In the fast-paced and stress-filled lives that we lead today, it is important to know how healthy and fit one is. Every year on the occasion of the New Year you make resolutions - to quit smoking, to exercise, to stop drinking, to eat right, to get in shape and many more. But as the year advances these resolutions fade away and then you recall them on the next New Year’s Eve. But the World Health Day gives you a reminder and you can still revise your resolution for the same year rather than pushing it on to the next year slot.

Way back in 1948, the First World Health Assembly called for the start of the ‘World Health Day’ to mark the foundation of the World Health Organization (WHO). The trend of celebrating 7th of April as the World Health Day every year is dated back to 1950. Each year a theme is selected for the World Health Day that focuses on public health issues that affect the international community. The long term programs launched on the World Health Day continue beyond the day itself and serve as an opportunity to focus on these important aspects of global health.

Over the past 50 years, the WHO has focused on several important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care, climate change, road safety, international health security, and accordingly made themes to implement these issues. The theme for 2009 is ‘Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies.’ This year the World Health Day aims at the safety of the health care facilities (hospitals, equipments, transport facilities, life saving measures emergency departments), and reliability of the health care professionals (adequate staffing, emergency management training) during disasters and calamities.

So, this year on the World Health Day take the pledge for

Living a better life…

Living a healthy life...

Living a safe life…

Living in a safe environment…

And the pledge for making this World secure for yourself and for the generations to come ahead!