World Health Day 2013

Today, 7th April marks the World Health Day. The World Health Organization selects a priority area of global public health concern annually as the theme for World Health Day set on the date the organization was founded in 1948. The theme for World Health Day 2013 is controlling high blood pressure, a condition which affects more than one in three adults worldwide. For millions of people, high blood pressure will lead to fatal heart attacks, debilitating strokes, and chronic heart and kidney disease.

As the world’s population ages and grows, unhealthy behaviours – an unbalanced diet, a lack of physical activity, smoking, harmful use of alcohol – together with stressful lifestyles, all increase the chances of developing high blood pressure. All regions of the world are affected.Hypertension is both preventable and treatable. Increasing public awareness is key, as is access to early detection. Countries need systems and services in place to support healthy lifestyles. Access to medicines of good quality, which are effective and inexpensive, coupled with regular education of the populace, is also vital, particularly at primary care level.

The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy joins the World Health Organization in this lifelong campaign and advocacy for healthier lifestyles. This year’s campaign provides an opportunity to focus attention on the prevention and control of hypertension, as a means of reducing the number of people affected, both now and in the future, by cardiovascular disease.In the weeks to follow,there will be upscale media campaign to educate the populace and impact their lives with professional tips on how to keep up with healthy living and ensure good quality of life. All members of the NSP are encouraged to identify with the day as a continuum by writing articles, educating the public, ranting interview sessions and engaging all other information platforms on the key role physiotherapy plays in battling the menace of Hypertension.

A press release to follow soon.

For more information about the WHO and World Health Day visit:

http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2013/en/index.html