Calendar of medical observances for the year.
(With a little history of some holidays)
R.S. At first, this collection included only holidays.
Then we decided to also add significant dates and days that are not holidays, but serve to raise awareness about certain diseases.
As it turns out, not everyone understands that there is no need to congratulate a person with autism spectrum disorder on Autism Day or an asthmatic on Asthma Day...
But we know that you will definitely figure out where to celebrate and where to inquire.
January
29 - World Leprosy Day.
February
4 - World Cancer Day.
9 – International Dentist Day.
February 11th World Sick Day
The holiday was established on May 13, 1992 by Pontiff John Paul II. On this occasion, the Pope wrote a special message in which he emphasized that civil society must guarantee the best care for all patients in order to alleviate their suffering.
27 – Anosmia Awareness Day. Introduced in 2012 by Daniel Shane. The purpose of the events held within the framework of this day is to draw public attention to the problem of loss of smell (anosmia), and to attract attention to prevention.
March
1 - World Immunity Day.
6 — World Glaucoma Day.
21 — International Sleep Day.
March 21 is International Down Syndrome Day
First celebrated in 2006. The twenty-first day of the third month was chosen to show that Down syndrome is associated with 3 copies of chromosome 21.
24 – World Tuberculosis Day. Celebrated by WHO on the day when, in 1882, German microbiologist Robert Koch announced his discovery of the causative agent of tuberculosis. In 1905, R. Koch received the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
27 - Nephrologist's Day.
April
April 7 World Health Day
The annual celebration of Health Day has become a tradition since 1950. The Day's events are held so that people can understand how much health means in their lives. And health organizations are called upon to decide what they need to do to improve the health of people around the world.
11 - World Parkinson's Day.
17 – World Hemophilia Day.
25 – International Day against Malaria in Africa.
25 – International DNA Day.
May
The first Tuesday in May is International Asthma Day, also known as World Asthma Day.
May 5 International Day for the Rights of People with Disabilities
December 3rd is the Day of Persons with Disabilities, but unfortunately, we all know that the rights of people with disabilities are violated everywhere. They are often ignored even by authorities designed to help them adapt. Therefore, in 1992, people with disabilities first held a day of struggle for equal rights on May 5th.
May 5th International Day of Midwifery
and in 50 countries around the world this holiday is celebrated on this day, since 1992. But in Russia there is also its own separate holiday. It is celebrated on July 15th.
8 — International Red Cross Day.
May 12 World Nurses Day
The professional holiday of nurses is celebrated on the birthday of one of the famous Englishwomen - Florence Nightingale, who organized the world's first nursing service during the Crimean War (1853-1856).
12 — World Hypertension Day.
15 — International Family Day.
17 — Pulmonologist Day.
May 17 is the day against homophobia and transphobia
In 1990, on this very day, homosexuality was removed from the International Classification of Diseases (10th revision).
An article about human sexuality according to Igor Kon is here.
19 – International Hepatitis B Day.
World Family Doctor Day
This day has been celebrated on May 19 since 2011. It was established at a meeting of the World Organization of Family Physicians in 2010. In most countries, the health care system is designed so that family doctors solve the vast majority of health problems. They also make the decision to refer the patient to highly specialized doctors, thereby relieving them of non-core workload.
20 — World Traumatologist Day.
20 – World AIDS Day of Remembrance.
24 – International Schizophrenia Awareness Day. About 1% of people suffer from this chronic disease, which causes them to lose touch with reality.
27 – International Multiple Sclerosis Day (MSD).
28 International Day of Action for Women's Health
Celebrated since 1987, it reminds of the importance of preserving women's health and problems associated with maternal mortality.
It is also menstrual hygiene day. There are many taboos and myths around this topic. This day reminds us of the need and importance of disseminating information about hygiene and the needs of women on “critical” days.
30 – World Asthma and Allergy Day.
31 – World No Tobacco Day.
June
The third Sunday is Medical Worker's Day.
1 - International Children's Day.
June 2 is International Day Against Eating Disorders.
I Love My Dentist Day
And in the United States, on the second of the month they celebrate Love Your Dentist Day.
Everyone in the world knows the universal desire of Americans for a snow-white smile.
Loving a dazzling smile and not loving the dentist is absolutely impossible.
That's why they celebrate.
And just a hundred years ago, American dentists lamented the total lack of oral hygiene. Until someone came up with an advertisement that said that brushing your teeth removes plaque and makes your tongue feel smooth. The word “smooth” was perceived in my mind as shiny and almost = snow-white. This is how Americans began to completely brush their teeth. Dentists are happy!
6 – International Home Birth Day.
13 — International Albinism Awareness Day is an incurable hereditary disease associated with the complete or partial absence of the melanin pigment. It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2014.
14 World Donor Day.
Well, as was said at the very beginning of the article - the third Sunday is Health Worker Day .
26 International Day against Drug Addiction and Illicit Drug Trafficking.
July
On the 6th - I don’t know how the doctors will rate it, but this is - no more, no less - Kissing Day! Which are known to have a beneficial effect on health. And on my creativity. Find an article about kissing here.
July 15 — Russian gynecologists celebrate All-Russian Gynecologist Day. And the rest of the world celebrates May 5th. So the Russians are lucky - they have two holidays!
22nd. To ensure that not only doctors, but also their patients and simply healthy people remember the importance of brain health, the World Federation of Neurology established Brain Day.
On July 25, many dental technicians celebrate their day, which has not yet become an official holiday. There is a dentist's day. But still, a dental technician is a different specialty!
July 28 is Hepatitis Day
It was celebrated on May 19 until 2011. Now, here are the changes - it is celebrated on the birthday of Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis virus. In 2011, the scientist died, so it was decided to move the date of the holiday.
August
1-7 World Breastfeeding Week.
In connection with the intrusive advertising of infant formula, the problem of conveying to young mothers the need for natural nutrition for the baby is urgent - for his health and development. After all, breast milk is a completely balanced product that prevents metabolic disorders in the development of the baby. It has enzymes that promote better digestion of milk. It contains antibodies that protect the child from diseases for the first six months of life.
6 — International Day of Doctors of the World for Peace.
8 — International Ophthalmology Day.
9 Day of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon
The Orthodox Church celebrates on August 9 the Day of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, the patron saint of all doctors and healer of the sick. His name means "all-merciful." Having a special gift from God, Saint Panteleimon selflessly healed the sick and suffering. He was beheaded in 305 by haters of Christ.
13 World Left-Handers Day
September
The second Saturday is World First Aid Day.
The third Saturday in September is Surgeon's Day. Worldwide. In Russia, this day is celebrated on November 25th, so it will be discussed below.
9 Cosmetologist and Beauty Day.
And then - world days:
8 - physical rehabilitation specialist. This day has been celebrated since 1996 on the initiative of the World Confederation of Physical Therapists.
10 - on suicide prevention,
15 - fight lymphomas,
21 - World Alzheimer's Day,
23 - fight against breast cancer,
International Day of Sign Languages
The last full week of September is International Deaf Week. Celebrated since 2009. And September 23 is International Sign Language Day. On this day in 1951, the World Federation of the Deaf was founded.
26 - day of contraception,
28 - fight against rabies,
29 — Otolaryngologist Day.
World Heart Day
Held annually on the last Sunday of September since 2000, it is supported by member organizations of the World Heart Federation from 100 countries. Each year is dedicated to a specific topic.
International Day of the Deaf and Mutes is the last Sunday in September.
October
International Doctors Day
At the initiative of WHO, the first Monday in October is celebrated as International Doctors Day. This is a day of solidarity and active action among doctors around the world.
1 - International Day of Older Persons. Gerontologist's Day.
2 — Urologist Day and World Ostomy Day.
A stoma is an opening through which either a breathing tube (tracheal stoma), or a section of intestine to collect stool, or a ureter to collect urine, is brought out.
6 — International Day of Patients with Bronchial Asthma.
8 — World Sight Day.
October 10th World Mental Health Day
It has been celebrated around the world since 1992 on the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health. The goal of Mental Health Day is to reduce the prevalence of depressive disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, drug addiction, epilepsy, and mental retardation.
12 – World Arthritis Day.
October 12 International Vision Day
There are now more than 180 million people in the world suffering from serious ophthalmological diseases. Of these, about 40 million are blind. Every five seconds, one adult in the world goes blind, and every minute, one child. The economic cost of eye disease worldwide exceeds $28 million per year. Moreover, in 75% of cases, blindness is caused by diseases that can be cured in the initial stages or prevented with the help of preventive measures.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
This day takes place on the second Saturday of October. The organizer of the day of hospice and palliative care is the World Alliance for Palliative Care, which includes regional and national organizations that support the development of such care throughout the world.
October 15 is International White Cane Day.
The history of the white cane as a symbol of blindness dates back to 1921. In the British city of Bristol lived a young professional photographer, James Biggs, who lost his sight after an accident. It was necessary to start a new life, and he began to learn to walk around the city on his own with the help of a black cane. But he soon realized that neither passers-by nor drivers responded to his cane. Then he painted the cane white. And she became noticeable. This innovation was picked up by all the blind not only in England, but throughout Europe, America, and later Russia.
World Handwashing Day is also celebrated on the 15th.
Day of Remembrance for Miscarried Pregnancies and Dead Babies is also on October 15th.
It is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. Not everyone knows that every fourth pregnancy ends unfavorably, and this is someone’s pain and unfulfilled hopes.
On October 16, there are two holidays: World Anesthesiologist-Resuscitator Day and Allergist Day.
On the 17th the Day of the District Therapist was celebrated. Nowadays, in many countries, as a result of reforms in the health care system, local doctors have been replaced by family doctors. And they celebrate on May 19th.
20 – World Osteoporosis Prevention Day.
22 – International Stuttering Awareness Day. The events have been held since 1998. About 1% of the world's population suffers from stuttering.
24 – World Polio Day.
October 25 is International Spina Bifida Awareness Day.
29 – International Psoriasis Day and World Stroke Day.
31 — Day of sign language interpreter.
November
2 - World Pneumonia Day.
7 — Speech therapist day.
On November 8, 1895, Roentgen discovered his rays. Therefore, radiologists celebrate their holiday on this day.
11 - Ophthalmologist's Day.
13 — International Day of the Blind.
14 – World Diabetes Day. Endocrinologist's Day.
16 — International Day of Tolerance.
November 16 is also International Anorexia Day. In our magazine there is an article “Deadly Diet” about this disease and its symptoms.
16-23 International Herpes Week.
International No Smoking Day is celebrated on the third Thursday of November.
17 — World Day against Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
And on November 17, events are held to attract attention and raise awareness about the problems of premature birth. All over the world it is the International Day of Premature Babies.
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims - third Sunday in November
20 — World Children's Day. Pediatrician's Day.
Since 2014, on the last Friday of November, Surgeon's Day is celebrated in Russia.
The holiday was timed to coincide with the birthday of the outstanding Russian surgeon N.I. Pirogov. I don’t even know how to react to such news. And why didn’t they like the world holiday? It is celebrated on the third Saturday of September.
December
1 — Day of the neurologist. World AIDS Day.
3 - Day of Disabled People.
In 2021, the United Nations declared December 12 as International Universal Health Coverage Day.
