world health day

BY HAYLEY DAWSON, VICTORIA-BASED MEDIA STRINGER

Today is world health day. When I was asked to write this piece, I didn’t think we would be in a health pandemic but seeing as all this COVID-19 craziness is happening in the world at the moment I thought I might talk a little about it on this very important day.

What is a pandemic?

A pandemic is the global outbreak of a disease. Pandemics are generally classified as epidemics first, which is the rapid spread of a disease across a particular region or regions. On the twelfth of March 2020 the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a pandemic. One of the deadliest pandemics in history was the Spanish flu in 1918. The virus infected an estimated one-third of the world's population and was responsible for causing between 20 million and 50 million deaths.

What is COVID-19?

“COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus. Symptoms include fever, coughing, a sore throat and shortness of breath. The virus can spread from person to person, but good hygiene can prevent infection.” (SOURCE) COVID-19 was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan City in China.

COVID-19 in regional communities

It’s a discombobulating time as a pandemic is something many of us have never experienced before. New regulations are announced daily, social distancing measures have been implemented, parks and beaches are closed, events have cancelled, purchasing toilet paper now involves security guards and apps like Zoom and Houseparty are the only way we can connect with friends for Friday night drinks!

I’m my capacity as a Naturopath and Nutritionist I’ve observed a few concerning things occur as a result of COVID-19, but I’m also seeing a lot of amazing things emerge that are really going to benefit health for rural Australians and rural communities in general. The news and media are currently saturated with negative stories relating to COVID-19 so today I’ve decided to focus on the positive things that are helping improve and shape rural communities. We can always do with more positivity in our lives, but now we need optimism more than ever!

Increased access to online health services and support

For many years the greatly reduced access to health care in rural and remote areas has been an issue. Long waiting lists to visit GPs, Psychologists, and specialists, extensive travel to see a doctor and many other issues pertaining to the tyranny of distance and lack of access. However, good news came last Sunday night when the federal government announced massive financial incentives to support GP Telehealth services Australia-wide.

Not only are we now seeing Telehealth for GPs but also for Psychologists, Physiotherapist and Gynaecologists. While Telehealth isn’t suited for all health conditions it’s definitely a step in the right direction in terms of increasing regional access to important health services. Increased Telehealth support will now enable illnesses to be identified earlier and will consequently lead to a more preventative health approach given people can take now action before their health deteriorates or takes over their lives. I’m a huge supporter of preventative health and I’m really excited that this will now be easier for those in rural and remote areas too.

Business growth through technology

It’s been really impressive to see other businesses diversify and extend into the online space. We’re now seeing more online exercise classes, online events, and some really amazing services adapting for home delivery. I believe online is the future and there is potential for us to connect online and help more people. Many regional businesses have traditionally had limited audiences, restricted to their geographical region within a small shire or town, however, technology presents an opportunity for exposure to a much more extensive audience which can lead to significant growth for regional businesses. Now is the perfect time to look into new places, apply ingenuity and make smart strategic changes to stand out in the crowd. 

Community Kindness

I’ve seen some amazing kindness in not only in my own rural community but in so many others over the past three weeks. Yes, we’ve seen some very unkind behaviour in different situations but predominantly kindness has risen to the surface and is shining bright. Cafes have been giving away free meals to those in need, people have been offering surplus home grown fruits and vegetables, and many inherently kind people have come forward offering to do jobs and groceries for high risk people so they can remain at home to keep themselves safe.

Our health is the most important thing in our lives, if we don’t have our health, we don’t have anything. During this challenging period I really encourage you to prioritise your health, eat nourishing foods, look out for each other within our communities and most importantly… always be kind.