ISLAMABAD: World Health Day will be marked on Friday around the world, including Pakistan, to draw attention to special priorities in global health.
Various local, national and international programs would be organized to educate the people and policymakers about a specific aspect of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) work.
Events include conferences and seminars for health professionals, briefings for local politicians, and informational displays for youth. Public demonstrations and marches and easy or full free access to medical tests could also be facilitated on the day.
In 1945, leaders from various countries gathered and formed the United Nations (UN). One of the organizations formed was the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESC), which first held its meeting in 1946. During this meeting, there were calls for a mechanism in the UN to be dedicated to health issues.
The founders viewed that the new organization would carry on the work of the Office International d’Hygiène Publique (the International Office for Public Hygiene) and the health units of the League of Nations. These organizations were established in the early years of the twentieth century but were overburdened by the huge health consequences of the aftermath of World War I and were unable to function effectively when World War II started.
World Health Day History
The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on 7 April 1948. Since then, the WHO has carried out valuable work, including the full eradication of the smallpox pandemic and the implementation of a number of public health strategies.
During the First World Health Assembly in 1948, the delegates called for a World Health Day to mark the anniversary of the founding of the WHO. This has been held on 7 April every year since 1950.
The day is used to draw attention to special priorities in global health.
