In previous years, World Population Day seemed like a very abstract idea. I mean, obviously, it’s a good idea to protect the world’s population, but what did that have to do with me?
But this year concerns about the population of the world have come closer to home. The news channels are filled with reports of what’s happening to the health of countries around the world. We in the United States compare ourselves to what’s going on in Sweden, the UK and Canada. And it turns out that international travel was one of the main causes of the spread of COVID-19, so we do need to pay attention to health trends around the globe.
Globalization was one of the causes of the current health crisis, but it’s also the way to fight against COVID. The World Health Organization and the United Nations are attacking the virus in two ways.
The first way is to stop the spread of the disease with proper healthcare and sanitation. They are distributing supplies such as masks, gloves and other protective equipment to medical personnel all over the world. They’re also making sure that vulnerable populations have access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
The second method of fighting the virus is through research into vaccines and treatments. This virus has highlighted the importance of vaccines to world health, and thousands of researchers around the world are trying to fast-track a vaccine for COVID-19.
And, of course, we can’t forget the vital role of healthcare professionals across the globe. Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, General Director of the World Health Organization praised “the resolve and sacrifice of frontline health workers” and said that “we’re all in this together — and we will only succeed together.”
At Towne Nursing, we are proud to be a part of these international efforts to eradicate COVID-19 and stop its rapid spread. We hope for a day when COVID is a part of our history and not a fact of daily life. And we salute our RNs, LPNs and CNAs who are on the frontline day in and day out, protecting the world’s population.
