Are You Safe This World Health Day?

Wellness

oi-suparna-chakraborty Chakaraborthy

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Thursday, April 7, 2011, 9:11

April 7th is celebrated as the World Health Day, to mark the establishment of the WHO (World Health Organisation) in 1948. On 1950 World Health Day was first celebrated. WHO keeps a different theme each year, which is subject of major importance to global health. This year the theme of World Health Day is 'Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow'. This theme spreads the message to combat drug resistance, which has at present grown up to be major problem. Many diseases are not cured easily anymore.

WHO, has requested the government, professionals, civil society and patients to live up to the theme of 'Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow'. Speaking of Drug Resistance, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said, “In the absence of urgent corrective and protective actions, the world is heading towards a post-antibiotic era, in which many common infections will no longer have a cure and, once again, kill unabated." Drugs which once were miraculous medical discovery for diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis and syphilis, are now ineffective due to Drug Resistance. This problem begins when the particular drug stops effecting the human body and thus, the cure takes longer time.

This resistance, is caused due to faulty medicinal practice. Use of any unsubscribed drug or a drug which is not akin to that disease, can create resistance. The practice of self medication or unjustified medication by medical professionals, is one of the major cause of this problem. 2010 witnessed 4,40,000 new cases of antimicrobial resistance for tuberculosis drug. The problem had been reported from 69 countries across the globe. Treatment of Malaria and HIV are also facing the same problem.

How Can The Common Mass Contribute?

On World Health Day, WHO is confronting the problem of Antimicrobial resistance. Though government has to take the first step in administering the right usage of medicines, we as citizen of this planet too can help to combat this problem. Here is How -

1.Avoid self medication.
2.Avoid suggestions and take doctors advice.
3.Take only the medicines prescribed by the doctor
4.If not needed then avoid antibiotics
5.Antibiotics used for animals and agriculture also gets absorbed by the human body. This needs to be avoided.

These five steps are of greatest concern, as this are regular mistakes made by us which without our knowledge increases drug resistance in our system. WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Hussein A. Gezairy, has cautioned that if this problem is not administered right now, we may go back to the era before the discovery of medicines. On this World Health Day, lets all live up to the theme of 'Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow', and cure this problem forever.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.