World Health Day

Every year, World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of concern for WHO.

World Health Day is a global campaign, inviting everyone – from global leaders to the public in all countries – to focus on a single health challenge with global impact. Focusing on new and emerging health issues, World Health Day provides an opportunity to start collective action to protect people's health and well-being.

The topic of World Health Day in 2012 is Ageing and health with the theme "Good health adds life to years". The focus is how good health throughout life can help older men and women lead full and productive lives and be a resource for their families and communities. Ageing concerns each and every one of us – whether young or old, male or female, rich or poor – no matter where we live.

WHO has designed a series of posters challenging the current stereotypes older people have to grapple with. They show older people in positive situations. The posters feature a PLAY button as seen on internet videos symbolizing the dynamism and enjoyment that older people can and should have in their lives.

For more information on World Health Day, you can Follow WHO on Twitter and Google+, and Like their Facebook Page. 

Good health adds life to years.