrain from making significant health decisions, such as altering or discontinuing treatment, without consulting your healthcare provider.
- Safe Drinking Water– You have the right to access safe drinking water, essential for everyday activities like drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene. Safe drinking water is defined as water that poses no significant health risks over a person’s lifetime. It enables proper hygiene practices, crucial for preventing various diseases including diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio, which collectively cause numerous deaths annually.
- Air Quality- You have the right to Clean Air. Improved air quality contributes to enhanced health outcomes. Studies indicate that air pollution diminishes worker productivity across various professions and is linked to oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, potentially leading to chronic diseases and cancer. Additionally, inadequate indoor air quality can result in respiratory ailments, cardiovascular issues, and decreased mental productivity. To enhance air quality, prioritise sufficient ventilation, maintain cleanliness, opt for eco-friendly cleaning supplies, utilise air purifiers, prohibit indoor smoking, minimise chemical pollutants, install kitchen exhaust fans, and incorporate indoor plants.
- Adequate Nutrition– You have the right to adequate and Optimal nutrition. Consuming a well-balanced diet not only prevents chronic health issues but also enhances immune function. Nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, containing selenium, iron, zinc, protein, and vitamins C and D, bolster the growth and function of immune cells. Optimal nutrition additionally fosters strong muscles and bones, elevates mood, and enhances energy levels. A balanced diet comprising all six food groups and sufficient hydration promotes physical vigour, mental acuity, and emotional well-being.
- Healthy work environment– You have the right to a Healthy Work Environment. The World Health Organisation defines a healthy work environment as one that not only lacks harmful conditions but also promotes health. Such environments are crucial for the physical and mental well-being of employees, leading to increased productivity, job satisfaction, and retention rates. Employees who feel valued and supported are more likely to be engaged and committed. Prioritising a healthy work environment involves promoting work-life balance, offering professional development opportunities, cultivating a positive work culture, and ensuring physical safety. By doing so, employers can enhance employee well-being, productivity, and organisational success.
The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All found that despite over 140 countries recognising health as a fundamental human right, many fail to enforce laws ensuring access to healthcare. Consequently, over 4.5 billion people lack full coverage of essential health services. To address this, the theme for World Health Day 2024 is ‘My health, my right’.
#My Health My Right World Health Day 2024.
