World Health Day 2022: PM Modi Expresses Gratitude Towards Health Sector, Focusses On Affordable Sector

New Delhi: On World Health Day, marked annually on April 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the micro-blogging site Twitter and expressed gratitude towards the health sector that has taken care of the planet. Greeting people on the occasion of World Health Day, PM Modi wrote, “May everyone be blessed with good health and wellness. Today is also a day to express gratitude to all those associated with the health sector. It is their hard work that has kept our planet protected.”

World Health Day is the World Health Organisation (WHO) initiative. This year, through the ‘Our Planet, Our health’ campaign, WHO will focus global attention on urgent actions needed to keep humans and the planet healthy.

Also Read: World Health Day 2022: Our Planet, Our Health. Here’s Why Climate Crisis Is Also A Health Crisis

On the special day, PM Modi drew attention to centre’s various schemes to augment India’s health infrastructure. He said,

The focus is on ensuring good quality and affordable healthcare to our citizens. It makes every Indian proud that our nation is home to the world’s largest healthcare scheme, Ayushman Bharat. I feel very happy when I interact with beneficiaries of schemes such as PM Jan Aushadhi. Our focus on affordable healthcare has ensured significant savings for the poor and middle class. At the same time, we are strengthening our Ayush network to further boost overall wellness.

PM Modi also mentioned the transformation of the medical education sector in the country in the last eight years. He said, “Several new medical colleges have come up. Our Government’s efforts to enable the study of medicine in local languages will give wings to the aspirations of countless youngsters.”

Also Read: World Health Day 2022: Meet Dr Rani Bang And Dr Abhay Bang, Who Are The Pioneers Of Maternal And Child Health Among Tribal Communities

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu reiterated the common saying ‘health is wealth’ and urged citizens, especially youngsters to adopt a healthy lifestyle and shun a sedentary way of living.

Bringing attention to this year’s theme, he said, “A healthy planet is a prerequisite for healthy people; therefore as this year’s theme #OurPlanetOurHealth suggests, let us work towards improving both — our health and our planet’s health.”

Also Read: World Health Day 2022: Walking The Tightrope Between Health Of The Environment And Human Health

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya shared a video clip of him cycling, something he does to ensure physical and mental well-being. He informed that he has been cycling to the parliament for many years and added, “Let us take a pledge that all of us will add some such activities in our daily busy life which will benefit our health.”

He also lauded the Government of India for taking the approach of “One India, One Health”. He shared some of the initiatives taken in the last eight years for providing affordable and accessible healthcare to all. This includes:

– Ayushman Bharat-Health and wellness centres

– Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana

– Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission

– Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

– eSanjeevani

– Mission Indradhanush

– Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya JanAushadhi Pariyojana

– TB Mukt Bharat by 2025

– LaQshya – Labour Room and Maternity OT

Also Read: World Health Day 2022: Meet Dr Regi George and Dr Lalitha Regi, Who Provide Healthcare Facilities To Tribals In Tamil Nadu Villages

Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju shared a video of himself, exercising and motivating others to follow the suit. Wishing the citizens on World Health Day, he said, “Let’s strive to earn good health as health is the foundation on which the success of our life is built. We can never move ahead in life if we stay sick and unhealthy.”

Union Minister Anurag Thakur brought attention on Yoga. Urging people to stay healthy, he said, “An integral part of the Indian tradition, ‘Yoga’ combines the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of human beings and at the same time establishes harmony between body and mind.”

Also Read: World Health Day 2022: Meet The 43-Year-Old Doctor Who Aims To Provide Health For All In Remote Areas Of Ladakh

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.