April 7 marks World Health Day, a date designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness among the population about the importance of taking care of oneself, physically, mentally and socially, to lead a healthy and full life. This 2024, under the motto “My health, my right”, the WHO wants to emphasize the importance of health that, beyond being recognized by the constitution of 140 countries, is also financed by them. Since, currently, only 4 of them have mentioned how to finance it.
The armed conflicts, famine and psychological anguish that so many populations suffer today; The climate crisis and fuel burning are causing the right to health of millions of people to be increasingly threatened every day. To address it, the WHO has chosen this year to defend the right to have access to health, education and information, as well as drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, environmental conditions and decent work and freedom. of discrimination.
Despite advances in medical science, millions of people around the world still lack access to essential health services. This situation of inequality, often motivated by socioeconomic factors, directly affects the population, which suffers the onset of illnesses and premature deaths due to lack of healthcare and medicines.
To address this situation, it is imperative to address these inequalities by promoting initiatives to create a more equitable health system that provides services to the entire population, regardless of their situation and origin. Therefore, access to medical information, basic health knowledge and favorable environments are key tools to enable people to make informed decisions for their well-being, so that they seek timely medical care when they need it.
From the field of psychology, there are professionals who speak directly about psychoeducation. Psychologist David Salas, specialized in psychoeducation, anxiety disorders, depression and coaching, among others, states that it would be something that could help the population, especially to ask for help in an early state of distress.
“Today there is more knowledge about mental health terms that are used colloquially every day. This, sometimes, but not always, helps many people who acquire knowledge that they did not have long ago.” Furthermore, he points out that “we are on a good path because knowledge has expanded and there are many professional colleagues, and very good ones, who give their lectures and post them (on the Internet) and that helps.”
Raising awareness about mental health and combating the stigma that still surrounds it can help improve the general well-being of the population. Open dialogue could be the key to providing support services and creating inclusive environments, which could help free up primary healthcare and enable better patient care.
In this area, new medical technologies can also help us. They have revolutionized the health service, improving the health of users. From online medical care to wearable devices that help you keep track from anywhere. Even so, access to these technological advances should be guaranteed to overcome the digital divide and limited access to the Internet and technological infrastructures.
In the field of health, the professionals who will lead the next class of nurses who will graduate next May will face challenges closely related to social well-being, not only physical, but also mental. The final year Nursing student at the University of Barcelona, Laura León, is convinced that the most important thing is to accompany the elderly and is concerned about the future of young people given the low birth rate and congestion in access to the health.
"It is a problem that there are so many older people and young people, adolescents, they are not taken into account and they are a very vulnerable population and, taking into account that there are so few, because fewer and fewer people are born, and that they are the future, it is better to focus on them, on them growing well," says the student.
Even so, he affirms that measures are already being taken. "Programs such as Salud y Escola, here in Catalonia, or Young Afternoons are being promoted from health centers by midwives and nurses, who hold training sessions and talks and, in general, are a little more attentive to this group."
According to the student, the fact that the population had more knowledge tools to be able to act in a situation of possible need for health care is something fundamental. Even so, she assures that "it cannot be passed because now the entire population is managed by themselves, we need a middle ground. It would be good if people who come for any small discomfort had a certain knowledge and went to the health center when it was really necessary ".
Beyond the need for the population to have knowledge about health, health workers are essential to guarantee that right, which the WHO claims today. In fact, Laura León, as a future nurse, considers that "more staff would have to be hired because it is a fact that there are many people who require care and, in proportion, there is a lack of health workers." To achieve this, training is key, and could also be key for the health objectives established in the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 agenda.
