World Health Day

Today we celebrate World Health Day, a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other related organizations. In 1948, the WHO 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 to mark WHO's founding and enable worldwide attention to be drawn to a subject of major importance to global health.

Each World Health Day, the WHO sets a different health-related theme for the ensuing year. This year, with the COVID 19 pandemic still very much a real threat to many around the world, the theme is to build a fairer, healthier world.

The pandemic has highlighted the inequalities of our world, not just between rich and poor nations but also rich and poor neighbourhoods in our own country.

But is there anything we can do as individuals to help erase these inequalities and what have we learnt over the past year to help us in this quest?

Yes, I believe there is much we can do if we treat God’s earth with the sanctity it deserves. There is much we have learnt as we have shared together in the traumas of the past year.

The messages of thanks to the church for its concern for all who receive this News Sheet and their families sing loudly of the need to be loved and remembered. Pictures and news of neighbour’s chickens, friendly bird visitors, the first flowers of spring, and more, have all helped us to give thanks for God’s creation.

During this pandemic, we have all suffered mentally from the restrictions imposed upon us because of the pandemic, but some have been affected more than others. Treatments for physical ailments have been postponed as health resources are diverted to meet the needs of the pandemic but there has always been one constant throughout these times: God’s love for us.

Last weekend, as we commemorated Christ’s cruel death on the cross and celebrated His glorious resurrection, we were reminded that the salvation such a sacrifice brought, is available to all. Whatever the trials we face, God will be there to comfort and support us.

Life may be bleak at the moment, but we are so fortunate. Despite the efforts of the World Health Organisation, some countries are only just starting their vaccination programme, whilst ours is so much further down the road. Politics and greed have blocked the pathway for so many to receive such help, even in wealthier countries able to buy up supplies.

We need to give thanks for all that we have, the love which surrounds us coming from friends, family and God, the greetings from strangers as we take our daily walk, our brilliant National Health Service – and that this pandemic has helped us appreciate more acutely the inequalities in our country and our world and the need for these to be addressed.

"Who is my neighbour?" Jesus was asked and, in reply, told the story of the Good Samaritan. Elsewhere in His teachings, Jesus tells us to love that neighbour. Only such unconditional love as found on the cross can make this world a fairer, and healthier world in which all can share. Remember, there is physical, mental and spiritual health. We may not be doctors in the NHS but we are all called to be doctors in the health service of God.

Andy Bevan

Also, let Mike know if you have particular prayer requests (for yourself or others) in these challenging and uncertain times and  If you would like to contribute a prayer, poem or reflection for the weekly Sunday service outline.