Courtesy of the World Health Organization, the World Health Organization (WHO) believes in using global efforts to promote and achieve good health around the world.
If you’re not familiar with it, the WHO is the United Nations’ primary health authority, and is responsible for everything from creating health-related guidelines and guiding public policy to examining health trends and their effect on the population at large. According to the organization, “health is a shared responsibility, involving equitable access to essential care and collective defense against transnational threats.”
Today, April 7, marks World Health Day; the annual celebration commemorates the anniversary of the WHO’s formation in 1948.
The WHO’s statistics about our rapidly-aging population, which are listed below, are pretty amazing. Just think:
- The number of people today aged 60 and over has doubled since 1980.
- The number of people aged 80 years will almost quadruple to 395 million between now and 2050.
- Within the next five years, the number of adults aged 65 and over will outnumber children under the age of 5.
- By 2050, these older adults will outnumber all children under the age of 14.
- The majority of older people live in low- or middle-income countries. By, 2050, this number will have increased to 80%.
No matter what stage of life you’re in or where you are on your health journey, it’s easy to celebrate World Health Day. Just find an activity or a cause that supports good heath, and enjoy such as simple ones listed below!
- Go for a bike ride, a jog, or a swim
- Donate funds to a deserving charity
- Cook a healthy, satisfying meal for you and your loved ones
- Detox your body and your life
- Volunteer your time at an organization
- Pitch in to help an elderly neighbor
- Enjoy some down time with friends and family
How will you celebrate World Health Day?