WORLD Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7 to commemorate the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) and raise awareness about various health issues worldwide. Over the years, the focus of World Health Day has shifted to address different health challenges and emerging trends.

In recent years, the world has witnessed a growing interest in preventive health, which involves taking measures to prevent diseases from occurring. The increasing burden of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer has driven this trend. These diseases are often caused by lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.

As a result, World Health Day has increasingly focused on promoting healthy lifestyle habits such as eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and avoiding harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol. Governments, non-governmental organisations, and public health agencies have been working together to create policies and programmes that encourage people to adopt healthy behaviours.

Another important trend in World Health Day is the increasing emphasis on mental health. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress are becoming more common worldwide, and they significantly impact individuals, families, and communities. World Health Day has been instrumental in raising awareness about mental health issues and reducing their stigma.

The Environmental Protection Agency is dedicated to ensuring that its workforce has access to the best resources for preventing and managing such issues. This commitment is reflected in several initiatives, including establishing a Health and Safety Committee, appointing a new Human Resource Director, and creating an Emergency Response Team with well-defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Furthermore, the Agency has taken direct action to address mental health concerns by promoting the development of recreational spaces and clubs, such as yoga, scrabble, dominoes, cricket, and football. In addition, the Agency frequently organises blood drive events to encourage staff to become blood donors, which is a healthy practice with significant benefits.

Further, in fulfilling its mandate of protecting human health and the health of the natural environment, the EPA continues to monitor operations to ensure good air and water quality and investigate complaints of incidents which pose a danger to human health.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.