There is an international or global health day all the time. There’s an international day for this and a world health day for that. There’s so many days, and in fact, pretty much every day of the year is dedicated to a significant cause around the world. This is great, but it can be confusing if you want to know what specific event is on each day.
This article covers 8 of the most popular global health days and discusses why each of these days is significant.
World Health Day
Of course, the most famous World Health Day is World Health Day itself. This day is celebrated on the 7th of April every year and marks the founding of the World Health Organisation back in 1948. Today, the day is used to draw attention to global health concerns ranging from universal health coverage to mental health as well as improving global health standards.
Each year, the WHO selects a theme that highlights a priority area of concern in public health, encouraging worldwide attention and action.
Notable recent themes include:
- 2023 Health for All
- 2022 Our Planet, Our Health
- 2021 Building a Fairer, Healthier World
World Cancer Day
The fourth of February is World Cancer Day, which strives to increase awareness in the battle against cancer by educating the public about prevention, detection, and treatment, as well as encouraging organisations to take action. Organised by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), World Cancer Day serves as a powerful reminder of the global impact of cancer and the need for continued efforts to combat it.
Of note, World Cancer Day has a prominent call to action on their website, which is a call to action to promote health equity, enhance cancer service accessibility, reduce disparities in cancer incidence and mortality, and finally close the care gap.
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10th each year and raises awareness about mental health issues through education, awareness, and advocacy. The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) established this day to promote mental health, lower shame, and get people talking about mental health in a more open way.
Its goal is to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues while also promoting better mental well-being. Previous themes for World Mental Health Day have included suicide prevention, mental health in the workplace, and mental health care.
World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day is observed annually on 14 November to raise awareness about diabetes, a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. World Diabetes Day raises awareness about diabetes and its impact on millions of people worldwide. Specifically, it draws attention to diabetes prevention and management through lifestyle changes, early diagnosis, and access to proper care now.
Diabetes is becoming more common around the world; in fact, one in every five persons globally has diabetes, with more than 90% having type 2 diabetes; however, nearly half of these people have yet to be diagnosed.
Alarmingly, according to some global research from the International Diabetes Foundation, 72% of people living with diabetes only received their diagnosis of being diabetic because they had another complication for which they went to seek medical care. This just shows the prevalence of diabetes in our society and the enormous health cost that it places on our health systems.
World Heart Day
World Heart Day, celebrated on the 29th September every year, is a global day that aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, and World Heart Day aims to promote heart-healthy lifestyles, encouraging people to make positive changes such as increasing exercise and avoiding tobacco use.
According to the World Heart Federation, more than 20.5 million people die every year as a result of cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. On a positive note, 80% of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease are actually preventable, which means that if we can make some small changes to our lifestyle, such as watching what we eat and drink, improving our exercise regimes, and better managing stress, we can all end up with better health outcomes.
Incorporating pre-employment medical testing and executive medicals into your workplace wellness programmes provides numerous benefits, including raising executive health awareness and encouraging them to improve their well-being, reducing the likelihood of time lost due to illness or injury.
World Blood Donor Day
Now, if you’ve ever given blood, you know what a rewarding experience that can be, and on the 14th of June every year, we celebrate World Blood Donor Day. Blood donors are vital in terms of their life-saving gifts and capacity. World Blood Donor Day raises awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products and encourages more people to donate blood on a regular basis
World Blood Day was first held in 2004 and was organised by four international organisations: the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (IFBDO) and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT).
World Immunisation Week
Next up is World Immunisation Week, which takes place in the last week of April. World Immunisation Week promotes the use of vaccines to prevent people from a variety of diseases. It emphasises the importance of immunisation in attaining global health goals and preventing the outbreak of preventable diseases. It is held over a week and aims to raise awareness of the advantages of immunisation and ensure that everyone has equitable access to vaccines.
What is World Bike Day?
This is more of a fun one, however it’s included in this list as it’s a little bit different to the other days listed.
World bike day is observed on the third of June every year and is a global celebration that promotes not just bike rides, but also the importance of sustainability, health, and means of transportation. World Bike Day highlights the reality that a simple bicycle can be a tool for health and fitness, as well as encouraging cleaner transportation options..
It’s more than simply writing a bike. It’s about sustainability, and biking is one of the most environmentally beneficial ways to move around. Reducing carbon emissions eases city congestion and reduces the need for huge parking lots. There are obvious health benefits while writing to work. Improved physical health, cardiovascular fitness, and mental well-being.
Summary
There are many more health days, as stated at the start of the article, there is a day for everything! This article explored 8 of the most popular global health days, discussing their significance and the various health issues they highlight, helping the global commitment to address these issues on a daily basis.