Global Public Health Days
Global public health days are days set aside by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness, draw attention and increase understanding of certain health issues. The days also offer a unique opportunity to mobilize local and international support for action.
The international health days as outlined by the World Health Organization and observed globally are;
- World TB Day, 24 March
The 24th day of March each year is set aside to mark World Tuberculosis Day. This annual event is specifically chosen to coincide with the date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced his discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the causative agent of tuberculosis. Available data indicates that more than 90% of new Tuberculosis (cases and deaths) recorded occur in developing countries. Globally, Nigeria ranks 10th among the 22 high-burden TB countries.
- World Health Day, 7 April
The 7th of April each year is set aside to mark World Health Day. The date also coincides with the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization. The platform provides a unique opportunity for global stakeholders in health to mobilize action around a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.
- World Malaria Day, 25 April
World Malaria Day (WMD) is commemorated on the 25th of April every year. It is a day set aside to recognize the global efforts to control malaria. Over 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria.
- World Immunization Week, 24-30 April
The World Immunization Week is observed from 24th -30th of April every year. Its principal focus is the promotion of vaccines as a way of protecting people against diseases. Immunization saves millions of lives each year and it is regarded as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions.
- World No Tobacco Day, 31 May
Globally, nearly 6 million death are recorded as a result of the negative health effects of tobacco. On the 31st of May every year, The World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed with the aim of encouraging a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption.
- World Blood Donor Day, 14 June
This date was specifically chosen to coincide with the birthday of the great scientist and Nobel Prize winner Karl Landsteiner who discovered the ABO blood group system. Established in 2004, the World Blood Donor Day celebration (WBDD) provides a rare and special opportunity to thank blood donors around the world and also raise awareness on the need for safe blood and blood products.
- World Hepatitis Day, 28 July
Acute and chronic hepatitis kills over 1.4 million people every year. The 28 of July every year is observed as the World Hepatitis Day to raise global awareness about the disease
- World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 13-19 November
The World Antibiotic Awareness Week is observed from the 13th to the 19th of November each year to raise global awareness about antibiotic resistance. It is also used as a platform to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers, and policymakers on the use of antibiotics so as to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms.
- World AIDS Day, 1 December
First conceived by two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization (James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter), December 1st every year has since 1988 been set aside to mark the World AIDS. About 40 million people worldwide have died as a result of HIV/AIDS-related health complications.
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Permission is hereby granted for the use of whole or parts of this article provided appropriate credit is given to www.publichealth.com.ng
