Each year, the UN calls member nations to focus on issues such as better access to healthcare or the prevention of infectious diseases on World Health Day. This year’s theme is antimicrobial resistanceTHURSDAY, APRIL 7: Take some time to focus on well being on UN World Health Day, an annual observance that brings attention to global health issues. (Visit the official UN site.)
World Health Day themes parallel the Millennium Development Goals, which include efforts to combat child mortality and HIV/AIDS. This year’s theme focuses on antimicrobial resistance. (World Health Organization has more information on the theme.)
Antimicrobial resistance isn’t a new issue, but UN experts say this is an urgent challenge because widely used antibiotics are becoming less effective. In 2011, the UN is asking countries to avoid the misuse of antimicrobial medicines and to implement specific policies that would reduce resistance.
NEWS ON UNITED NATIONS WORLD HEALTH DAY 2011
If you care to read more, here are some other news stories on this week’s observance:
- Canadian non-profit asks doctors to donate 1 day: This Canadian press release describes a program that, so far, has lined up 60 doctors to focus on healthcare in Africa for World Health Day.
- Often, the impact of special UN days is greater overseas: Here’s a website in the Philippines reporting the story. And, here’s an article from the UAE on World Health Day.
- The problem is showing up in the U.S. as well: Milwaukee-based Journal-Sentinel published this World Health Day story on the escalating need for sophisticated antibiotics in one hospital system.
(Originally published at readthespirit.com, an online journal covering religion and cultural diversity.)
