By Omolara Akintoye
As global community today observes the ‘World Health Day’, stakeholders have called for measures to be put in place to reduce the prevailing ailments people face in the society.
The stakeholders in Rivers State Nigeria, expressed worries over regular health issues like strike and the ‘japa syndrome’ that have affected the health sector and proactive measures to solve them.
They lament that the spate of premature death globally is alarming.
More often than not, cases of HIV/AIDS, infections, malaria and other chronic diseases are becoming more pronounced. When these diseases occur, cities affected, suffer great losses owing to the reduction of population.
This reality has prompted some stakeholders in Port Harcourt to call for proactive measures to reduce losses during such tragedies.
A Public health physician, Dr Hannah Ageh while lamenting the challenges faced in providing quality healthcare services called for improvement to better support patients and communities.
On her part, a Nurse, Mrs Ijeoma Chigozie highlighted steps that can be taken to improve global health and possible collaborations to achieve a healthy future.
A resident of Port Harcourt, Comrade Nmecha Chimene stressed the need to urgently take proactive steps in addressing global health issues.
They maintained that a world where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy and fulfilling life is achievable.
A brief history of the observance began with the establishment of a specialized international health organization which was first proposed in April 1945, when diplomats met in San Fransico to form the United Nations.
The following year, the ‘International Health Conference’ in New York drafted and adopted the constitution of what would soon become the World Health Organization (WHO); signed by 61 nations, when the UN itself had 51 members.
This WHO constitution came into force two years later, on 7 April 1948, a day we since mark as World Health Day, marking the beginning of our Organization, born from the hopes of healthier futures for all to come.
Today, 77 years later, World Health Day is marked, appropriately with the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures.”
As the world celebrates World Health Day, let us remember that health is a fundamental human right. It is a collective responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their background, income, or geographical location.
