Health and fitness agenda: WHO promotes fitness with Move for Health Day

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May marks a host of health awareness days focused on fitness, healthy lifestyle promotion and global health awareness. Key events include the WHO-backed Move for Health Day on May 10 and the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day on May 15.

Move for Health Day
May 10
Worldwide

In 2002 the World Health Organization created Move for Health Day to promote physical wellbeing and urged member states to engage in national and local campaigns, given that 1.9 million people die annually from inactivity. With obesity a concern in many nations, May 10 offers an opportunity to get physical with various local events and to learn more about physical health. For more information on what your country has planned and facts about the benefits of exercising, stay tuned to: http://www.who.int/moveforhealth/en


International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day
May 15
Worldwide

The 28th Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day is the largest grassroots movement against the disease that creates awareness and hope with a single gesture: light a candle. Over 1,200 community organizations in 115 countries will host local memorials to honor those that lost the fight and raise awareness about AIDS. To find out what is taking place in your area or to dedicate a virtual candle, go to: http://www.candlelightmemorial.org

World AIDS Vaccine Day
May 18
Worldwide

May 18 became World AIDS Vaccine Day 14 years ago with the push of then US president Bill Clinton when he said, "Only a truly effective, preventive HIV vaccine can limit and eventually eliminate the threat of AIDS." Today the awareness campaign is recognized by the WHO, UNAIDS and many other organizations. More than 7,100 people a day are infected with HIV. Stay tuned to learn what events will be scheduled, and find out how you can honor the day: http://www.iavi.org

64th World Health Assembly
May 16-25
WHO, Geneva, Switzerland

At the 64th World Health Assembly, member states will address a number of public health issues, including the implementation of the International Health Regulations, ranging from pandemic responses to health care waste. Topics include childhood injuries and violence, cholera, malaria, and chronic diseases. Stay tuned to the WHO website for more developments in the coming weeks.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2011/wha64/en/index.html


World No Tobacco Day
May 31
Worldwide

World No Tobacco Day is an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and this year's program highlights the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a WHO-sponsored treaty in effect since 2005 that provides legal dimension on tobacco control, such as regulating tobacco disclosures and advertising. WHO reports one billion people could die during this century because of tobacco use. http://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/2011/announcement/en/index.html