World Health Day 2023: 75 years of improving public health

Overview

The World Health Organization will complete 75 years on April 7, 2023 – World Health Day. Countries joined efforts in 1948, to establish WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being. On 7 April 2023, World Health Day, the World Health Organization will observe its 75^th anniversary.

WHO has been working with Member States in the Region for addressing challenges, promoting Health for All, and building robust and resilient health systems. Today, the Region has eight flagship priority programmes, which are aligned to WHO’s global goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

World Health Day 2023 theme: Health For All

For the public: Demand your right to access the health services you need without falling into financial hardship!

• Health For All envisions that all people have good health for a fulfilling life in a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.
• The right to health is a basic human right. Everyone must have access to the health services they need when and where they need them without financial hardship.
• 30% of the global population is not able to access essential health services.
• Almost two billion people face catastrophic or impoverishing health spending, with significant inequalities affecting those in the most vulnerable settings.
• Universal health coverage (UHC) offers financial protection and access to quality essential services, lifts people out of poverty, promotes the well-being of families and communities, protects against public health crises, and moves us toward #HealthForAll.
• To make health for all a reality, we need: individuals and communities who have access to high quality health services so that they can take care of their own health and that of their families; skilled health workers providing quality, people-centred care; and policy-makers committed to investing in universal health coverage.
• Evidence shows that health systems powered by a primary health care (PHC) approach is the most effective and cost-effective way to bring services for health and well-being closer to people.
• COVID-19 set back every country’s journey to #HealthForAll.
• COVID-19 and other health emergencies, overlapping humanitarian and climate crises, economic constraints, and war, have made every country’s journey to #HealthForAll more urgent. Now is the time for leaders to take action to meet their universal health coverage commitments and for civil society to hold leaders accountable.
• Progress needs to be accelerated if health-related SDGs are to be met.

For Member States

• A blue circle with a blue plus sign in the center of it.
• Investing in strong health systems is critical for a prosperous society. Increasing public financing for health and lowering out-of-pocket health costs saves lives while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals beyond health.
• A blue circle with a blue plus sign in the center of it.
• Strong health systems are needed to deliver both universal health coverage and emergency preparedness.
• A blue circle with a blue plus sign in the center of it.
• Universal health coverage is a political and social choice. We need strong political leadership and public demand.
• A blue circle with a blue plus sign in the center of it.
• Healthy living environments can transform people’s lives.
• A blue circle with a blue plus sign in the center of it.
• WHO recommends increases in “health taxes” on tobacco, alcohol, added sugar, and fossil fuels. These taxes bring in much needed public revenues.
• A blue circle with a blue plus sign in the center of it.
• Between 2023-2030 there is a projected shortfall of 10 million health workers worldwide. Investment in education and job creation for the health sector is needed.

ACTION POINTS

• A square with a green check mark in it.
• Shift from economies driven by profit and pollution to economies driven by fairness and well-being.
• A square with a green check mark in it.
• Success must be measured by the well-being of people and healthy environments.
• A square with a green check mark in it.
• Engage and empower individuals, families and communities for increased social participation and enhanced self-care in health. Ensure informed and active participation, with people at the center of health decisions and outcomes.
• A square with a green check mark in it.
• Strengthen integrated national health systems using a PHC approach to deliver essential quality services with financial protection, with equity-oriented, gender-sensitive and rights-based programming to reach and engage those in greatest need and improve the health and well-being of all people at all ages.
• A square with a green check mark in it.
• Enable non-State actors to participate in government-led planning, progress reviews or implementation towards UHC.

• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2022: OUR PLANET, OUR HEALTH
• WORLD HEALTH DAY
• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2021: BUILDING A FAIRER, HEALTHIER WORLD FOR EVERYONE
• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2020: #SUPPORTNURSESANDMIDWIVES #COVID19
• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2019 MARKED IN NEPAL
• WORLD HEALTH DAY : HEALTH FOR ALL – EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE
• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2018 (#WORLDHEALTHDAY) MARKED
• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2018: 70TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF WHO
• KEY MESSAGES FOR WORLD HEALTH DAY 2018
• DEPRESSION: LET’S TALK – 7 APRIL 2017 | WORLD HEALTH DAY
• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2016: BEAT DIABETES : ACTIVITIES @ POKHARA
• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2016 : BEAT DIABETES: SCALE UP PREVENTION, STRENGTHEN CARE, AND ENHANCE SURVEILLANCE
• WORLD HEALTH DAY-2014 (SMALL BITE : BIG THREAT)
• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2015: FOOD SAFETY
• WORLD HEALTH DAY 2012 – ”AGEING AND HEALTH: GOOD HEALTH ADDS LIFE TO YEARS”