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World Health Day has been celebrated each year since 1950.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded by member states of the United Nations.
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The other seven WHO global health campaigns include World AIDS Day, World Hepatitis Day, World Blood Donor Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Malaria Day, World Immunization Week, and World Tuberculosis Day.
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Former World Health Day themes have included Vector-borne diseases (2014), Healthy heart beat (2013), Good health adds life to years (2012), Anti-microbial resistance (2011), Urbanization and health (2010), Save lives, Make hospitals safe in emergencies (2009), Protecting health from the adverse effects of climate change (2008), International health security (2007), Make every mother and child count (2005), Road safety (2004), Shape the future of life: healthy environments for children (2003), Move for health (2002), Mental Health (2001), Safe Blood (2000), Active aging (1999), Safe motherhood (1998), Emerging infectious diseases (1997), Healthy Cities (1996), and Global Polio Eradication (1995).
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The theme for the 2015 World Health Day celebrations is Food Safety. There are more than 200 diseases caused by unsafe food that may contain parasites, viruses, bacteria, and chemicals. It is estimated that approximately two million people die each year because of unsafe food or water. The 2015 World Health Day's message was to be informed to ensure that food one one's plate is safe to eat.
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Some events held on World Health Day include public marches and demonstrations, free or easy access to medical tests, conferences, briefings for politicians, and displays aimed at children and young adults.
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World health is greatly influenced by safe drinking water. WHO has many programs to help improve overall world health by providing safe water and sanitation practices.
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Factors that contribute to world health, that many previous World Health Days have addressed include: vector-borne disease such as malaria, Wet Nile, Lyme and disease; contaminated drinking water which can lead to dengue, malaria, and hepatitis; blood pressure, which is a silent killer and affects one in three adults; and aging in a healthy way, which involves staying active.
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Although World Health Day is one of the most well-known celebrations meant to draw attention and raise awareness to a particular health cause each year, many other observances occur with the intention of raising awareness about health around the world, including World Leprosy Day (January 27), World Parkinson's Day (April), International Day for Protection of Children (June), World Arthritis Day (October), and World Cancer Day (February).
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