World Health Day

World Health Day History

World Health Day aims to highlight the importance of health issues facing the world each year. It is spearheaded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is essentially about promoting awareness of significant health concerns, providing a platform for individuals, communities, and countries to engage in activities that can lead to better health. The observance serves as a reminder that health is intrinsic to human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security.

This significant observance has its roots in the First Health Assembly held in 1948, where it was decided to dedicate a day to global health awareness. For the United Kingdom, the ethos of World Health Day aligns with the founding principles of the National Health Service (NHS) which came into being just a few months later in the same year. Over the years, themes such as mental health, climate change, and diabetes have resonated with public health concerns in UK, prompting increased advocacy, actions, and resources towards these health issues.

In the United Kingdom, World Health Day is observed in various ways depending on the annual theme. Many health and social care organisations, universities, schools, and NGOs hold events, discussions, and campaigns to promote the main messages of the World Health Day. The public may participate in webinars, health awareness runs, vaccination clinics and other health-promoting events. World Health Day is observed annually on 7th April, amplifying the advocacy for health and well-being in the United Kingdom.

Facts about World Health Day

• The theme for World Health Day in 2024 was My health, my right. The theme in 2022 was Our Planet, Our Health.
• According to the World Health Organization, 58% of deaths in children under age five are caused by infectious diseases with pneumonia being the highest cause of those deaths.
• The average life expectancy in the UK is around 81 years, with men living on average until about 79, and women until about 83.
• Diseases of the heart and circulatory system cause more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK, accounting for over 160,000 deaths each year. Around 7.4 million people in the UK live with a heart or circulatory disease.

In the News and Trending in the UK for World Health Day

Top things to do in the UK for World Health Day

• Get your blood pressure checked! High blood pressure is a silent killer known to massively increase the risk for heart disease and stroke.
• Play sports or exercise. Exercise raises the heart rate, burns calories, releases endorphins, and helps with leading a healthier lifestyle.
• Visit Healthcare Museums: Visiting museums like the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds, The Old Operating Theatre Museum in London, or the British Dental Association Museum, can help visitors understand the evolution of health practice.
• Read a book to learn more about Health in United Kingdom:
  The English National Health Service: State of Health - by David Hands
  Health Policy in Britain: The Politics and Organization of the National Health Service - by Christopher Ham