World Health Day 2014
7th of April marks the anniversary of the founding of (WHO) in 1948. This Day provides an opportunity for individuals to get involved in stimulating and health-oriented activities.
This year's theme is "Vector – borne diseases", transmitted through blood-feeding arthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, also referred to as vectors. The deadliest of these diseases are malaria, dengue fever and sleeping sickness. These account for 17% of the estimated global burden of all infectious diseases. In 2010, malaria alone caused an estimated 660 000 deaths, while dengue, was responsible for a 30-fold increase in disease incidence over the last 50 years. However in recent years, renewed commitments from ministries of health, regional and global health initiatives have helped in combatting these diseases and reducing the rates of infection.
World Health Day 2014 aims to raise awareness to the threat posed by vectors and vector-borne diseases as well as stimulate families and communities to take action to protect themselves. A core element of the campaign will be to provide communities with information and to equip them with proper knowledge to combat these diseases.
We, at the World Assembly of Youth (WAY), coinciding with this year's World Health Day, aim to enlighten the society, youth inclusive, to fight against these vector-borne diseases and take action towards protecting their immediate community. We continue to strive towards healthier standards of living and the implementation of programs that enhance health indices of the society.
As was said by Tom Stoppard, A healthy attitude is contagious, but don't wait to catch it from others, be a carrier! So, let us all be the carriers and together, share in healthy attitudes and lifestyles!
HAPPY WORLD HEALTH DAY!