Global Health Awareness Observances

Type	Name	Date/Period	Theme (2025)	Official Website	Key Data from Bangladesh
Day	World Leprosy Day	Last Sunday of January	“Act Now: End Leprosy”	WHO Campaigns	Leprosy cases have decreased, but awareness is needed to eliminate stigma.
Day	World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day	January 30	“Act for Neglected Populations”	WHO NTDs	Bangladesh is working towards controlling diseases like kala-azar and filariasis.
Day	World Cancer Day	February 4	“Close the Care Gap”	World Cancer Day	Cancer rates are rising; tobacco-related cancers are prevalent.
Day	International Epilepsy Day	Second Monday of February	“Yes, I Can”	International Epilepsy Day	Access to epilepsy treatment remains limited, particularly in rural areas.
Day	Rare Disease Day	Last Day of February	“Rare is Many, Rare is Strong”	Rare Disease Day	Rare diseases are underdiagnosed due to lack of awareness and expertise.
Day	World Hearing Day	March 3	“Ear and Hearing Care for All”	WHO Hearing Campaign	Hearing loss caused by infections is common; hearing aids are less accessible.
Day	World Obesity Day	March 4	“Changing Perspectives: Let’s Talk Obesity”	World Obesity Day	Urbanization increases obesity-related issues like diabetes and heart disease.
Day	World Kidney Day	Second Thursday of March	“Kidney Health for All”	World Kidney Day	Chronic kidney diseases are rising due to diabetes and hypertension.
Day	World Oral Health Day	March 20	“Be Proud of Your Mouth”	World Oral Health Day	Oral hygiene awareness is low, with high rates of dental caries and gum disease.
Day	World Down Syndrome Day	March 21	“With Us, Not For Us”	World Down Syndrome Day	Limited resources for inclusive education and healthcare for children with Down syndrome.
Day	World Tuberculosis Day	March 24	“Yes! We Can End TB”	Stop TB	Bangladesh is among high TB burden countries; treatment coverage is improving.
Day	World Autism Awareness Day	April 2	“Transformation: Toward Neuroinclusion”	Autism Speaks	Autism awareness is growing, but access to therapy is limited outside cities.
Day	World Health Day	April 7	“Health for All”	World Health Day	Universal health coverage is a priority in Bangladesh’s health policy.
Day	World Parkinson’s Disease Day	April 11	“Together for Parkinson’s Research”	Parkinson’s Foundation	Parkinson’s awareness is low, with limited specialized care.
Day	World Chagas Disease Day	April 14	“Unveiling the Invisible”	WHO Chagas	Not a major public health issue in Bangladesh.
Day	World Hemophilia Day	April 17	“Access for All”	World Federation of Hemophilia	Awareness of bleeding disorders is low, and access to treatment is limited.
Day	World Malaria Day	April 25	“Time to Deliver Zero Malaria”	Roll Back Malaria	Malaria is prevalent in border districts; control measures are in place.
Day	World Day for Safety and Health at Work	April 28	Not Provided	ILO Safety & Health	Promotes improved working conditions and safety awareness.
Week	World Immunization Week	Last Week of April	“The Big Catch-up”	WHO Immunization	Immunization coverage is high, but some rural areas lag behind.
Day	International Day of the Midwife	May 5	“Together Again: From Evidence to Reality”	International Midwives	Midwifery services are expanding to improve maternal health outcomes.
Day	World Asthma Day	First Tuesday of May	“Asthma Care for All”	GINA	Asthma rates are rising, particularly in urban areas with pollution.
Day	World Lupus Day	May 10	“Make Lupus Visible”	World Lupus Day	Lupus awareness is minimal; diagnosis remains challenging.
Day	World Hypertension Day	May 17	“Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It”	World Hypertension League	Hypertension is a leading risk factor for strokes and heart disease.
Day	World Menstrual Hygiene Day	May 28	“Empowerment through Menstrual Health”	World Menstrual Hygiene Day	Focuses on improving menstrual health awareness and hygiene.
Day	World Digestive Health Day	May 29	Not Provided	World Digestive Health Day	Emphasizes digestive health education and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases.
Day	World No Tobacco Day	May 31	“Grow Food, Not Tobacco”	WHO Campaigns	Tobacco use rates are high; the government enforces stricter control measures.
Day	World Blood Donor Day	June 14	“Give Blood, Give Life”	WHO Campaigns	Regular blood donors are low, but awareness is improving.
Day	World Elder Abuse Awareness Day	June 15	Not Provided	UN Elder Abuse Awareness	Focus on protecting older citizens from abuse is increasing.
Day	World Hepatitis Day	July 28	“Hepatitis Can’t Wait”	World Hepatitis Day	Hepatitis B vaccination programs are expanding; awareness of Hepatitis C remains low.
Week	World Breastfeeding Week	August 1–7	“Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding”	World Breastfeeding Week	High breastfeeding rates, but challenges from formula marketing exist.
Day	World Patient Safety Day	September 17	“Engage for Patient Safety”	WHO Campaigns	Patient safety initiatives are improving in urban hospitals.
Day	World Alzheimer’s Day	September 21	“Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s”	Alzheimer’s Association	Alzheimer’s care awareness is low, with minimal services for the elderly.
Day	World Contraception Day	September 26	“Ensuring Reproductive Health”	UNFPA	Family planning is crucial; access varies regionally.
Day	World Heart Day	September 29	“Use Heart, Know Heart”	World Heart Federation	Heart disease is a leading cause of death due to lifestyle changes.
Day	International Day of Older Persons	October 1	Not Provided	UN Observances	Focus on improving well-being and accessibility for the elderly.
Day	World Mental Health Day	October 10	“Mental Health is a Universal Human Right”	WHO Mental Health	Stigma remains a barrier for those seeking mental health care.
Day	World Arthritis Day	October 12	“Move Your Joints”	World Arthritis Day	Arthritis is underdiagnosed and often lacks proper treatment.
Day	World Osteoporosis Day	October 20	“Healthy Bones, Healthy Future”	International Osteoporosis Foundation	Osteoporosis is increasing due to low calcium and vitamin D deficiency.
Day	World Stroke Day	October 29	Not Provided	World Stroke Organization	Stroke prevention and treatment are critical due to high risk factors.
Day	World Diabetes Day	November 14	“Access to Diabetes Care”	World Diabetes Day	Diabetes prevalence is steadily rising, especially in urban areas.
Day	World Prematurity Day	November 17	“Zero Separation: Act Now for Kangaroo Care”	EFNC	Premature births remain a concern; neonatal care is improving.
Week	World Antimicrobial Awareness Week	November 18–24	“Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together”	WHO Campaigns	Rising antimicrobial resistance is a growing challenge in Bangladesh.
Day	Universal Children’s Day	November 20	“Invest in Children”	UNICEF	Focus on improving child health, education, and rights.
Week	World Continence Week	Third Week of November	Not Applicable	Continence Foundation	Awareness on bladder and pelvic floor health is low.
Day	World AIDS Day	December 1	“End Inequalities. End AIDS.”	UNAIDS	HIV prevalence is low, but awareness and testing need improvement.
Day	International Day of Persons with Disabilities	December 3	“Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development”	UN Disabilities	Efforts to improve accessibility and inclusivity for persons with disabilities are ongoing.