World Health Day 2009: Calendar of Activities
This year people from all over the world will celebrate World Health Day and its theme of making hospitals safe from disaster. There is a growing consciousness regarding the importance of investing in well-built health infrastructure that is able to withstand disasters and remain operational to serve people in immediate need. Activities to be held on and beyond the day itself hopes to raise awareness about this important issue and to effect changes that will ensure that health facilities and services are able to function in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters, thus protecting the lives of patients and serving the affected population while keeping its health workers safe.
Events around the world will center on advocacies for safe and proper infrastructure, ultimately leading to saving more lives through better health facilities and effective emergency preparedness and response.
View the activities of your country and of others around the region and see how you can participate in the celebration!
Global Launch
|
 China
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning
Ditan Hospital,
Beijing |
- Hospital tour
- Tree planting ceremony
- Launching ceremony chaired by the WPRO Regional Director
- Messages of the Director General, China Minister of Health, WHO Ambassador of Goodwill
|
Ministry of Health
Minister Chen Zhu
Vice-Mayor Ding
Xiangyang
World Health
Organization
Dr. Margaret Chan
Dr. Shin Young-
soo
Mr Jet Li
International
Community |
Regional Celebration
|
 Regional Office for the
Western Pacific
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
1145am
Conference Hall
Regional Office for
the Western Pacific,
Manila |
- Message from the Vice-Chair of Staff Association
- Message from OIC, WPRO
Video presentation of the public service announcement
- Traditional potluck lunch
|
World Health
Organization
Regional Office for
the Western
Pacific |
Country Celebrations
|
 American Samoa
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning
|
- Message from the Director of Health
- Ceremony
- Hospital tour
|
Department of Health
Other government
agencies
NGOs |
|
 Brunei Darussalam
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning |
- National Workshop on Safe Hospitals
- Guest: Dr Carmencita Banatin
|
Ministry of Health
World Health
Organization |
|
 Cambodia
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
8 April 2009
Morning |
- Ceremony for World Health Day
- Panel discussion on developing a national building code for health facilities in Cambodia
|
Ministry of Health
World Health Organization
Media partners
Other government
departments
Faculty of Engineering,
Architecture and Medicine |
|
 Cook Islands
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning |
- Message from the Director of Health
- Ceremony
- Hospital tour
|
Ministry of Health
Other government
agencies
NGOs |
|
 Fiji
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning
CWM Hospital
Auditorium |
- Message from WHO Representative and the Minister for Health
- Presentation on Safe Health Facilities; MOH facilities audit
- Mock exercise (accident)
- Launching of Task Force
|
Fiji Ministry of Health
World Health Organization
Other government
departments
NGOs |
|
 Lao PDR
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
9 April 2009
Morning
Mahosot Hospital |
- Commencement of TV video presentation, radio spots, and posting of banners.
- Advocacy programme with messages of the Minister of Health and WHO Representative
|
Ministry of Health
World Health Organization
Hospital staff |
|
 Malaysia
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
28 April 2009
|
- Public forum
- Speech by the Honorable Minister of Health
- Health screening for the public
- Exhibition by the Ministry of Health and other agencies related to crisis preparedness and disaster management
- Simulation exercise on "Response During Crisis" by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA)
- Public forums, health talks, exhibitions and training courses on crisis preparedness for health and medical staff will also be conducted by the State Health Departments and health facilities
|
Ministry of Health
World Health
Organization
Iskandar Regional
Development Authority
(IRDA)
Other government
agencies |
|
 Mongolia
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
3-7 April 2009
Morning
|
- Message from WHO Representative and the Minister of Health
- Press conference
- Inter-sectoral workshop on "Save lives. Making hospitals safe in emergencies"
- Advocacy and awareness-raising activities
|
Ministry of Health
National Disaster
Management Agency
Ministry of Road,
Transport, Construction
and Urban Development
Capital City Inspection
Agency
Department of Health
Hospitals
Ministry of Health,
Department of Health
World Health Organization |
|
 Niue
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning
|
- Message from the Director of Health
- Ceremony
- Hospital tour
|
Department of Health
Other government
agencies
NGOs |
|
 Papua New Guinea
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
8 April 2009
Morning
Porty Moresby
General Hospital |
- Messages from the Secretary of Health and WHO Representative
- Technical presentation by Dr. Victor Golpak
|
Ministry of Health
World Health
Organization
Media |
|
 Philippines
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
14 April 2009
Morning
Traders Hotel,
Manila |
- Advocacy programme
- Messages from the Secretary of Health, WHO Representative and EU Ambassador
- Press conference
- Hospital assessment project
- Video presentation: public service announcement
- Launching of the Safe Hospitals in Emergencies and Disasters: Philippine Indicators, 2nd edition
|
Ministry of Health
World Health
Organization
European Commission
Academic institutions
Government and private
hospitals |
|
 Samoa
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning
|
- Message from the Minister of Health and WHO Representative
- Ceremony
- Hospital tour
|
Department of Health
World Health
Organization
UN agencies
Other goverment agencies
NGOs |
|
 Tokelau
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning
|
- Message from the Director of Health
- Ceremony
- Hospital tour
|
Department of Health
Other government
agencies
NGOs |
|
 Tonga
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning
Tonga Medical
Association Building |
- Seminar with concerned ministries and stakeholders
- Government Construction Procedure
- Ring of Fire
- Emergency Health Plan
- New Hospital Construction
- Hospital evacuation drill
- Mini-Workshop to launch the Surgical Safety Checklist
- Media release
|
Ministry of Health
World Health
Organization
Ministry of Works
Ministry of Land and
Survey
Japanese International
Cooperation Agency |
|
 Tuvalu
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning
Live transmission on
Radio Tuvalu |
- World Health Day Official Speech by the Permanent Secretary of Health
- "Health Facilities in Tuvalu; Gaps and Opportunities; and What needs to be done?" by Dr Stephen Homasi
- Safe Hospitals by Vine Sosene, Health Promotions Officer
- Economic Implications by Tekafa Neemia, RH Programme Officer
- Tuvalu Red Cross Response to Disaster by Mr Tataua Pese
- Medical Supplies and Equipment by Natano Elisala, Pharmacist
- Panel Discussion: Case Studies
- Disease Outbreak and How to Respond (Tuvalu Outbreak Manual) and TB and Emerging Disease with Challenges by Dr Nese Conway
- Wrap-up by Dr Stephen Homasi
|
Ministry of Health
Radio Tuvalu |
|
 Viet Nam
|
Activities |
Participants |
|
7 April 2009
Morning
Ha Noi Medical
University, Ha Noi |
- Messages of the Minister of Health and WHO Representative
- Press conference
- Talk show
- Short DVD on hospitals safe from disasters
- Cultural presentation by medical students
|
Ministry of Health
World Health Organization
Relevant ministries
UN agencies, INGOs
|
*The Regional Office for Western Pacific is awaiting final listing of World Health Day activities from other Member States.
[Download this calendar of activities]
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