World Health Day is celebrated on April 7th. The date was created in 1950 and is commemorated on the same day as the foundation of the World Health Organization (WHO), which took place in 1948.
The objective of the date is to ensure the best level of health for people around the world, through the dissemination of important topics for society and that can contribute to improving the quality of life.
The concept of health defined by the WHO is broad and is not restricted to the absence of illnesses, as follows:
“a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not just the absence of affections and infirmities”.
Importance of date
Every year a theme is chosen. This choice led to awareness-raising efforts aimed at gradually improving the factors that determine a healthy life and bringing information to the population.
Topics from recent years:
- 2007: “Investing in health for a safer future”
- 2008: “Protecting health from climate change”
- 2009: "Save lives - Safe hospitals in emergency situations"
- 2010: “1000 cities - 1000 lives” (theme highlights the effect of urbanization on health).
- 2011: "Anti-microbial resistance" (theme highlights the factors that contribute to the development of microbes)
- 2012: "Good health adds life to age" (the theme highlights the importance of health care so that it is possible to have a productive life in old age)
- 2013: "Hypertension - Know your numbers"
- 2014: “Small bites, big threats” (the theme highlights diseases caused by vectors such as malaria and dengue)
- 2015: “From Farm to Fork, Getting Safe Food”
- 2016: "Fighting diabetes"
- 2017: “Let's Talk”, in Portuguese: “Let's talk” (the theme highlighted depression)
- 2018: "Health for All"
National Health Day
In addition to World Health Day, on the day August 5 National Health Day is celebrated. This is because this is the birth date of Oswaldo Cruz (1872-1917), an important Brazilian public health doctor responsible for combating bubonic plague and yellow fever in our country.
World Mental Health Day
There is also the World Mental Health Day, its commemoration is made on the day October 10th. The date was created in 1992 by the World Federation of Mental Health.
Learn about other commemorative dates, read also:
- April commemorative dates
- World Food Day
- Importance of physical activity for health