The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other related organizations.
In 1948, the WHO held the First World Health Assembly. The Assembly decided to celebrate 7 April of each year, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day.
The World Health Day is held to mark WHO’s founding, and is seen as an opportunity by the organization to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year.
The WHO organizes international, regional and local events on the Day related to a particular theme.
World Health Day is acknowledged by various governments and non-governmental organizations with interests in public health issues, who also organize activities and highlight their support in media reports, such as the Global Health Council.
World Health Day is one of eight official global health campaigns marked by WHO, along with World Tuberculosis Day, World Immunization Week, World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World AIDS Day, World Blood Donor Day, and World Hepatitis Day.
World Health Days themes
- 1991: Should Disaster Strike, be prepared
- 1992: Heart beat: A rhythm of Health
- 1993: Handle life with care: Prevent violence and Negligence
- 1994: Oral Health for a Healthy Life
- 1995: Global Polio Eradication
- 1996: Healthy Cities for 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 for children
- 2004: Road safety
- 2005: Make every mother and child count
- 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 years
- 2013: Healthy heart beat, 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
This year’s World Health Day theme couldn’t be more apt as it is dedicated to honour the indefatigable work of nurses and midwives across the globe.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, thousands and millions of nurses are leaving behind their comfort and safety to fight the Covid-19 crisis and help those infected or suspected of coronavirus.
WHO will launch its first ever State of the World’s Nursing Report 2020. The 144-page report will provide a global picture of the nursing workforce and support evidence-based planning to optimize the contributions of this workforce to improve health and wellbeing for all. The report will set the agenda for data collection, policy dialogue, research and advocacy, and investment in the health workforce for generations to come.
You can download the report from WHO’s website from the link given below
https://www.who.int/publications-detail/nursing-report-2020
