List Of International Awareness Days For Health 2024

World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day seeks to increase educational and governmental efforts to curb and cure the illness that kills over nine million people yearly. At least half of these people are well under the average life expectancy for their region. The day's purpose is to raise public awareness over the suffering and death toll of cancer worldwide. Cancer is a global scourge that needs global attention.

World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day is a symbolic date that symbolizes that down syndrome results from the triplication of the twenty-first chromosome. The day is not just about the situation and needs of those with down syndrome worldwide. However, it also celebrates their valuable contributions to human society. There is an emphasis on listening to voice recordings and watching videos online from people with down syndrome, respecting their rights, and ensuring that they feel included in all aspects of human life.

World Autism Awareness Day

The developmental, communication, and social problems caused by autism can often lead to discrimination or a need for special parental care and medical intervention. Autism Day aims to counteract discrimination against those with autism and their carers by creating greater understanding in societies worldwide. World Autism Awareness Day is one of only four specifically health-related United Nations observance days. On 2 April every year, public and private organizations worldwide are dedicated to fighting autism and helping those with autism by coming together and holding special events. There are often research programs alongside public awareness and fundraising campaigns.

World Health Day

Since 1950, 7 April has been World Health Day, a UN and World Health Organisation (WHO) observance to raise awareness of the need to improve global health. While the WHO also sponsors several disease-specific observance days, World Health Day is comprehensive in scope. Each year, WHO chooses a specific health-related theme for World Health Day. The theme will appear in year-long media campaigns and be highlighted on 7 April. Government organizations, WHO, and private health entities arrange various events and fundraising campaigns to help improve world health.

International Mother Earth Day And Earth Day

Since 1970, International Mother Earth Day has brought attention to the Earth, its inhabitants, and the interdependence between the two. The day promotes living in harmony with nature and strives to mend man's troubled relationship with the planet. Many people get back to nature, enjoy the great outdoors, plant trees, and promote environmental causes. Earth Day is the world's most significant environmental movement. Since its conception in 1970, one billion people from over 190 countries have mobilized action to help our planet, change human behavior and create global, national, and local policy changes.

International Day of Families

Since 1995, International Day of Families has been observed on 15 May. The day is a time to remember the crucial role the family plays in various cultures and societies globally. The official International Day of Families symbol is a green circle with a red heart and a house in the middle. This represents the centrality of the home to all of human society. There are also special media campaigns and tool kits you can use to organize your family-focused events. The International Day of Families was established to respond to the turbulent times many families were facing in a rapidly changing modern and globalized environment.

Global Day of Parents

Parenthood is the common value of all human beings, regardless of where they live or what ethnic group they come from. Global Day of Parents is a time to promote sound parenting principles worldwide. Global Day of Parents aims to recognize the vital role both mothers and fathers play in caring for and teaching their children. On 1 June, community leaders, governments, and pro-family organizations organize parenting and parent-inspired events worldwide. Important media campaigns highlight the importance of parents and good parenting.

World Blood Donor Day

The annual World Blood Donor Day brings attention to how critical blood donors are to saving the lives of people requiring blood transfusions. The United Nations and World Health Organisation founded the day in 2004 to highlight the need for blood transfusions and the frequent short supply of donor blood of the correct type. Each year, there are awareness campaigns and blood donation drives, and the importance of safety is promoted worldwide.

World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day helps awareness about viral hepatitis and its devastating effects. It affects over one million people yearly and is the leading cause of liver cancer. Most cases go undetected, and patients often spread the disease without knowing. By highlighting the illness, World Hepatitis Day wants to eliminate the disease. Vaccinations for hepatitis B and hepatitis C are available.

International Day of Friendship

Since 2011, people worldwide have been celebrating the International Day of Friendship which encourages bonds between people of different cultures, countries, and backgrounds. It is a day for human solidarity, which undermines the root causes of violence and division in our world. With so much angst, war, social disharmony, and poverty, the day strive to unite people with empathy and kindness. The United Nations encourages governments to involve nations for better cross-cultural understanding and social harmony.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Awareness Month

The rare Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, or CMT, is an inherited condition that damages the peripheral nerves. It's also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) or peroneal muscular atrophy (PMA). The peripheral nerves are outside the central nervous system, control the muscles and relay sensory information such as the sense of touch, muscle weakness or numbness in the feet, ankles, legs, and hands, an awkward gait, and highly arched or very flat feet. Symptoms tend to appear in childhood, and it is a progressive condition. International Charcot-Marie-Tooth awareness month strives to engage the public in the awareness campaign for over six million people with the disease and increase funding for CMT research.

World Heart Day

There are all sorts of media campaigns that help alert people internationally that heart disease is the number one cause of death. World Heart Day is coordinated by the World Heart Foundation each year on 29 September. With the support of the World Health Organization, many governments and private enterprises run various events, including concerts, sports, educational exhibitions, group walks, and runs. Most deaths can be prevented by not smoking, having a healthy diet, avoiding obesity, and other out-of-control factors.

ADHD Awareness Month

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a common disorder that affects children and adults. It is widely recognized as a condition from an imbalance in the brain, anatomy, and wiring that affects self-control, focus, and other essential skills. ADHD month is an extension of the American ADHD Awareness Day that started in 2006. The campaign strives to raise awareness of the condition and provides reliable information based on research and scientific evidence. A coalition of organizations such as the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) and the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHASDD) arrange different events in Hong Kong and worldwide. All sorts of resources are available, including fact sheets, videos, and podcasts, check out our guide here.

International Babywearing Week

International Babywearing Week, or IBW, this year celebrates 'love transforms.' The annual outreach event is sponsored by Babywearing International and celebrates, promotes, advocates for, and brings media attention to babywearing. This year, IBW invites global moms to participate throughout October. There are all sorts of content, awards, giveaways, and other interactive events promoting the practice of babywearing in a sling or other form of carrier. It's been practiced for centuries and promotes physical contact, attachment, and bonding. Parents who practice babywearing are more responsive to their baby's needs; it's thought to promote language development.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every ten minutes in the United Kingdom. Early symptoms might be a lump in a breast, a painful breast or armpit, a change of appearance, or discharge from a nipple. Despite being a scary thought, going for a regular breast check-up might save your life. A doctor will likely perform a mammogram and a manual examination; this is painless and only takes about 10-minutes. Be aware that a pain or a lump in your breast can be perfectly harmless and could be a sign of a cyst or a benign lump, but it's always better to be sure. If the mammogram shows a lump, your doctor will order a biopsy which will show if the lump is benign or malignant. Early detection is a lifesaver; often, a simple operation removes the lump. Check out our guide to events surrounding breast cancer awareness month in Hong Kong here.

World Dyslexia Awareness Week

World Dyslexia Week is an annual event that helps raise awareness of dyslexia. Every year, information is shared with teachers, employers, and the general public. Although many take reading and writing for granted, it's a daily struggle for those with dyslexia. It's a common disorder that prevents the sufferer's ability to read quickly and write without committing any errors. Dyslexia affects 20 percent of the world's population. It affects not only reading and writing but vocabulary and hand-eye coordination. World Dyslexia Awareness Week raises understanding about these issues and how people can manage the disorder. By using hashtags #neverbestill and #starlegacy, you can also help raise awareness.

International Walk to School Month

Walking is one of the best exercises, and its many benefits lead to healthy habits. Not only is it a great, low-impact form of cardiovascular exercise, positive for your mind, body, and soul, it significantly reduces human impact on the environment by reducing noise, pollution, and harmful emissions. Walking improves mental health, stamina, and confidence, aids weight loss, and reduces the chance of diseases, including cancer and diabetes. The Partnership for a Walkable America established the International Walk to School Month during the first National Walk Our Children to School Day in Chicago in 1997. It's since been celebrated worldwide by children and their caregivers.

Eye Injury Prevention Month

Each October, the international annual Eye Injury Prevention Month aims to spread information about common eye injuries and prevention. The month sets out to educate people on the many different ways they can sustain injuries and how they can avoid them. Most eye injuries can be prevented by taking adequate precautions. The eye is a delicate organ, and the slightest damage can be devastating; damage can be caused by flying particles such as sand, boiling water, hazardous chemicals, and other foreign bodies or blunt force trauma. One of the simplest ways to prevent most eye injuries is to wear protective glasses or goggles when working with hazardous materials or projectiles. Sportspeople should have protective headgear, and you should supervise children when they are playing to ensure that no one gets hurt.

Click here for our guide to the best ophthalmologists in Hong Kong.

National Hygiene Month

National hygiene month is all about celebrating your pearly whites. October is dedicated to promoting healthy mouths across the world. Dental hygienists across the globe encourage you to floss every day so that you can reach parts of your teeth that a toothbrush can't. Dentists recommend that you and the kids brush twice daily, leaving your mouth squeaky clean, free of bacteria, and reducing gum disease. Don't forget to include mouthwash in your daily routine!

World Mental Health day

World Health Organization, WHO strives to raise awareness of mental health issues worldwide and to mobilize efforts to support mental health. The pandemic has created an international crisis for mental health, fuelling short and long-term stresses, anxiety, and depressive disorders. The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work and how mental health care can be a reality for people globally. Growing social and economic inequalities, protracted conflicts, violence, and public health emergencies affect entire populations, threatening progress toward improved well-being. A staggering 84 million people worldwide were displaced in 2021. The aim is to reduce the stigma and discrimination hindering social inclusion and access to care.

National Health Education Week

Since 1995, the Society for Public Health Education has led the National Health Education Week,  NHEW, to increase awareness of major public health issues and promote a better understanding of the role of health education and health promotion. It is their mission to increase awareness of health education specialists’ capacity across communities and schools and promote the health of society. Every October, there are various world events, webinars, and activities. NHEW strives to support and provide resources for health education professionals, train the next generation of specialists, and raise awareness of their valuable roles across different sectors, enhancing lives and reducing premature deaths and disabilities.

World Osteoporosis Day

World Osteoporosis Day aims to raise awareness of osteoporosis and bone health. In 2022, the World Osteoporosis Day foundation introduced a risk checker to help people understand their risk of osteoporosis and learn more about bone health. The new online tool will give people free, tailored advice about osteoporosis risk and practical tips for improving bone health. The foundation wants to spread the word about its new risk checker to help break the silence on bone health.

World Sight Day

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) promote World Sight Day. Most of the world’s blind population are older men and women who live in poorer nations and don’t have access to basic vision treatments. The day aims to raise awareness of the importance of tackling cataracts, glaucoma, and other chronic eye conditions to prevent blindness or sight impairment. Various events and fundraising efforts attempt to influence governments to take specific actions.

International Stammering and Stuttering Awareness Day

International Stammering and Stuttering Awareness Day foundation wants to eliminate the stuttering stigma by sharing stories and real experiences. At this year’s conference, they encourage stutterers to share their stories with written papers, graphics, videos, photo slides, cartoons, poems, and drawings. Speech-language pathologists and consumers want to learn from each other and work together to share, support, and educate one another and the general public on the impact of stuttering on individuals’ lives. As a worldwide conference, ISSA celebrates a wealth of perspectives and stories as they unite to raise awareness and work towards creating a world that understands, accepts, and supports people who stutter.

World Vegan Day

World Vegan Day is an annual event celebrated by vegans worldwide on 1 November. The event was established in the United Kingdom in 1994 to commemorate the founding of the original Vegan Society in 1944 to establish a way of life without causing animals to suffer for human clothes and food. They celebrate the benefits of veganism for humans and the natural environment through various activities. A growing number of vegan products are available in supermarkets, making veganism more accessible.

Movember

Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s health globally, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate and testicular cancer. Movember is an annual event that encourages men to grow their mustaches to raise awareness of men's health issues. The foundation raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier, and longer lives. The foundation runs awareness and fundraising activities year-round. The annual Movember campaign is globally recognized for its fun, disruptive approach to fundraising and getting men to take action for their health. Not only do these commitments raise vital funds, but they also generate powerfully and often life-changing conversations.

World AIDS Day

Since 1988, the United Nations has supported World AIDS Day as an important day to remember the important fight against HIV, AIDS, and associated diseases and the millions of people that have died. Over 35 million people have AIDS today, as many have died since the virus was discovered in 1984. There is no cure, but intense research continues, and treatments are becoming increasingly effective. The public awareness effort aims to educate people on the nature, extent, and devastating effects of AIDS. Many people choose to wear a red ribbon to show solidarity and sufferers. Fundraising efforts provide capital for essential research.