World Environmental Health Day(WEHD) is annually observed across the globe on September 26 to create awareness about the health of the environment and to highlight the importance of investing in the healthy and green recovery of the environment.
The day also aims to create a better understanding of the integral connection between the environment, health and economy.
The theme of WEHD 2021 is “Prioritizing Environmental Health for healthier communities in global recovery”.
Background:
i.The World Environmental Health Day was launched by the International Federation of Environmental Health council during the meeting held in Indonesia on 26th September 2011.
ii.The first ever World Environment Health Day was observed on 26th September 2011.
Environmental Health:
i.According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), environmental health plays a major role in the global burden of diseases. A healthier environment could prevent around one-fourth of the global burden of diseases.
ii.The WHO’s study on the burden of diseases shows that the modifiable environmental risk factor causes around 24% of the total burden of diseases, around 13.7 million deaths a year, these could be prevented by implementing required environmental health interventions.
iii.Almost 1 in 4 of the total global deaths are related to environmental conditions.
