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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING APRIL 7TH AS WORLD HEALTH DAY
WHEREAS, April 7 is recognized as World Health Day; and
WHEREAS, around the world, millions of people's right to health is increasingly being threatened. Diseases and disasters loom large as causes of death and disability. Conflicts are devastating lives, causing death, pain, hunger, and psychological distress; and
WHEREAS, in 1948, countries of the world came together and founded the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable; and
WHEREAS, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners, and people to promote health, keep the world safe, serve the vulnerable, and champion global efforts to achieve better health for all; and
WHEREAS, WHO plays an essential role in supporting countries to prepare for, detect, respond to, and recover from health emergencies, including pandemics, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises; and
WHEREAS, six key programmatic divisions at the WHO headquarters drive action towards the Triple Billion targets; and
WHEREAS, they consist of Universal Health Coverage, Health Emergency Programme, Access to Medicines and Health Products, Antimicrobial Resistance, Science Division as well as Data, Analytics and Delivery for Impact; and
WHEREAS, WHO headquarters held about 134 media briefings as well as had 41 member state briefings and information sessions; and
WHEREAS, during COVID-19, WHO played a crucial role in making sure individuals were safe and aware of what was going on; and
WHEREAS, during COVID-19, WHO made sure to issue a COVID-19 strategic preparedness and Response plan; and
WHEREAS, provided accurate information which exploded dangerous myths; and,
WHEREAS, they ensured vital supplies reached frontline health workers where they shipped more than 2 million items of personal protective equipment to 133 countries; and,
WHEREAS, WHO has trained and mobilized health workers as well during this process; and
WHEREAS, the WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All has found that at least 140 countries recognize health as a human right in their constitution; and
WHEREAS, countries are now passing and putting into practice laws to ensure their populations are entitled to access health services; and
WHEREAS, this underpins the fact that at least 4.5 billion people - more than half of the world’s population - were not fully covered by essential health services in 2021; and
WHEREAS, the theme for World Health Day this year is “My health, my right,”; and
WHEREAS, this year’s theme was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere, to have access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes Sunday, April 7, 2024, as World Health Day.
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