Day Observances
Inter-American Air Quality Day
Inter-American Air Quality Day is celebrated annually on the second Friday of August and was created by the Inter-American of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering Association (AIDIS, from its name in Spanish Asociación Interamericana de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental). The day was chosen to stimulate debate on air pollution and to raise public awareness about air […]
World Drowning Prevention Day
Each year, approximately 300,000 drowning deaths occur worldwide, 25% of which affect children under the age of 5. To raise awareness and prevent this form of suffocation, United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/273 establishes July 25 as the annual World Drowning Prevention Day. In DeCS, some descriptors that cover the concept of drowning, its risk […]
World Zoonoses Day
July 6th is observed annually as World Zoonoses Day. According to the World Health Organization, Zoonoses are Infectious Diseases that are naturally transmitted between Humans and other Vertebrate animals. Many types are covered by the descriptor concepts of category C of the DeCS vocabulary, such as:. Avian InfluenzaBrucellosisCOVID-19Ebola FeverLeptospirosisRabiesTick-Borne DiseasesToxoplasmosisWaterborne DiseasesYellow Fever Other Zoonosis-related descriptors […]
World Food Safety Day
Focusing on human health and sustainable development, and aiming to inspire actions to prevent foodborne risks, June 7 is World Food Safety Day. Food and nutrition security is the fulfillment of the fundamental right of all individuals to regular access to adequate, high-quality food, in sufficient quantity, without compromising access to other essential needs. It […]
World Malaria Day
On April 21, the world will step up its fight against malaria through campaigns on: Descriptors related to the disease, its treatment, and etiology can be found in DeCS, such as: More
World Water Day
Since 1993, the United Nations has celebrated 22 March as World Water Day to raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people worldwide who live without access to safe drinking water. This year’s UN campaign focuses on preserving glaciers, highlighting the need for global action to manage meltwater sustainably to ensure vital water resources for the […]
World Women’s Day
The United Nations (UN) officially declared March 8 as International Women’s Day, as an action aimed at combating gender discrimination in the world. Gender equity and equality are fundamental values of the Pan American Health Organization, integrated into all its programs, policies and technical cooperation actions. In DeCS, the descriptor Women covers the concept of […]
World Hearing Day
Hearing health is observed every year on March 3. In the WHO Region of the Americas, approximately 21.52% of the population lives with hearing loss. It is estimated that by 2050, this figure could reach 322 million people in the region. PAHO recommends that its Member States incorporate people-centered hearing care into national health plans, […]
World Cancer Day
PAHO is working with countries in the Americas to reduce premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, by 25% by 2025. In February, PAHO observes two cancer awareness days: World Cancer Day and International Childhood Cancer Day. International Childhood Cancer Day is a collaborative global campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer and express […]
World Leprosy Day
Leprosy is one of the 30 diseases or conditions that the PAHO Elimination Initiative aims to overcome in the countries of the Americas region by 2030. In the context of public health, World Leprosy Day* is observed on the last day of January. Some of DeCS’ descriptors that may be associated with this disease, by […]
Universal Health Day 2024
12 December 2024: Equitable Access with Financial Protection Investing to achieve universal health enhances equity and social cohesion, while also benefiting the national economy by improving health and well-being, increasing workforce participation and productivity, and strengthening the resilience of individuals, families, and communities. In DeCS, some descriptors cover this subject, such as: Disaster VulnerabilityFinancial StressHealth […]
Human Rights Day
Every December 10, the world remembers the extraordinary achievement of that day in 1948, when nations came together to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including health as a human right in their Constitution. In DeCS, the descriptor Human Rights term is located between three points of the tree of concepts and has several […]
