World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April. This celebration began in 1948, when the World Health Assembly decided to choose a day to raise awareness of deadly diseases and promote healthy habits. The World Health Assembly chose 7 April in recognition of the World Health Organization (WHO), which was founded on the same date. Following this proclamation, a different theme is chosen each year to celebrate the day.

The themes chosen each year to celebrate the day depend on the needs and proposals made by Member States. Last year 2020, World Health Day coincided with the containment decreed by most of the world’s countries. One year after the start of the pandemic, the theme for 2021 is clear to all: Covid-19 pandemic.

Celebrating World Health Day 2021

To celebrate this day and to put the spotlight on the health crisis that our planet is currently experiencing, the WHO wanted to focus on the great inequalities that exist between countries. Inequalities that inevitably condemn the poorest countries to greater suffering due to Covid-19. To this end, the slogan chosen for this year is: “Building a fairer, healthier world”.

This campaign aims to raise awareness of existing inequalities and, above all, to show that they can be avoided.

Some populations around the world do not have access to clean water, safe spaces or even clean air. These people struggle to survive in sometimes inhumane living conditions. Their access to basic rights such as housing, education and healthcare is non-existent.

All these factors lead to suffering, disease and death. However, we must know that, between all of us, we can prevent it.

To this end, the WHO calls on world leaders to work towards guaranteeing decent living conditions. Conditions that favour good health in all parts of the world.  To achieve this, it sets out the following measures:

• Work together
• Collect reliable data
• Tackle inequalities
• Act beyond borders

Covid-19 vaccination

Despite the existing inequalities, we can have reasons for hope thanks to Covid-19 vaccination. More than 664 million doses of vaccine have now been administered worldwide. Israel leads the ranking in the rate of vaccination and approximately 9 of these 664 million doses have been administered in Spain.

Remember that it is in our hands to fight for a safer and healthier world. Let’s go for it!