Every year, World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of 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.

2023 | 75 years of improving public health

2022 | Our planet, our health

2021 | Together for a fairer world

2020 | Support nurses and midwives

2019 | Primary health care and universal health coverage

2018 | Universal health coverage

2017 | Depression: Let's talk

2016 | Diabetes

2015 | Food safety

2014 | Vector-borne diseases

2013 | Hypertension

2012 | Good health adds life to years

2011 | Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow

2010 | Urbanization and health

2009 | Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies

2008 | Protecting health from climate change

2007 | International health security

2006 | Working together for health

2005 | Making every mother and child county

2004 | Road safety

2003 | Shape the future of life

2002 | Move for health

2001 | Mental health: stop exclusion, dare to care