World Health Day: ‘Walk or pedal to work at least one day a week’

Published by BBNTEAM at April 7, 2022

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Posted: Thursday, April 7, 2022. 10:34 am CST.

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: “Today we join the international community in health to commemorate World Health Day. We celebrate under the theme, Our Planet, Our Health – Clean our Air, Water, and Food,” said the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) in promoting World Health Day 2022 echoing the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) who say that to have good health we need a healthy planet.

That’s the reason World Health Day, today April 7, is being observed under the theme ‘Our planet, our health’.

“The theme is a call for us to make a ‘green’ and healthy recovery from the COVID19 pandemic. This cannot be done alone but with support from our governmental and non-governmental partners centered on fostering and creating a society focused on well-being,” added the MOHW.

World Health Day celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948.

PAHO asks a number of easy but profound questions that have health as its center point.

“Are we able to reimagine a world where clean air, water, and food are available to all? Where economies are focused on health and well-being? Where cities are livable, and people have control over their health and the health of the planet?”

While PAHO suggests that as individuals we raise our voices and demand climate actions to protect our health, it advises us to “take action, inspire others” and join their five-point plan:

“Walk or pedal to work at least one day a week. Choose public transport.

Change to a renewable energy provider; don’t heat your rooms over 70.7 F; turn off the light when not in the room.

Buy your fresh groceries from local producers and avoid highly processed foods and beverages.

Tobacco is a killer and a polluter. Stop consuming tobacco.

Buy less plastic; use recyclable grocery bags.”

PAHO also has a series of recommendations that governments, corporations, health workers and health facilities, and mayors can do to promote a healthier planet and population.

Interestingly enough, World Health Day comes one day after the International Day of Sports and Physical Activity. Yesterday, the Northern Regional Hospital was involved in a number of sports activities and they posted on social media some very good advice that ties in well with World Health Day as well;

“Northern Regional Staff encourages everyone to:

Walk more ……..

Run More …..

Play More ……

Move More …..

Keep active……..

Keep hydrated……

Eat healthy…”

Certainly, advice that applies for every day of our existence and which many of us don’t do enough of.

The Ministry of Health encourages us to adopt “some type of physical activity on a regular basis helps to maintain a healthy body weight and improved mental health. Regular physical activity also helps prevent and manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several cancers”.

“Make sure to keep active today and every day to improve your overall quality of life,” closed the advice from the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

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