WHO Actual days

4 February – World Cancer Day

The World Health Organisation (WHO) together with the International Union Against Cancer and the participation of many countries is taking steps to combat oncological diseases. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020.

Between 30 and 50% of cancers can currently be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies. The cancer burden can also be reduced through early detection of cancer and appropriate treatment and care of patients who develop cancer. Many cancers have a high chance of cure if diagnosed early and treated appropriately.

Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among women. Children also suffer from cancer. The most common types of childhood cancers include leukemias, brain cancers, lymphomas and solid tumours, such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumours.

3 March – World Hearing Day

In 2021, WHO launched the World report on hearing that highlighted the increasing number of people living with and at risk of hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can be immediate (such as when exposed to a sudden burst of loud sound); however, more often the loss is gradual, permanent, and frequently goes unnoticed or ignored until the effects become more obvious.

Useful links:

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2022
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2022/03/03/default-calendar/world-hearing-day-2022-to-hear-for-life-listen-with-care
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/deafness-and-hearing-loss-safe-listening
https://worldhearingday.org/event-summary-mapped-by-regions/
https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/media-brief-on-safelistening

22 March – World Water Day

Water is the source of life for our planet. It is powerful and fragile at the same time. All humanity together must take care to keep it clean and sparkling. Therefore, since 1992, the World Water Day has been celebrated in the world at the initiative of UNESCO. Its purpose is to draw attention of governments, communities, institutions and people of the world countries to issues relating to the conservation and development of the planet’s water resources.

24 March – World Tuberculosis Day

In 1982, in honour of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of R. Koch, the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease recommended that 24 March is recognised as the World Tuberculosis Day.

The World Tuberculosis Day aims to focus on this curable disease that, however, kills two million people worldwide every year.

7 April – World Health Day

It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.

The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.

Our political, social and commercial decisions are driving the climate and health crisis. Over 90% of people breathe unhealthy air resulting from burning of fossil fuels. Extreme weather events, land degradation and water scarcity are displacing people and affecting their health. Pollution and plastics are found at the bottom of our deepest oceans, the highest mountains, and have made their way into our food chain.

Read more:
WHO Homepage

25 April – World Malaria Day

Malaria is predominantly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, so Europeans do not pay enough attention to this disease. According to the WHO, about 900 people died from tropical malaria between 1990 and 2003 in European countries. In recent years, the population of Latvia has also had greater opportunities to travel to any country in the world. The risk of developing diseases in other regions is not always considered when planning a trip. As a result, some travellers arrive home with an unplanned „souvenir” of malaria. According to the Latvian Centre of Infectious Diseases, there were 6 malaria patients registered in Latvia in 2009. For this reason, informative events are needed to raise people’s awareness of the disease, emphasising the importance of preventive measures.

12 May – International Nursing Day

12 May is International Nurses Day in honour of the birth of the English nurse, Florence Nightingale, on 12 May 1820.

Each year, the International Council of Nurses raises the theme of the year. For example, the theme for 1994, „Healthy Families for Healthy Nation”, in 2017 „Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”, but 2018 it was „Nurses a Voice to Lead – Health is a Human Right”. The International Council of Nurses believes that it is the nurses who provide access to medical care anywhere.

31 May – World No Tobacco Day

Every year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) celebrates 31 May as a day free of tobacco smoke. The use of tobacco kills more than 5 million people worldwide every year, with one person dying of the diseases caused by it every 6 seconds. Nowadays, every second child in the world has at least one parent who smokes. Whereas, 600 000 people die from passive smoking-related illnesses each year. It is important to be aware that tobacco is a preventable cause of death worldwide.

Read more:
WHO Homepage

14 June – World Blood Donor Day

Latvia has been actively involved in the blood donor movement. According to the State Blood Donor Centre, 1.5% of the population of Latvia are regular donors. A donor can donate 150 litres of blood or 600 litres of plasma over a lifetime. Our country produces 16.5 tons of erythrocytes, 1 ton of platelets and 25 tons of plasma per year.

28 July – World Hepatitis Day

Hepatitis B and C are considered to be one of the challenges of the healthcare system as it affects approximately 325 million people worldwide. Hepatitis is one of the causes of liver cancer, causing 1.34 million deaths annually.

Hepatitis B and C are chronic infections whose symptoms may not appear until several years later. For example, 60% of cancers are associated with late detection and treatment of hepatitis. The WHO believes that this situation should be changed by 2030.

Read more:
WHO Homepage
Hepatitis publications

1 –7 August – World Breastfeeding Week

Breast milk contains all the nutrients necessary for the child’s growth, health and development. The World Health Organisation recommends that infants under 6 months of age should only be breastfed (Exclusive Breastfeeding) by abandoning other forms of feeding and water, later continuing breastfeeding in combination with additional feeding up to the child’s two years of age and refusing from any bottles and soothers.

19 August – World Humanatarian Day

On a daily basis, humanitarian aid workers around the world are dedicating their efforts to helping those people affected by the crisis. Natural disasters, armed conflicts, epidemics and other emergencies threaten the lives and health of millions of people every year.

10 September – World Suicide Prevention Day

Common causes of suicide are mental disorders (depression, personality problems, addictions, schizophrenia) as well as serious incurable diseases (cancer, neurological diseases, HIV/AIDS). Suicide is the cause of death which could often be prevented by timely preventive action.

Suicides are preventable. There are a number of measures that can be taken at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts. LIVE LIFE, WHO’s approach to suicide prevention, recommends the following key effective evidence-based interventions:

limit access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, certain medications);
interact with the media for responsible reporting of suicide;
foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents;
early identify, assess, manage and follow up anyone who is affected by suicidal behaviours.

These need to go hand-in-hand with the following foundational pillars: situation analysis, multisectoral collaboration, awareness raising, capacity building, financing, surveillance and monitoring and evaluation.

Suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors of society, including the health sector and other sectors such as education, labour, agriculture, business, justice, law, defence, politics, and the media. These efforts must be comprehensive and integrated as no single approach alone can make an impact on an issue as complex as suicide.

28 September – World Rabies Day

Rabies is a dangerous infectious disease that is transmitted by sick animals. The disease is fatal and only timely vaccination can prevent it. In developing countries, vaccination is difficult for people to access due to the cost of vaccination. Every year about 55 000 people die from rabies.

29 September – World Heart Day

Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in the world, accounting for more than 17 million lives annually. Experts consider the following as the main risk factors for the development of these diseases: high blood pressure and blood sugar levels, insufficient consumption of fruit and vegetables, overweight problems, sedentary lifestyle and high daily stress levels.

1 October – International Day of Older Persons

Health as one of the basic values is the quality of human life, the basis of the well-being of his family and society. Therefore, we also call for taking care of your and your loved ones' health on a daily basis, inviting you to be active, become healthier in your daily habits, be open to the latest knowledge about a healthy lifestyle. Over the next three decades, the number of older persons worldwide is projected to more than double, reaching more than 1.5 billion people in 2050.

International Day of Older Persons aim is to draw the attention of the society to the problems of the aging population, the difficulties of life of the elderly, and lonely elderly people.

https://www.rsu.lv/en/news/october-1st-international-day-older-persons

10 October – World Mental Health day

Mental and physical health of people is closely interlinked. The WHO emphasises the need to focus on the mental health of people who are physically ill and vice versa – to follow the physical health of people who are mentally ill.

13 October – World Sight Day

The issue of vision problems is topical because, with increasing life expectancy, the human population is facing ageing-related visual impairment such as retinopathy of diabetes, cataract, glaucoma, degeneration of the retina, etc. Taking into consideration the seriousness of the problem, and with a view to educating the public on issues of preservation of vision and promoting the availability of ophthalmic care, the World Sight Day is celebrated annually. It was introduced by the WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to assist with the implementation of the Global Vision 2020: The Right of Sight Initiative.

14 November – World Diabetes Day

According to the latest International Diabetes data, 422 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, and an increase in the number of patients is prognosticated to double by 2030. At least 50% of people who already have diabetes are not even aware of it. Informative measures are therefore needed to draw people’s attention to this disease, with an emphasis on early diagnosis and prevention.

18 November – World COPD Day

According to the latest WHO data (2007), 210 million people worldwide are currently suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In 2005, 3 million people died from COPD. According to WHPO forecasts, by 2030 COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide.

17 November – World Day of Remembrance

At the suggestion of the World Health Organisation, since November 2005, the third Sunday in November is a day of remembrance for victims of road accidents. This day was introduced to commemorate all road traffic victims and to draw public attention to the serious situation of the families of victims who have to cope with many psychological and practical problems.

25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Preventing and responding to violence against women is a human rights, gender equality and public health priority. In every country and culture, more action is needed to ensure women in all their diversity live a life free of violence and coercion.

This International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, followed by the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, WHO is strengthening our commitments to address violence against women.

In 2021, WHO and partners released data from the largest ever study of the prevalence of violence against women. The report, supported by the WHO-UN Women Joint Programme on violence against women data, shows that 1 in 3 women across their lifetime are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner.
Two years of pandemic measures such as lockdowns and disruptions to vital support services have further increased women’s exposure to violence.

In every country, policy-makers, health care managers and advocates also have a role in strengthening their health system response to violence against women in every country. This Resource package for strengthening countries’ health systems response to violence against women includes tools and processes for developing national protocols and guidelines, updating training materials and working with different sectors.

1 December – World AIDS Day

On 1 December 1988, following the initiative of the World Health Organisation, AIDS Day was started to be celebrated in order to raise awareness among people and reduce prejudice about HIV/AIDS and its consequences. On this day, all the people of the world are invited to think about the victims of HIV/AIDS. The international symbol of HIV/AIDS awareness is a red ribbon that symbolises moral support for those infected with HIV/AIDS.

Read more:
WHO Homepage
The United Nations
HIV.GOV

WHO Actual days

WHO Depository Library in Latvia