April 7, 2009 - Posted by Jessica Paquette
Today is World Health Day, an annual celebration which marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) on April 7, 1948. The WHO, an agency of the United Nations, coordinates public health efforts worldwide, particularly by working to combat infectious diseases.
This year, World Health Day focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat people affected by emergencies, such as earthquakes, floods or outbreaks of communicable diseases.
Earlier today, the WHO called for governments to make their health facilities disaster-proof -- a message that is especially apt the day after an earthquake in Italy killed more than 200 people. A hospital in the town of L'Aquina had to be evacuated due to structural damage.
"The tragedy of emergencies or disasters is compounded when health facilities fail," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. "When a hospital collapses, all its functions are disrupted, lives that depend on emergency care can be lost."
View more WHO World Health Day 2009 videos.
Categories: Health Care, Human Rights
