By Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia
On the 7th International Day of Yoga, WHO joins Member States and partners in the South-East Asia Region to celebrate the physical and mental health benefits of yoga and to promote regular and adequate physical activity to enable lifelong health and well-being. Yoga can help a person lose weight, relieve stress, improve immunity and build and maintain physical fitness and mental and emotional well-being. It can be practiced anywhere, at any time, and requires no financial investment. Regular yoga practice can help people of all ages prevent and control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which kill 41 million people globally every year, more than a third of them prematurely. The four major NCDs – cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes – account for more than 80% of all premature NCD deaths, of which 85% occur in low- and middle-income countries, including in the Region. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 response, the message of this year’s celebration – “Yoga for Wellness” – can empower and inspire all.
The Region has in recent years accelerated action to prevent and control NCDs, for which efforts to enhance physical activity and promote mental health continue to be key. All countries in the Region continue to implement multisectoral NCD action plans that facilitate physical activity in schools, workplaces and public spaces. Several countries have included yoga in preventive and promotive health strategies, which in all countries aim to achieve the WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity targets: a 10% reduction in physical inactivity by 2025 and a 15% reduction by 2030. Most countries have developed national mental health policies which they continue to apply, with the goal of strengthening primary level services and promoting multisectoral buy-in. The Region continues to pursue Flagship Priorities on preventing and controlling NCDs and achieving universal health coverage (UHC), both of which require access for all to preventive and promotive health interventions.
The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 has underscored the need for all people to be empowered to achieve life-long health and well-being. People living with NCDs are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. They must continue to be provided uninterrupted access to NCD services and encouraged and enabled to take preventive action, for which yoga at home can prove beneficial and safe. Throughout the COVID-19 response, WHO will continue to support Member States to promote healthy lifestyles, increase health equity, and maintain and strengthen services for NCDs, including for mental health – a critical need in the months and years to come.
Policy makers in the Region continue to integrate evidence-based traditional medicine (TRM) into health systems, in line with the strategic aims of WHO’s global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023. All countries have in place national policies on TRM. Most countries have established formal training and education systems for TRM practitioners. Six countries have co-located TRM services in health systems at some or all levels. Five countries have an essential drug policy on TRM products and include TRM products in national essential drug lists. Amid the COVID-19 response, WHO has supported Member States to undertake research on TRM that may prevent or treat COVID-19, and to enhance pharmacovigilance for TRM products. WHO will continue to support all countries in the Region to achieve UHC and ensure access for all to safe and effective TRM services.
On this International Day of Yoga, we can all commit to sustain or scale up participation in regular and adequate physical activity, and to build and maintain mental and emotional well-being. Yoga is a powerful way for people of all ages and incomes, whatever their gender or ethnicity, to prevent and control NCDs, increase overall physical and mental health, and reduce individual and public health expenditure. Children aged 5-17 require at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity daily aerobic activity. Adults aged 18-64 need 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity weekly aerobic activity. Older persons aged 65 and above require at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity weekly aerobic activity. Together, let us access and apply the power of yoga, for a healthier, happier future for all.