Many of us ignore a lot of health problems, mental or physical, to be present at the places where we get prosperity and joy. But, we forget that the ultimate wealth is the good health
World Health Day is observed on April 7 under the aegis of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
World Health Day also marks the founding of the WHO. It came into being on April 7, 1948.
Every year, a specific health theme is decided to highlight the area of concern. This year, as the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, has wreaked havoc across the world, the tagline for World Health Day 2020 is – Support nurses and midwives. The theme recognises the efforts of nurses and other health workers who are doing their best to help the victims of COVID-19.
What is World Health Day about?
7 April 2020 is the day to celebrate the work of nurses and midwives and remind world leaders of the critical role they play in keeping the world healthy. Nurses and other health workers are at the forefront of COVID-19 response - providing high quality, respectful treatment and care, leading community dialogue to address fears and questions and, in some instances, collecting data for clinical studies. Quite simply, without nurses, there would be no response.
In this International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, World Health Day will highlight the current status of nursing and around the world.
This will be vital if we are to achieve national and global targets related to universal health coverage, maternal and child health, infectious and non-communicable diseases including mental health, emergency preparedness and response, patient safety and the delivery of integrated, people-centered care, amongst others.
We are calling for your support on World Health Day to ensure that the nursing and midwifery workforces are strong enough to ensure that everyone, everywhere gets the healthcare they need.
The tagline for World Health Day is: Support nurses and midwives.
Since they are taking care of your health, it becomes necessary to show your respect to them by sending these quotes to the nurses and health workers:
-- “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” - Mahatma Gandhi.
-- “He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.”- Arabian Proverb.
-- “Three things in life – your health, your mission, and the people you love. That’s it.” - Naval Ravikant.
-- “Keep your vitality. A life without health is like a river without water.” - Maxime Lagacé.
-- “Happiness is the highest form of health.” - Dalai Lama.
-- “True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.” - William Penn.
-- “The greatest wealth is health.” – Virgil.
-- “A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s manual.” - Irish Proverb.
-- “When the heart is at ease, the body is healthy.” - Chinese Proverb.
-- “Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.” - Albert Schweitzer.
7 tips to keep healthy while in isolation or quarantine (COVID-19)
to COVID-19, you will inevitably be spending more time at home. Following general healthy living advice such as eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, being physically active, getting enough sleep, and managing stress are the best recommendation for staying healthy during quarantine or self-isolation.
1. Eat a balanced and varied diet
Simply put, there are no foods or supplements that can ‘boost’ our immune system and prevent or treat COVID-19. Nevertheless, eating a well-balanced diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, plant and animal proteins and healthy fats is the best way to get all the essential nutrients we need for good health and normal immune function. As self-isolation may lead us to be less active, it is also important to pay close attention to food portions and to keep our energy balance adjusted to meet our needs.
2. Establish a routine and practice mindful eating
In times of uncertainty, it is normal to feel anxious, sad, stressed and scared. Maintaining a normal daily routine can help manage some of this stress. One way we can do this is by sticking to regular mealtimes and planning meals in advance. This can help us better control hunger levels, meet our nutrient requirements and allow us to get the most out of the food we have, reducing food waste.
During long-periods of stress we may find ourselves eating more than we need. Plus, staying at home for longer periods may also lead us to snack out of boredom. Practising mindful eating can be a useful strategy to maintain a healthy relationship with food and to helps us balance our energy intake.
Here are some tips to help you practice more mindful eating:
Don’t eat on the go - it’s difficult to be aware of how much you are eating. Have a seat.
Resist eating straight from the bag/box. Serve your food – you’ll be able to see and appreciate what and how much you’re eating.
Remove distractions. Turn off the TV and everything else with a screen, like computers, phones, etc. while eating
Take small bites and chew well, while focusing on the smell, taste and texture of the food. Try to get 30 chews out of each bite.
Try putting your utensils down after each bite. Don’t pick them back up until you’ve swallowed what you already have in your mouth.
Don’t try to finish the whole plate. If you feel full, safely keep the leftovers.
3. Keep hydrated
Keeping hydrated is essential for overall health. How much water we need depends on our age, sex, weight, height, level of physical activity and environmental conditions (i.e. hot weather will likely require you to drink more water). Taking into account that around 20-30% of the water we need comes from our food, the European Food Safety Authority has set average recommendations for how much water we should drink per day depending on our age (figure 3).
If you have access to safe tap water, this is the healthiest and cheapest drink. For a refreshing boost, you can add slices of lemon, cucumber, mint or berries. Other drinks such as unsweetened coffee and tea or iced tea, or unsweetened, infused or flavoured (sparkling) water are also good choices for hydration.
4. Practice safe food hygiene
According to the European Food Safety Authority, there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through eating food. However, good food safety practices are important to minimise the risk of foodborne illnesses.
When handing or preparing food, make sure to:
Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap before and after preparing or eating food
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze and remember to wash your hands after
Wash fruits and vegetables before eating them
Disinfect surfaces and objects before and after use
Keep raw and cooked foods separate to avoid harmful microbes from raw foods spreading to ready-to-eat foods
Use different utensil/chopping boards for raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination
Make sure to cook and reheat foods to adequate temperatures (≥72°C for 2 mins)
5. Stay active at home
Physical activity benefits both the body and mind. Healthy adults should aim for at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity and at least 1 hour for healthy kids (5-17 years).
Follow these tips for staying physically active during self-isolation or quarantine:
Plan time for physical activity in your day
Take regular breaks from sitting by standing up and stretching or going for a quick walk if permitted
Follow an online exercise class
Think outside the box: activities like dancing, playing active videogames, cleaning the house or playing with your kids all count as physical activity!
For more information see WHO European Region - Stay physically active during self-quarantine
6. Get enough quality sleep!
A lack of quality sleep can negatively affect both our physical and mental health as well as reduce our immune system’s ability to fight off infections. The amount of sleep we need depends on our age (figure 5). In general, adults should aim to get at least 7 hours of quality sleep per night. Stress brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic may have a negative impact our sleep. Therefore, we should try to priorities good sleeping habits and ensure we are getting enough.
Here are some tips to help you improve your sleep:
Establish a regular sleep schedule (going to bed and getting up at set times), and keep it on weekends and when working from home
Limit alcohol intake and do not smoke
Avoid caffeine before bedtime
Exercise regularly
Use comfortable inviting bedding
Keeping your room quiet, dark and at a comfortable temperature
Disconnect from electronics before going to bed
Try relaxation techniques such as meditation
7. Get information from trustworthy sources
There is a lot of misinformation surrounding COVID-19 on the internet and social media. It is important we get our information from reliable and trustworthy sources, such as government websites or websites of trusted national or international organisation (e.g. WHO, EFSA, ECDC). For more information on the understanding of science, check out our infographics on the hierarchy of scientific evidence and how to find reliable information online.
It is important to stay informed on the best practices to stay safe during this time. However, we should try to minimise watching news that causes us anxiety and is affecting our mental health. For more information see WHO - Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Heroes do wear capes, with white, blue and green colours highlighted as visuals of doctors and nurses are shown relentlessly doing their bit to fight the covid-19 outbreak.
Other useful sources
For more general information on COVID-19:
For more information on COVID-19 and nutrition:
For more information on self-isolation and mental health:
For more information on COVID-19 and risk of transmission via food:
For more information on the impact of COVID-19 on the food and agricultural industry:
For more information on the Myths around COVID-19:
World Health Organization (WHO) - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters
For more information on sleep:
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