Every year, on April 7, World Health Day is celebrated internationally. As far back as 1950, the World Health Organization has been calling for the celebration of this day to raise awareness on a particular health topic. This year we are celebrating World Health Day on the topic ” Let’s build a fairer, healthier world “. World Health Organization (WHO) with this year’s campaign aims to highlight the great problem of inequality of health systems and services among countries and great differences in the quality of life of the population, which was especially highlighted in the currently ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Health (un)justice and COVID-19

The World Health Organization defines health equity as the absence of unjust and remediable differences that can be avoided in health status among different groups of people and is achieved in the full potential of the health and well-being of all people.

The COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed that some people can live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others, consequently because of the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age. Inequality in the health system manifests itself in both communities and states, as well as globally. COVID-19 confirmed that older people, people with pre-existing illnesses or serious health conditions, let alone those without Internet access, poor financial status, the socially excluded and those who have experienced the negative effects of a pandemic are the most vulnerable and/or have lower chances of adequate healthcare. Furthermore, access to vaccines and therapies against COVID-19 is mostly enjoyed by developed countries, while underdeveloped and developing countries are still waiting for such availability. We are witnessing a global process of inequality in health systems among countries around the world. Health and disease are closely linked to the environmental, behavioural, social and economic factors of communities. The worse the socio-economic position of the community, the lower the chances of obtaining adequate health services. Factors include the possibility of education, income and access to social protection, health services, good nutrition and proper water, good living conditions and clean air. The quality of these factors is greatly influenced by the presence of discrimination, stereotypes and prejudices that are often based on race, ethnicity, political belief, sexual identity or economic, ie social status.

With the “Building a Fairer, Healthier World ” campaign, the World Health Organization seeks to encourage the health sector to ensure and promote health equity around the world by ensuring that all people can receive high-quality, affordable health services as a fundamental human right, known as “universal health insurance”.

 

Let’s build a fairer, healthier world

According to the WHO, the determinants that will ensure health equity are based on the prioritization of primary health care, monitoring and analysing health outcomes in communities and cooperation of the health sector with other sectors that may affect health equality and equality in social services and living conditions such as education, finance, social protection, infrastructure, etc. Also, the World Health Organization has made suggestions on how cooperation between the health and other sectors can increase the quality of health, even during the pandemic COVID-19, and refers to several factors:

living conditions and health: improving living conditions can save lives, prevent certain diseases and increase the quality of life, and includes good neighbourliness, help and support for the elderly and disabled in the neighbourhood

Nutrition and health: various forms of support and measures are key to ensuring access to a healthy and proper diet such as protection and support for breastfeeding, child allowance, proper school nutrition, food aid initiatives

education and health: increasing the level, quality and opportunities of education has a positive impact on the health and well-being of the individual throughout life through school attendance, increased income, empowerment, achievement and self-reliance

safe environment and health: providing clean fuels, technology, safe and potable water and sanitation, and interventions to reduce violence and urban improvements can significantly reduce the incidence of certain diseases and infections and interpersonal violence

mobility and health: reducing congestion, improving the network and access to basic public transport services are key to reducing air pollution, improving health and social cohesion and a sustainable transport system

Economic and commercial factors and health: decision-making and governance processes in the public sector are the key that prevents conflicts of interest, ensures investment in health and health equality and promotes a healthier, fairer and greener world

 

With this global campaign, the WHO seeks to appeal to all to ensure adequate living and working conditions conducive to the good health of all people, the equitable distribution of health resources and the monitoring of health inequalities so that all communities have access to quality health services when and where they would be needed. You can read more about the campaign and measures for the realization of health equality on the link on the World Health Organization website.

 

Our vision for World Health Day is to build a fairer and healthier world together. Overcoming the pandemic can be the beginning of a new global agreement that fights poverty and inequality in health, invests in health and well-being, promotes fairer resource sharing, improves food security and nutrition, and ultimately improves the climate change situation. Together we can build a healthier, greener and fairer world for all. “- WHO

Translated by: Ines Jurak

Literature sources

World Health Day 2021, 2021, https://www.who.int/, accessed 07.04.2021.

World Health Day on April 7, 2021, 2021, https://stampar.hr/hr, accessed on April 7, 2021.

https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/world-health-day-2021/health-equity-and-its-determinants.pdf?sfvrsn=6c36f0a5_1&download=true

Photography source

1. World Health Day 2021, 2021, https://www.who.int/, accessed April 7, 2021.