IIMSAM Middle East Office Observed World Health Day

April 6, 2010 - PRLog -- On the eve of World Health Day which is marked every year on April 7, Dr. Naseer Homoud Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Middle East office for the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), the Permanent Observer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council while addressing the media said “Good health is an integral component of life and its well-being which allows a person to realize his or her abilities - a healthy feeling in a healthy body, with a balanced health disposition, one is more effective in coping with the stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is better able to make a positive contribution to his or her community”.

World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO). In 1948, the World Health Organization held the First World Health Assembly. The Assembly decided to celebrate 7 April of each year, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day. The World Health Day is celebrated to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization activities. World Health Day 2010 will focus on urbanization and health. With the campaign “1000 cities – 1000 lives”, events will be organized worldwide calling on cities to open up streets for health activities. “IIMSAM Middle East Office shall be participating in the event while spreading knowledge on health care through network of its volunteers”. Dr. Homoud said.

On the occasion of World Health Day, IIMSAM Middle East Office is taking the opportunity to celebrate the women and men across the world and region in particular whose mission and daily work focus on supporting, caring for and investing in the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.  “The millions of health care providers working in every imaginable setting, tackling the full spectrum of health challenges and frequently enduring extremely difficult conditions are the essential ingredient in delivering all health initiatives and improving quality of life around the globe”, Dr. Homoud said.

While speaking on relevance of this day Dr. Homoud contended “everybody wants good health for themselves and their families. We all want a good quality of life and a good environment. Working towards these goals is at the heart of sustainable development. And there are encouraging signs that healthy bodies are beginning to acknowledge their sustainable development responsibilities. What are required now are the energy, enthusiasm and leadership to make, manage and sustain the necessary changes over the long term, to maximize the use of health resources to benefit the social, economic and environmental conditions in which we live.” He further observed “Observation of World Health Day reaffirms our commitment towards securing better health for all across the globe”.

Dr. Homoud while lauding the efforts and activities of WHO towards the securing better health for all urged Member States to support WHO in its noble endeavor. He added “it is imperative that public health communities across the globe support the WHO in its call for action on health issues. There are no greater threats to the health of humanity than those posed by unsecured medical facilities for the marginalized  section of society, climate change and environmental degradation and at no time has there been a greater need for powerful leadership and advocacy from all those involved in sustaining and advancing the health of the public”.

IIMSAM believes that promise in the Millennium Development Goal to secure better health for all by half by the year 2015 can only be redeemed by serious thinking, planning and action. Dr. Naseer further added “when we look the other side, there are impending challenges for the mankind. The global challenges of growing population and climate changes have to be kept in mind while formulating policies for countering the menace of health crisis”. The nature of crisis asks for global and concerted efforts on the part of world bodies, governments and civil society groups to tackle it, he further observed.
Speaking on vicious cycle of illness and malnutrition Dr. Homoud contended that malnutrition worsens with illness in malnourished children. This compares with the effects of the same illnesses on well-nourished children, who do not become malnourished. “Malnutrition makes children more vulnerable to severe malnutrition if they fall ill, and this, in turn, contributes substantially to the global level of malnutrition that kills if a child is ill," Dr. Homoud said. He added that Spirulina with its abundant features which are scientifically proved and is declared as food for future can be very effective in curbing this menace. "Thus the first step in preventing child death is to make sure that every child is well nourished, which is both scientifically and economically feasible by extensive use of Spirulina” Dr. Homoud added.

Highlighting the importance of Spirulina in fighting undernourishment he outlined firmly that Spirulina has proven medical tendencies which can control malnutrition and that’s too on very low costs involved in production.  “Spirulina is a blue-green microalga which is very high in protein content besides having very balanced levels of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, pigments, and other nutritional ingredients. It can be easily accessible, affordable and consumable” said Dr. Homoud.

While speaking on action plan Dr. Homoud said that the immediate task before us is to remove effectively the concerns like hunger and malnutrition because of the rapidly increasing mortality rate due to malnutrition and hunger in almost the whole of third world countries without which we can never dream of our future. “Spreading Spirulina will reduce significantly the hunger and malnutrition which ultimately will lead to peace, stability and development, paving better than the existing ways to the progressive evolution of humanity on global patterns. The world cannot achieve progress without curbing these evils and Spirulina is the most effective weapon for that”, he added

While giving the call to support IIMSAM and its initiatives which is channelizing its efforts to fight malnutrition and hunger among the masses particularly children Dr Nasser hoped that under guidance of His Excellency Ambassador Remigio M. Maradona Director General of the IIMSAM, the organization would reach to its target in fighting these menaces of contemporary world and thus contributing towards a healthy society.