The emergence of COVID-19 this past year has truly aimed the spotlight on the need for a fairer and healthier world. While some are well-equipped, there are many regions worldwide that are less capable of effectively combating such a widescale crisis. The combination of having less extensive preventative measures and less access to resources has led to much higher consequences for these populations. Many people’s physical and emotional health have suffered in the short-term. However, the consequences may be even more devastating long-term, especially within these vulnerable populations; human rights, education, economic development, and food security are all in danger of suffering tremendously. At such a critical time in history, we must come together to protect populations that are more at-risk.

This year, on World Health Day, the aim is to generate awareness surrounding inequity. Our global health care system is not a fair one; The ultimate goal is a system with attainable resources for EVERYONE, regardless of their race, religion, political views, and economic or social circumstances.

What Can We Do To Help?

1. Join the ever-growing conversation about inequality. The goal is to motivate leaders to remove barriers and ensure everyone has access to healthy living and working conditions.

2. Continue to stay connected to and support one another through these unprecedented times. This will encourage others to take responsibility for their own health where possible.

3. Finally, it’s just as important to take care of ourselves. With so many circumstances being out of our control, it is crucial that we make the decision to prioritize our own health.

Try this: Commit to, during these difficult times, doing one thing each day that is centred around self-care (something for YOURSELF that makes YOU feel good)

One thing all our staff at leguano LOVE to do for self-care is to spend time walking barefoot and connecting with nature (in leguano shoes or completely barefoot). Allowing your feet the pleasure of connecting with the ground and feeling the sensation of different textures and materials can be extremely therapeutic and refreshing. Not only are there physical benefits to walking barefoot (i.e. improved strength, balance and circulation) but spending time connecting to nature can have positive effects on mental health (i.e. decrease stress and improved mood). TRY IT!! Whether you go for a long hike, or wander back and forth through the grass with your shoes off during your lunch break; either can be enormously gratifying and change the course of your day!

We can each contribute to making this world healthier, and there is not a more suitable time than during a massive pandemic: Let’s stick together and each do our part!!