The World Health Day Q & A

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The World Health Day Q & A

Apr 5, 2018

Saturday, April 7, is World Health Day. It’s an important day and one with which we should all be familiar.

Here are six things you need to know about World Health Day.

world health day


Q. Who is behind World Health Day?

A. The World Health Organization (WHO). WHO was founded in 1948 and is the leading global health authority within the United Nations system. This year marks their 70th anniversary.

Q. Does WHO sponsor a World Health Day every year?

A. Yes. World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on April 7. Every year a different and specific health concern is highlighted. In recent years, they included depression, diabetes, and food safety.

Q. What is the theme of this year’s World Health Day?

A. For 2018, the theme of World Health Day is “Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere.” The slogan is “Health for All.”

Q. Why is universal health coverage the focus of this year’s World Health Day?

A. Following are some interesting statistics concerning universal health coverage:

  • At least half of the world’s population still doesn’t have full coverage of essential health services
  • About 100 million people are pushed into “extreme poverty” (living on $1.90 or less a day) because they have to pay for health care
  • Over 800 million people (almost 12% of the world’s population) spend at least 10% of their household budgets on health care

Q. What does universal health coverage provide?

A. Universal health coverage allows people to have access to the health care services they need, without causing them financial hardship. It includes the full spectrum of essential, quality services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.

Q. What does universal health coverage not provide?

A. Universal health coverage doesn’t provide free coverage for all possible health treatments regardless of the cost since no country can provide all services free of charge. But its goal is to ensure an expansion of coverage of health services and financial protection as more resources become available.

Now that you’re familiar with the key facts about World Health Day, share them with your family and friends so they will be aware of this important day.

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