So in 2021, though the vaccines are evolving but countries around the world will need to continue battle COVID-19, need to move swiftly to repair and reinforce their health systems. So, Here is the list of 10 health issues to track in 2021 for which WHO and its partners will work building strong health systems and healthy populations globally.

1. Build global solidarity for worldwide health security: the coronavirus pandemic has shown that no one is safe until everyone is safe. Thus, to combat emergencies like COVID 19, WHO will work with countries to improve their preparedness.

2. Speed up access to COVID-19 tests, medicines and vaccines: WHO said, its top priority in 2021 will be to continue work across the four pillars of the ACT- Accelerator, to achieve equitable access to safe and effective vaccines, tests, and treatments and to ensure that health systems are strong enough to deliver them.

3. Advance health for all: In 2021, all three levels of the Organization and partners worldwide help countries to strengthen systems so that they can respond to COVID-19 and deliver all the essential health services required to keep people of all ages healthy – close to home and without falling into poverty, WHO said. Also, a global campaign to strengthen the global health workforce in 2021, the Year of the Health and Care Worker will lead by WHO.

4. Tackling health inequities: In 2021 WHO will work with countries to monitor and address health inequities related to critical issues such as income, gender, ethnicity, living in remote rural areas or disadvantaged urban areas, education, occupation/employment conditions, and disability. On World Health Day, 7 April 2021, WHO will call for global action to address health inequities.

5. Provide global leadership on science and data: To improve global health, WHO will monitor and evaluate the latest scientific developments around COVID-19 and beyond and identify those opportunities to harness the advancements.

6. Revitalize efforts to tackle communicable diseases: WHO said it will work with partners to implement the new 10-year Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), with its global targets and milestones to prevent, control, eliminate and eradicate 20 NTDs and intensify its efforts to end AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria and to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.

7. Combat drug resistance: WHO will further improve global monitoring and continue support to national action plans, to strengthen health emergencies preparedness plan.

8. Prevent and treat NCDs and mental health conditions: WHO will support efforts to expand services for community-based mental health care and to people living in conflict- or disaster-affected areas.

9. Build back better: In 2021, WHO said, it will work for goals of addressing climate change and health, reducing air pollution, and improving air quality.

10. Act in solidarity: In 2021, working with youth groups, strengthening and expanding partnerships with civil society and the private sector will be the main focus of WHO.

Information source: https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/10-global-health-issues-to-track-in-2021

According to the report, people will get news updates, tips and alerts related to Coronavirus through the WHO MyHealth app. With this app, people will be made aware to protect against this dangerous virus. Former employees of Microsoft and Google are developing this app together. The help of WHO Advisors is also being sought for this. The initial version of this app will be similar to the WHO chatbot, which was launched last week under the name WHO MyHealth Alert.

According to the WHO, in the high health alert, users will get official information related to Coronavirus. In which people will be suggested to avoid the infection of this disease. Apart from this, people will also be told to debunk myths related to travel advice, Coronavirus.

Users will also get periodically through the WHO MyHealth app. In this, a notification will be given according to the location of users. The self-target tool can also be given in it. With the help of this, users will be able to report the Coronavirus’s Symptoms themselves. Apart from this, many more advanced features can also be given in this app.

Theme 2020

WHO has decided the theme for 2020 is “Hearing for Life. Don’t let hearing loss limit you”.The selection of the theme by the World Health Organization expresses the key message that that timely and effective involvement can ensure that people with hearing loss are able to achieve their full potential. It recognizes that at all life stages good hearing health and communication connect us to the world. It highlights that appropriate and timely interventions can facilitate access to employment, communication, and education. There are insufficient hearing and ear care, across the globe. Unfortunately, across the globe, ear and hearing care are insufficient, and the WHO proclaims that all public health systems should include ear and hearing care.

INFORMATION SOURCE: https://www.who.int/deafness/world-hearing-day/whd-2020/en/

Causes of hearing loss

Congenital causes

Congenital causes may lead to hearing loss at the time of birth or soon after birth. Hearing loss can be caused by genetic factors, hereditary and non-hereditary or complications during childbirth and pregnancy.

• Infectious disease during pregnancy

• lack of oxygen or less weight at the time of birth
• inappropriate use of drugs during pregnancy, such as antimalarial drugs, aminoglycosides, and cytotoxic drugs.
• severe jaundice during the birth of a child, which can damage the hearing nerve in a newborn infant.

Acquired causes

Acquired causes may lead to deafness at any age, such as:

• aging, in particular, due to the degeneration of sensory cells

• Ear infections or infectious diseases like mumps and measles.
• Exposure to excessive noise such as occupational noise from machinery and explosions
• recreational exposure to loud sounds such as use audio devices at high volumes, attending regular concerts, nightclubs, and sporting events
• wax blocking the ear canal.

The World Polio Day is celebrated on 24^th October, because Jonas Salk, the head of the team that invented the polio vaccine, was born on this day. World  Polio Day was established by Rotary International over a decade ago to raise awareness and resources in support of the polio eradication effort. Polio is a fatal infectious disease. There is no cure to it, but can be prevented through immunization.  The strategy to eradicate polio is therefore based on preventing infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops to make world polio-free. The theme for world polio day 2019 is One Day One Focus: Ending Polio. The rotary organization asks to donate the time, funds and voice for the eradication of polio from the world.

It was first celebrated on October 10, 1992, at the initiative of Deputy Secretary-General Richard Hunter. World Mental Health Day is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) by raising awareness of mental health issues. WHO also supports developing technical and communication material.

Watch World Health Organization ‘WHO’ video on how we can help our near ones from getting suicide. https://www.who.int/health-topics/suicide/campaign-materials-animations.