ZLHR STATEMENT ON WORLD HEALTH DAY
ON this World Health Day, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) calls upon the public to demand a world that is conducive to good health and salutes healthcare
professionals who have truly been selfless warriors.
In Zimbabwe and across the world, healthcare workers have since the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic assumed the role of a heroic medical army working to curb the spread of the highly contagious disease.
Marked annually on 7 April, World Health Day is commemorated in order to highlight pressing global health issues. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the establishment of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which was founded on 7 April 1948 and every year on World Health Day, WHO chooses a theme which speaks to a global health issue that needs to be addressed by all nations.
In 2022, the theme for World Health Day is “Our Planet, Our Health.'' The theme urges governments across the world to prioritise the health and well-being of their citizens and residents. It also emphasises the need for nations to protect and preserve the environment, as a means to promoting good health. Human beings rely on the environment for their well-being and health. The environment provides vital drinking water, food and shelter for people across the globe. It is therefore important for all nations
to preserve the environment so that it remains habitable and conducive to good health.
Our planet is facing immense challenges today due to climate change. The United
Nations has described climate change as the single biggest threat that is facing our planet and humanity today. Climate change threatens to disrupt many communities by making some environments uninhabitable. Some regions have become uninhabitable due to extreme heatwaves and higher temperatures, which have been caused by climate change. Other regions are no longer habitable because climate change has adversely
affected agriculture in those regions, leading to severe food shortages. Climate change has also led to the displacement of many communities, following extreme weather events such as floods and cyclones. Therefore, the adverse impact of climate change on
the environment has led to a deterioration in the well-being and health of many people who depend on the environment for their well-being.
It is imperative for all nations to collaborate in the fight against climate change, so that the earth remains conducive to the health and well-being of everyone. Governments across the world should switch from using fossil fuels, which cause global warming and
climate change, and adopt renewable energy. The use of renewable energy, such as solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectric energy, will arrest the rising global temperatures and the harmful effects of climate change on human health. The transition to renewable
energy requires governments to commit to investing in clean energy. The investment in clean energy is necessary for the survival of humanity and the stability of our planet.
The health and well-being of people around the world has also been threatened by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has claimed millions of lives globally
and disrupted the lives of many more people. The pandemic and its after effects continue to plague the whole world today. It is therefore important for members of the public to remain vigilant and ensure that they adhere to all COVID-19 protocols and regulations.
In Zimbabwe, there is an urgent need for authorities to address the health challenges that have been presented by the threats of climate change, environmental degradation and COVID-19. Government should accelerate its plans to transition from the use of coal for electricity production to the use of solar and wind energy, as a response to the threat of climate change on human health. The switch to cleaner energy sources will also reduce
air pollution and the prevalence of airborne diseases. Government should also invest in sanitation systems across the country, as a means of preventing the outbreak of waterborne diseases. The authorities are also urged to invest in projects that are aimed at the delivery of safe, clean and potable water across the country. Authorities should also
implement programmes that are aimed at addressing the food shortages across the country. The availability of adequate food is an essential requirement for a healthy life.
ZLHR also urges Zimbabwean authorities to protect and promote the health of all Zimbabweans by implementing policies that are aimed at protecting and preserving the
environment, the quality of drinking water and the availability of adequate food in our communities.
Government has a legal duty to address the health challenges which threaten the wellbeing of Zimbabweans and to ensure the availability of healthcare services. In particular, Section 29(1) of the Constitution obliges the State to ensure the availability of basic, accessible and adequate health services across the country. Section 73(1)(a) of the Constitution also obliges the State to protect and promote everyone's right to an
environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. Importantly, section 76 (4) of the Constitution obliges the authorities to take reasonable and other legislative
measures that are aimed at the progressive realisation of the right to health care of all Zimbabweans.
On this World Health Day, ZLHR calls upon:
⬤ The public to demand a world that is conducive to good health;
⬤ All nations to collaborate in the fight against climate change and its harmful effects on the health and well-being of people across the globe;
⬤ The Zimbabwean authorities to protect and promote the health of all Zimbabweans by implementing policies that are aimed at improving the air quality of the environment, the quality of drinking water and the availability of adequate food in our communities.
⬤ The authorities to comply with their constitutional obligation of implementing legislative and other measures that are aimed at the progressive realisation of the right to health care of all Zimbabweans.