World health day - 7 April 2014

The Topic for 2014 Is Vector-Borne Diseases

The world health day is celebrated by the people all across the world every year on 7^th of April under the leadership of World Health Organization.

World health assembly was held first time in the year 1948 in Geneva. Where it was decided to celebrate the world health day annually on 7^th of April.

It was first celebrated worldwide in the year 1950 as the world health day.

Varieties of events related to the particular theme are organized on the international and national level by the WHO.

It is an annual event being celebrated for years to raise the common public awareness towards the health issues and concerns.

A particular theme is chosen to run the celebration and take care of the health for whole year.

Global polio eradication was also one of the special themes of the year 1995 of world health day. From then, most of the countries have become free of this fatal disease whereas in other parts of the world its awareness level has increased.

World health day is celebrated worldwide by the government, non-government, ngos including various health organizations at many places by organizing programs relating to the public health issues and awareness.

Participated organizations highlight their activities and supports through the media reports by means of press releases, news and etc.

Health authorities from different country take part in the celebration with their pledges in order to support on the health issues worldwide.

World health day 2014 will spotlight some of the most commonly known vectors – such as mosquitoes, sand flies, bugs, ticks and snails – responsible for transmitting a wide range of parasites and pathogens that can cause many different illnesses.

Mosquitoes, for example, transmit malaria - the most deadly vector-borne disease, causing an estimated 660 000 deaths annually worldwide - as well as dengue fever, lymphatic filariasis, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever.

Goal: better protection from vector-borne diseases

The campaign aims to raise awareness about the threat posed by vectors and vector-borne diseases and to stimulate families and communities to take action to protect themselves.

A core element of the campaign will be to provide communities with information

As vector-borne diseases begin to spread beyond their traditional boundaries, action needs to be expanded beyond the countries where these diseases currently thrive.

More broadly, through the campaign, we are aiming for the following:

• Families living in areas where diseases are transmitted by vectors know how to protect themselves.

• Travelers know how to protect themselves from vectors and vector-borne diseases when travelling to countries where these pose a health threat. 

• In countries where vector-borne diseases are a public health problem, ministries of health put in place measures to improve the protection of their populations.

• In countries where vector-borne diseases are an emerging threat, health authorities work with environmental and relevant authorities locally and in neighboring countries to improve integrated surveillance of vectors and to take measures to prevent their proliferation.

Vector-borne diseases can be prevented by:

• Wearing clothing that acts as a barrier to exposure to bites.

• Using mechanisms to keep vectors out of houses such as screens on doors, windows, and eaves. 

• Reducing breeding sites near houses or in communities by :

• Covering water storage containers.

• Eliminating puddles and drainage of places where water accumulates.

• Eliminating unusable containers where water pools.

• Controlling garbage in yards and gardens.