Yoga offers path to sustainability: WHO regional director Saima Wazed
In a world facing
environmental challenges
, yoga offers a path to sustainability by encouraging people to live simply, consume mindfully, and respect the natural world, WHO South-East Asia Regional Director
Saima Wazed
said on the eve of
International Day of Yoga
.
"In embracing yoga, we can reduce our
ecological footprint
and contribute to a healthier planet," she said in a statement on Friday.
The International Day of Yoga, marked annually on 21 June, celebrates this timeless practice that nurtures body and soul, she said.
It was first proposed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. Recognizing yoga's universal appeal, he suggested the Summer Solstice - 21 June - as a symbolic date, Wazed said.
With 177 UN member states co-sponsoring the resolution, the proposal received overwhelming support, and the day was first celebrated in 2015, starting a global wellness movement, she said.
This year's theme, "Yoga for One Earth, One Health," reminds us of the deep connection between our well-being and the health of our planet, she added.
"Yoga is more than just physical exercise. It is a journey towards inner peace and harmony, and teaches us to listen to our bodies and to live mindfully. As we practice yoga, we become more aware of our surroundings, and more attunes to the rhythm of nature," Wazed stated.
"In a world facing environmental challenges, yoga offers a path to sustainability by encouraging us to live simply, consume mindfully, and respect the natural world. In embracing yoga, we can reduce our ecological footprint and contribute to a healthier planet," she said.
Clean air, pure water, and fertile soil are essential for our well-being. Yoga encourages us to protect these vital resources and ensure a thriving planet for future generations, Wazed said.
The benefits of yoga are well-documented, she said.
Studies have shown that 77 per cent of people report feeling physically stronger after practising yoga regularly. 82 per cent of patients with chronic inflammation experienced a nearly 50 per cent reduction in inflammation after just six weeks of daily yoga. Yoga can also help mental health, she added.
A study by Harvard Medical School found that 60 per cent of participants with depression experienced a significant reduction in symptoms after practising yoga twice a week for eight weeks, Wazed said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
‘Women-led development' paving way for new India: PM Modi at Mann Ki Baat
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the mantra of 'women-led development' is creating a new future for India. He stressed that the women are not only charting a fresh course for themselves but also for society at large. In his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, the PM highlighted numerous examples of women-led initiatives from across the country. He said, 'In India, from health to social security, the country is moving ahead with the feeling of saturation in every field. This is also a great picture of social justice. These successes have instilled a belief that the coming times will make India stronger.' A vast majority of the Indian population is now benefiting from some form of social protection. Referring to a recent report by the International Labour Organization, he said, 'The report mentions that over 64% of the country's population is now definitely availing of some social protection benefit or the other. Social Security is one of the biggest coverage in the world.' He went on to say that approximately 95 crore people in the country are currently availing benefits from various social security schemes. In contrast, back in 2015, less than 25 crore people were covered. Taking a veiled swipe at the previous Congress-led government, without naming it directly, the PM remarked, 'Just a few days ago, the imposition of Emergency on the country completed its 50 years. We countrymen have observed the 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'. We should always remember all those people who fought the Emergency with fortitude.' During the broadcast, PM Modi also played excerpts from speeches by former PMs Morarji Desai and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as well as former Deputy PM Jagjivan Ram, all referencing the Emergency period. Among other examples of empowerment, the he spoke of Bodoland's rise in the realm of sports. The PM also celebrated what he termed a 'remarkable milestone' — the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring India trachoma-free — and praised healthcare workers for their instrumental role. He added, 'The 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' helped in eradicating it. The 'Jal Jeevan Mission' also contributed a lot to this success. Today, when clean water is reaching every home through taps, the risk of such ailments has reduced.'
The Print
3 hours ago
- The Print
Decline in percentage of zero-dose children due to govt's proactive, inclusive approach: Health Ministry
The ministry credited the decline in such children to its unwavering commitment to immunisation evident through its Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which provides free vaccination services annually to 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants (0′-1 year). According to WHO, zero-dose children are defined as those who lack access to or are never reached by routine immunisation services. They are operationally measured as those who did not receive their first dose of DTP (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis). New Delhi, Jun 28 (PTI) India's percentage of zero-dose children to the total population has declined from 0.11 per cent in 2023 to 0.06 per cent in 2024, positioning it as a global exemplar in child health, as acknowledged by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation in its 2024 report, the Union Health Ministry said here. At the same time, it asserted that any comparison of India with any other countries with high burden zero dose children needs to take into consideration India's large population size and high vaccination coverage rate. Vaccination remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions, the ministry said in a statement, noting that the government has taken a proactive and inclusive approach to reach underserved populations. 'Our healthcare workers ASHAs and ANMs conduct over 1.3 crore immunisation sessions across the country,' the statement said. 'As a result of the continued, sustained efforts and intensified implementation of vaccination drives and campaign across the country, the percentage of zero-dose children to the total population has declined from 0.11 per cent in 2023 to 0.06 per cent in 2024,' it said The approach remains progressive, and continuous efforts are being made in the current year to further reduce the burden of zero-dose children in the country, it said. These achievements have positioned India as a global exemplar in child health, as acknowledged by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) in its 2024 report, it said. The effect of the increased number of lifesaving vaccines in reducing mortality and morbidity in children due to diarrhoea, pneumonia, meningitis and encephalitis is also clearly observable, the statement said. According to the latest SRS (2020-22), the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India has declined from 130/lakh live births in 2014-16 to 88/lakh live births in 2020-22. The United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (UN-MMEIG 2000-2023) report says that the MMR in India stands at 80 per lakh live births, reflecting an 86 per cent decline relative to the global reduction of 48 per cent since 1990, it stated. According to the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME 2024 Report), India achieved a 78 per cent decline in the Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) surpassing the global reduction of 61 per cent and 70 per cent decline in the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) compared to 54 per cent globally during 1990 – 2023. In addition to focused attention on increasing vaccination coverage, India's UIP embodies a comprehensive range of vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Till 2013, there were only six available vaccines in the programme. Currently, India's UIP covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases and has seen significant expansion, the statement said. With continued focus on improving vaccine coverage, India has taken a proactive and inclusive approach to reach underserved populations. The Government of India in consultation with all states and UTs, has launched targeted campaigns to address challenges among zero-dose children, particularly in urban slums, peri-urban areas, migratory populations, hard-to-reach regions, and communities affected by vaccine hesitancy. 'To amplify our reach, we are leveraging technology and community engagement. The U-WIN platform tracks immunisation status digitally, ensuring no child is missed. 'Public awareness campaigns are being intensified using mass media, community radio, social media, and even street plays to educate families. Healthcare workers, ASHAs, and ANMs will go door-to-door, not just to vaccinate, but to sensitize the beneficiaries about the benefits of vaccination,' the statement said. Some key initiatives include roll out of Zero Dose Implementation Plan 2024 across 143 districts in 11 states with a high burden of unvaccinated children; Mission Indradhanush (since 2014), intensified in 2017 in collaboration with state governments, it has vaccinated 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women — previously unreached or under-vaccinated. The initiatives also include Pulse Polio Campaigns, and Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHNDs) organised regularly for immunisation and outreach activities at the community level. The annual birth cohort in India (2.6 crore) exceeds the total population of several countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Finland, and Switzerland. Given the varying sizes of the countries across the globe, the percentage comparison shows it at par with the vaccination coverage levels observed in many high-income countries for e.g., New Zealand (DTP-1 93%), Germany & Finland (DPT-3 91%), Sweden (MCV-1 93%), Luxembourg (MCV-2 90%), Ireland (PCV-3 83%), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Rota C 90%). (WUNEIC report 2023), the statement said. The comparative results of countries on zero dose children as a percentage of the total population shows that Yemen (1.68%), Sudan (1.45%), Angola (1.1%), Afghanistan (1.1%), Nigeria (0.98%), DR Congo (0.82%), Ethiopia (0.72%), Indonesia (0.23%), Pakistan (0.16%) have far more zero dose children as a percentage of their population compared to India's (0.11% during 2023 as per the last Wuneic report released. Any comparison of India with any other countries with high burden zero dose children needs to take into consideration India's large population size and high vaccination coverage rate, the statement said. Therefore, any interpretation or analysis based on isolated factors does not lend credence to the country's progress on its immunization program, it emphasised. PTI PLB RT RT RT RT This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
India.com
4 hours ago
- India.com
Dual threat for children as Pakistan reports over 60000 anti-polio vaccine refusals in...
Dual threat for children as Pakistan reports over 60000 anti-polio vaccine refusals in… Islamabad: It's been 14 years since India began celebrating its remarkable and unbelievable achievement of becoming a polio-free country. The country achieved this through consistent efforts and a genuine door-to-door approach. On the other hand, the threat of polio still hovers over the children of neighbouring Pakistan, as the country reported more than 60,000 cases of polio vaccine refusal during its nationwide anti-polio campaign, which was held between April 21 and 27, ARY News reported, citing official sources. As per the report, a total of 60,906 polio vaccine refusals were reported during the nationwide drive. Notably, this was Pakistan's second national polio eradication drive of 2025. The Sindh region of Pakistan reported 39,073 cases of vaccine refusals, which is the largest in the country. Out of 39,073 refusals, over 37,000 vaccine refusals were reported from Karachi alone. Balochistan is the second in the list where over 3,500 vaccine refusal cases were reported, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa documented 0.4 percent vaccine refusal cases, as per the data. Instances of parental refusal were also witnessed in Punjab and Islamabad, ARY News reported. Pakistan's fight against polio is hampered by widespread vaccine hesitancy. A new polio case has been reported, raising the 2025 total to thirteen. The WHO describes polio as a highly contagious viral disease spread primarily through faecal-oral transmission, or less commonly, via contaminated food or water. Polio is an incurable disease that can lead to paralysis or death. Vaccination, specifically multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the recommended childhood immunisation schedule, is the best preventative measure. The dreadful disease affects children who are under 5 years of age. According to WHO, individuals of any age who didn't receive the polio vaccine can contract the diseas,e and there is no cure if a person is affected by polio. The disease can only be prevented and that is why the vaccination is very important. Notably, Pakistan and Afghanistan are two polio-endemic nations in the world. Pakistan saw a consistent yearly decline in polio cases until a recent resurgence. Polio eradication efforts in Pakistan face ongoing obstacles. Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province presents a significant challenge due to difficulties reaching communities and vaccinating children door-to-door, resulting in persistent unvaccinated populations at risk of infection.
