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April 7th of each year is designated as World Health Day and celebrated by the 191 member countries of the World Health Organization to emphasize significant issues in public health of worldwide concern. World Health Day offers a unique opportunity to raise global awareness of a specific health theme.
World Health Day 2009 focuses on the resilience and safety of health facilities and the health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Events around the world will highlight successes, advocate for safe facility design and construction, and build momentum for widespread emergency preparedness.
How emergencies affect health
- More than 11 000 medical institutions were damaged in China's Wenchuan earthquake in May 2008, forcing tens of thousands of people to seek treatment elsewhere.
- Current conflicts in Ethiopia and Gaza are interrupting primary health services, such as immunizations.
- The Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 damaged 61% of health facilities in Indonesia's Aceh province, and killed nearly a third of the area's midwives, a major loss for women's health.
Building on success
Several countries are working to keep hospitals safe, improving preparedness to protect lives.
- In Mexico, trained evaluators have diagnosed the safety of 200 health facilities, identifying which facilities need improvements.
- Multi-functional facilities for health, education and agriculture were built in Bangladesh to aid relief after cyclones and floods - which saved thousands of lives after Cyclone Sidr in 2007.
- In Japan, Pakistan and Peru, health facilities are now built to withstand earthquakes.
- Hospitals in Somalia continue to treat patients during insecurity to ensure health for all.
- World Health Organization |
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