The World Health Organization (WHO) today calls on people everywhere to renew their commitment to working together and supporting science as the twin engines driving better health.
From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, April 7 of each year the World Health Organization marks the celebration of World Health Day as a global health awareness day.
It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.
As the celebration was aimed to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the WHO, this year 2026 is being celebrated World Health Day under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science.”
Over the past 75 years this has brought to light important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care, and climate change. The celebration is marked by activities which extend beyond the day itself and serves as an opportunity to focus worldwide attention on these important aspects of global health.
Human health has been profoundly transformed over the past century, largely due to scientific progress and international collaboration. The global maternal mortality rate has fallen by more than 40% since 2000, and deaths among children under five have been reduced by over 50%.
Advances in technology, scientific knowledge and skills, and collaboration between different disciplines, sectors and countries continue to turn once-life-threatening health challenges – such as elevated blood pressure, cancer diagnoses or HIV infection – into manageable health issues, extending and improving lives worldwide, said the WHO report.
Yet, health threats continue to grow, fuelled by climate impacts, environmental degradation, geopolitical tensions and shifting demographics. These challenges include persistent diseases and strained health systems as well as emerging diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential.
Across the globe, thousands of scientists – together with organizations such as WHO – are accelerating research and developing policies, tools and innovations needed to protect communities today and safeguard the health of future generations.
Scientific innovations are most powerful when they are widely adopted and used. Every success in improving human health reflects the collective work and collaboration of scientific organizations, policy- makers, heath workers and the public.
WHO, over its 78 years of convening of global scientific organizations, has stood at the forefront of global health and scientific transformation.
In line with the World Health Day 2026 theme, WHO and the G7 Presidency of France are convening a One Health Summit in Lyon, France, from 5–7 April, bringing together Heads of State, scientists and community leaders to strengthen coordinated action.
WHO will host the Global Forum of its Collaborating Centres network from 7–9 April with representatives from over 800 academic and research institutions from more than 80 countries.
Thus, WHO calls on governments, institutions and individuals to continue supporting and collaborating on science and ensuring that evidence-based approaches guide health policies and everyday decisions.
