BERMUDA celebrates World Health Day today, joining countries around the globe in honouring healthcare professionals and the important role they play in every society.

An issue likely to take prominence during many of the observances is the world-wide shortage now at hand, which has resulted in clinics with no health workers, and hospitals that cannot recruit or keep key staff.

"(Today), Bermuda will join the international community in saluting the 7.5 million health workers in the Americas for the invaluable role they play in promoting and protecting the health of others," said a spokesperson for the Department of Health.

"The global shortage of healthcare workers affects every corner of the world and Bermuda is not immune to this. However, Bermuda is fortunate to enjoy a robust healthcare system with human resource allocation that is comparable to Canada, the US and the UK.

"Bermuda's healthcare professionals ensure that Bermuda enjoys very high standards in the health and healthcare of its residents, and for that Bermuda will join the world in saluting all workers ? doctors and nurses, as well as therapists, pharmacists, technicians, volunteers and others who have chosen health as their vocation for the benefit of our community ? for their admirable contribution in caring for the sick and the infirm and assuring healthy environments in which our community can thrive."

No particular emphasis is to be placed on recruitment during the day's observances. As the spokesperson explained, such efforts are ongoing, conducted in partnership with industry stakeholders and the programme of education offered by the Bermuda College.

Celebrated annually since 1950, World Health Day is designed to raise global health awareness of a specific health theme which is an area of concern for the World Health Organisation (WHO). This year's theme, the growing crisis caused by a workforce shortage, is a situation which impacts on healthcare standards around the world.

"(WHO) has designated that the focus of World Health Day this year will be health workers who are the most precious resource we have for health. Communities around the world will be celebrating the dignity and value in working for health by honouring health workers," the Department spokesperson said.

As described by a WHO representative, the healthcare workforce ? "the heart of health systems" ? is in crisis around the world.

"There is a chronic global shortage of health workers, as a result of decades of under investment in their education, training, salaries, working environment and management. This has led to a severe lack of key skills, rising levels of career switching and early retirement, as well as national and international migration.

"There is no single solution to such a complex problem, but ways forward do exist and must now be implemented. For example, some developed countries have put policies in place to stop active recruitment of health workers from severely understaffed countries.

"Some developing countries have revised their pay scales and introduced non-monetary incentives to retain their workforce and deploy them in rural areas. Education and training procedures have been tailored to countries' specific needs.

"Community health workers are helping their communities to prevent and treat key diseases. Action must be taken now for results to show in the coming years."

As part of local observances, the Department of Health will join with the Bermuda Hospitals Board in the annual Argus Health Fair at No. 1 Shed, from 11 a.m. through 4 p.m. Admission is free.

"We invite the public to come and meet the dedicated team of professionals who take care of our community every day and to take advantage of the information and screenings that will be provided," the spokesperson added.