World Health Day

My Health, My Right

World Health Day invites us to reflect on social factors that affect our own health and the health of our communities, acknowledging that structural inequities need to be addressed.

The WHO's Universal Health initiative addresses individual and community well-being and aims to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access quality health services without discrimination or financial consequences.

This year, Days of Action extends a no-pressure invitation to reflect on what My health, my right, means for you and the U of A community.

Events

Join us April 5 for two events celebrating health on campus

• World Health Day Breakfast Celebration, 9 - 10:30 a.m.
• Wellness Fair in VVC Social Street 12 - 3 p.m.

Health For All: Considerations for Yourself

Be an agent in your individual health:

• Develop and personalize self-care strategies with help from student services across campus.
• Access a family doctor at the University Health Centre (specific to U of A students, faculty, and staff members).
• Learn how to advocate for yourself with your health provider. Different intersectionalities and experiences will impact needs. If you are looking for specific ideas on how to advocate for yourself, consider reaching out to people in your community to learn from them. If you’re not sure who to ask, Wellness Supports social workers can work with you to build your self-advocacy skills.

Health For All: Considerations for Community Health

Be an agent in community health:

• Act as an ally alongside people in your community who have different health care experiences.
• Get involved with organizations that have a mandate of community well-being (The Campus Food Bank is a great option!)
• Learn about some disparities in health care in Canada: 
  • Read about 2SLGBTQ+ healthcare experiences in Edmonton , in North America , and with Trans Health . 
  • Learn more about Indigenous experiences of racism that disrupt access to health care through The National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health , listen to stories like Jessica Rickard’s . Read works like Mary Jane Logan McCallum’s Structures of Indifference that talk about modern histories of Indigenous health in Canada. 
  • Discover the world of health care from an Immigrant and Refugee perspective 
  • Review how our health care meets the needs of people who are experiencing homelessness .
  • Listen to a webinar on food insecurity and the impact on post-secondary student wellness
  • Engage with people advocating for health at every size, including Amanda Lee who discusses weight stigma and health care , and Sonya Renee Taylor’s work on body shame . Follow podcasts like Maintenance Phase and Christy Harrison .

The state of our health is more than our biology - learn how the social determinants of health affect health equity in Canada and around the world.