Happy World Health Day

Today is WHO's World Health Day.  Every year WHO focuses on a theme to raise awareness of topics that effect health.

The theme of World Health Day 2010 is Urbanization and Health.  As more and more of the world's population is moving to cities; the link between urban life and health is becoming more important.  There are many health challenges facing cities, including problems with clean water, atmosphere and air, pollution, damage, violence, diet- both over and undernutrition, noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and traffic accidents to name a few.  Cities are a nexus for a wide varieties of illnesses and health related problems that are not faced by rural populations.

The slogan for the “World Health Day” 2010: “1000 cities-1000 lives – Urban Health Matters”.
WHO is encouraging cities across the world (in fact trying to get 1000 cities to participate and they have been very successful with over1300 participating.)

Cities will host events meant to improve health by opening up public spaces and closing down streets.  By encouraging events at the city level the WHO can create a campaign that will reach a large number of people with a local message that still relates to global health.  The cities campaign allows the common citizen to participate in world health day and to recognize the importance of health in their lives and well being.  This is a great way to raise awareness about health issues related to urbanization, as well as global health in general.

http://www.who.int/world-health-day/2010/en/index.html