Integral Components of GFA’s Observance of World Health Day
Include Treatment and Education. WILLS POINT, TX — Each year since 1950, April 7 has been set aside for the observance of World Health Day. The special day was introduced to commemorate the first World Health Assembly sponsored by the World Health Organization.

The purpose of World Health Day is to draw attention to the major health needs around the globe to encourage the support and outreach of governmental and non-governmental agencies in combatting poor health and providing accessible healthcare treatment and education.

Treatment and education are integral components of the outreach of Gospel for Asia and its partners throughout South Asia where many people live in abject poverty and are often exposed to life-threatening illness and disease.

Some Gospel for Asia partners will hold special community events that promote awareness of best health practices for families and entire communities. Some of these events will include bringing mobile medical camps to villages.

At these camps, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare personnel provide a variety of exams, treatments, and medications free of charge to attendees. The camps are not only about treating illnesses but also about prevention of disease through education.

Other Gospel for Asia partners often use the day as an occasion to visit leper colonies where they provide comfort in the form of compassion, and by cleaning and treating wounds of those afflicted with the disease. Gifts of blankets and other essentials will be distributed during their visit, including custom-crafted shoes for those whose lower limbs have been deformed by the progression of their illness.

Raising awareness among those in the Western world is part of Gospel for Asia’s model as well. It is through the generous contribution of Gospel for Asia supporters that the medical outreach of their South Asian partners is possible. To that end, GFA wishes to share the Top 10 Threats to Global Health in 2019 according to the World Health Organization.

• Noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and health disease are responsible for more than 70% of all deaths worldwide.
• The danger of an influenza pandemic.
• The vulnerability of 1.6 billion people living in areas of protracted crises.
• Air pollution is considered by WHO to be the greatest environmental risk to health.
• The dramatic increase in resistance of microbial diseases to antibiotics and other medications.
• The rise of high-threat pathogens such as the Ebola virus. The current outbreak in the DRC has now reached urban areas with a population of over one million people.
• Inaccessible healthcare resources in remote regions.
• A growing reluctance to be vaccinated with disease-preventing serums.
• The spread of Dengue fever to areas beyond its historical tropical regions. Approximately 390 million people contract the fever each year.
• The failure to eradicate the AIDS/HIV virus. About 35 million people have already died and another 37 million currently have the disease.

To read more news on health issues on Missions Box, go here.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2019, GFA (Gospel for Asia) is a leading faith-based humanitarian and mission agency, bringing vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially to those who have yet to hear the “good news” of Jesus Christ. In 2018, this included more than 70,000 sponsored children, free medical camps conducted in more than 1,100 villages and remote communities, over 4,700 wells drilled, over 11,400 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 240,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry.