World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 of every year. Heath Day is celebrated to draw the attention to particular priorities in global health. Every year a new theme will be added to attract attention to a current world health issue. WHO will conduct various local, regional and international events which are related to that theme on this day. Local governments also tend to join the bandwagon. Hence it is a special day to take some extra care for your health and also your family member’s health.
“The awareness that health is dependent upon habits that we control makes us the first generation in history that to a large extent determines its own destiny.” – Jimmy Carter.
History of World Health Day
In 1948, the first World Health Assembly was held by WHO, and they decided to celebrate April 7 as World Health Day with effect from 1950. It is created to mark the World Health Organisation’s foundation and an opportunity to draw worldwide attention to a common subject of major significance to World Health Day every year. It is one of the eight official world health campaigns marked by WHO, along with World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day (March 24), World No Tobacco Day (May 31), World Malaria Day (April 25), World Blood Donor Day (June 14), World AIDS Day (December 01), and World Hepatitis Day (July 28). The logo or emblem for the day was chosen by the first World Health Assembly in 1948, and it is often associated with the promotional material for World Mental Health Day. It consists of a UN symbol surrounded by a staff with a snake coiling around it. It will be celebrated to mobilize the action against depression. Depression affects people of all ages from all walks of life in all countries. It impacts on individual’s ability to carry out the task of the normal day with consequences for families, friends, and co-workers. At worst depression may also lead to suicide or self-inflicted injury. It can be prevented and cured by a better understanding of depression.
Themes of World Health Day
- 1995 – Global polio eradication.
- 1996 – Health cities for a
better life. - 1997 – Emerging infectious diseases.
- 1998 – Safe motherhood.
- 1999 – Active aging makes the difference.
- 2000 – Safe Blood starts with me.
- 2001 – Mental health: stop exclusion, dare to care.
- 2002 – Move for health.
- 2003 – Shape the future of life: healthy environments of children.
- 2004 – Road safety.
- 2005 – Make a count of every mother and child.
- 2006 – working together for health.
- 2007 – International health security.
- 2008 – Protecting health from the adverse effects of climate change.
- 2009 – Save lives, make hospitals safe in emergencies.
- 2010 – Urbanization and health: make cities healthier.
- 2011 – Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow.
- 2012 – Good health adds life to yours.
- 2013 – Healthy heartbeat, healthy blood pressure.
- 2014 – Vector-borne diseases: Small bite, big threat.
- 2015 – Food safety.
- 2016 – Halt the Rise: beat diabetes.
- 2017 – Depression: Let’s talk.
- 2018 – Universal Health Coverage: : everyone, everywhere.
- 2019 – Universal Health Coverage: : everyone, everywhere.
- 2020 – Support nurses and midwives.
- 2021 – Building a fairer, healthier world.
- 2022 – Our Planet, Our Health.
- 2023 – Health for all.
- 2024 – My Health, My Right
How to Celebrate the day
Celebrate the day by organizing fundraisers to support the local free clinics and other public health sources. Take some extra care for your health and also your family members’ health. To express your feelings and share your thoughts on social media, use the hashtags #WorldHealthDay, #WHD, and #HealthDay.
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