World Health Day 2015 - Briefing & Social Media Toolkit

World Health Day (WHD) is a global day of action dedicated to reminding world leaders of the critical role our health services and staff play in keeping the world healthy.

On 7th of April, the world will be celebrating World Health Day; an opportunity for everyone to get involved in activities that lead to better health. This day also marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organisation in 1948.

The theme for World Health Day 2015 is Food Safety, a theme of high relevance to all people on the planet.

Key Facts

• Unsafe food is linked to the deaths of an estimated 2 million people annually - including many children 1.
• 17,000 fewer children die each day than in 1990. Yet, more than 6 million still die before their fifth birthday each year 2.
• Almost 300,000 women died globally in 2013 from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
• Malaria interventions saved the lives of 3 million young children between 2000 and 2012.

Resources to use

• Facebook and Twitter banner – we will be asking you to use these for your Facebook and Twitter profiles.
• Social media toolkit– we will be asking you to engage through Twitter and Facebook.
• Infographics– use these to raise awareness on the lack of progress in health-related MDGs.

Call to Action

On 7th of April we will ask you to call on your Governments to:

• Make safe food a top priority
• Increase investment in maternal and child health and nutrition to stop preventable deaths
• Improve health systems and increase coverage of simple, yet proven interventions (e.g. oral rehydration solution for diarrhoea or anti-malaria nets, which can mean the difference between life and death) so that quality health care is within the reach of everyone
• Think and act bigger. Health issues should not be addressed in isolation. For example, equal opportunities for girls and boys, adequate nutrition, access to education and clean water are essential for child survival.
• Improve access to health education and services, including raising awareness about HIV for youth, and young women in particular
• Support your organizations which deliver non-formal education on health issues to children and young people