April 7th, 2022, is World Health Day. The date of April 7th marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. The theme for 2022’s World Health Day is Our Planet, Our Health.
Our Planet, Our Health
Amid a pandemic, increasing pollution, and diseases like cancer, asthma, and heart disease, WHO dedicated World Health Day in 2022 to focus global attention on urgent actions that are needed to keep the planet and the humans that live on it healthy.
According to WHO, more than 13 million global deaths each year are caused by avoidable environmental causes, making the climate crisis the single biggest health threat that humanity faces.
The Covid-19 pandemic also highlighted the inequities still faced in the modern world, including weaknesses in society and the urgency of creating sustainable well-being societies that are committed to equitable health now and in the future.
The goals of a well-being economy are:
- Human well-being
- Equity
- Ecological sustainability
If you’d like to celebrate World Health Day, you can download the 2022 campaign materials here. Participating can be as simple as using the hashtag #HealthierTomorrow on social media.
Hospice and Palliative Care Around the World
Access to hospice and palliative care are essential components of equitable healthcare. According to a WHO study, about 40 million people per year are in need of end-of-life care around the globe.
A handful of the world’s richest countries are able to provide comprehensive healthcare models to their citizens, but most other counties are struggling to keep up — only about 14% of the 40 million people will get the care they need.
In order to elevate and expand care to all, providers and healthcare organizations should embrace a more integrated and holistic approach.
If you’d like to learn more about how hospice or palliative care can help you, contact us today.