Know All About World Population Day 2021

The world population in 2021 is estimated at 7.9 billion by the United Nations Population Fund . The size of the global population, demographics, population density, life expectancy have an impact on healthcare and act as an indicator for the health of the economy, development and other metrics for that region or nation. It is important then, for the nations of the world and for individuals to have conversations around this issue and the impact it has on their quality of their living.

 

 

More About World Population Day and the Challenges Faced

 

World Population Day is celebrated every year on July 11. It was established in 1989 by the governing council of the United Nations Development Program. The conversation was initiated to acknowledge the impact that population and overpopulation has on the world’s resources. It is also used as a platform to speak about connected issues such as challenges faced by health care industry.

 

One of the greatest challenges that the world population has had to deal with is the COVID-19 pandemic. It has put healthcare systems, hospitals, medical infrastructure, crisis management and immunisation programs at the centre of governance and policy. Health and wellbeing are a realm in which the entire global population is interconnected. The pandemic has levelled the playing field by showing us that unless the poorest and most marginalised of us isn’t safe and healthy, none of us can hope to beat the pandemic. Be it COVID-19 or any other communicable disease or infection — access to quality healthcare across population is the only way of preserving public health.

 

 

How Can We Collectively Tackle the Problem of Health-Related Challenges?

 

Health, wellness and fitness are not individual goals, they are community level goals. World Population Day is a reminder of our interconnections and certain common objectives that underpin the wellbeing of all people and communities worldwide. Public health is one such facet of our common existence. Taking care of ourselves by eating healthy, committing to daily exercise, and paying attention to mental health are some ways in which we can shore up our immunity and protect ourselves from lifestyle illnesses and infectious breakouts. The better communities and populations are at preventing large-scale health crises, the better they fare on parameters like economic well-being, happiness, social and cultural progress, etc.

 

Health is also a factor of socio-economic status. People of limited means and resources may not be able to access good quality health care and treatments, making them vulnerable to disease, illness and poorer life expectancy. While a large population forms the backbone of a robust, growing economy, if a portion of this population is frequently sick, unwell and unable to get proper medical attention they will not be in position to contribute to society or enhance their quality of life. We know life expectancy at birth in the least developed countries lags 7.4 years behind the global average based on the 2019 report published by UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

 

Health insurance schemes are an essential tool in mitigating financial risks and paving the way for equitable healthcare regardless of socio-economic status or wealth. For an affordable premium, health insurance policies offer vast benefits to beneficiaries in the time of a health crisis. Not only does a good health insurance plan take care of hospitalisation expenses, it also provides coverage for pre-hospitalisation tests, medication, transportation and treatment costs which are crucial for a proper and wholesome recovery. Health insurance plans aren’t just for the young- there is a misconception that the older you grow, the harder it becomes to gain health insurance. Trusted health insurers provide health insurance plans for senior citizens as well, easing the financial burden of a vulnerable section of our population.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Healthcare, equitable access, and the right to medical treatment are some of the challenges that huge segments of the world population face today due to discrimination, poverty and social and cultural biases. However, government schemes and healthcare providers are working toward bridging these gaps by making health insurance a reality for people of all age groups, genders and classes.

 

 

Sources:

 

https://nationaltoday.com/world-population-day/