World Tuberculosis Day

World Tuberculosis Day is a holiday observed every year on March 24^th. Not only does this date commemorates the discovery of tuberculosis (TB), but the primary purpose of the holiday is to increase awareness about the infectious disease as well as treatment measures to help prevent its spread and related deaths. While not a public holiday, the celebrations are crucial to the education, and hopefully the eventual elimination of this deadly disease. Due to the worldwide prevalence of TB, World Tuberculosis Day is observed in several different countries every year.

Tuberculosis Defined

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease of the lungs. It is spread from person to person through extremely contagious bacteria. While direct contact can spread the disease, droplets from coughs and sneezes can also transmit TB through the shared airspaces.

People contract numerous other types of infections every year that are treated with antibiotics. What makes TB so dangerous, however, is the fact that the disease is often resistant to medications. Some patients respond to antibiotics, while others with the worst strains may be hospitalized. This is why tuberculosis is often considered deadly.  BCG vaccines are often required in infants to help minimize the effects of tuberculosis that may be caught during childhood. The downside is that this type of vaccine is not 100-percent effective, and it does not work in adults.

History

Tuberculosis was originally discovered by Dr. Robert Koch on March 24, 1882. This was also the date in which Dr. Koch announced his findings of the bacterial cause of the disease to the world in Berlin, Germany. During this time, TB was running rampant in both Europe and the United States.

Since its discovery, TB tends to strike communities in waves. During the time that Dr. Koch made his announcement, tuberculosis cases were high in western nations, but this wouldn’t be the last. During the 1970s and 1980s, there were in influx of cases in the United States, some of which were related to decreased immunity in patients with HIV. Such cases tapered off in 1993 with increased awareness. According to the World Health Organization, the majority of the world’s TB cases are currently found in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Since tuberculosis is difficult to treat, the best way to protect people from infections is to prevent its spread. In 1982, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease proposed the idea of a World Tuberculosis Day. The World Health Organization backed this idea up to help promote efforts to fight the disease. March 24^th was the date chosen in order to commemorate Dr. Koch’s findings a century earlier.

Celebrations

This holiday is celebrated in numerous ways. Organizers primarily utilize the day to educate the public about TB, as well as ways to help keep themselves healthy. In regions where healthcare access is limited, communities may increase awareness about the importance of seeking treatment. Charity events are also common to raise funds for research.

World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated by numerous countries. It is also sponsored by the World Health Organization. This is extremely helpful in raising awareness, since this entity has the resources to reach people in all parts of the world, rather than just one single region.

Considerations in 2013

In 2013, the slogan for World Tuberculosis Day is “Stop TB in my lifetime.” This is the second year of a related campaign that aims to raise awareness and action to help stop tuberculosis-related deaths. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control says that technology has made it possible to detect tuberculosis so early treatment is possible. It is up to people to spread the word about these treatments to help prevent the spread of TB throughout communities. The previous slogan for 2011 and 2012 was “Innovation,” primarily pertaining to awareness about TB vaccines.

World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day is a holiday designed to increase awareness about the related deadly disease. This holiday is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), and it occurs on April 25^th of every year. While this day doesn’t incorporate an atmosphere of celebration as other holidays do, World Malaria Day is regarded as a crucial day to help promote education and preventive measures to protect people around the globe. WHO estimates that malaria causes an average of 655,000 deaths, many of which may be prevented with increased awareness.

Malaria Defined

Malaria is an infection spread by mosquitoes. It is directly caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which attacks the body’s healthy red blood cells. While this isn’t a modern disease by any means, it was better understood by the 18^th century, when scientists made the connection between mosquito bites and subsequent illnesses.

At first, those infected exhibit typical flu symptoms that can include fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea and extreme fatigue. Unlike a minor flu strain, however, malaria causes severe symptoms that last for several days. In fact, some patients may develop jaundice that causes a yellowing of the eyes and skin. Malaria can be deadly once it spreads through the body, causing organ failure, coma and seizures. Treatment is crucial, as the infection is deadly without medical intervention. In some cases, malaria is still deadly despite rapid treatments.

Locations

While malaria can infect people anywhere, cases are most common in tropical areas where mosquitoes run rampant. There doesn’t seem to be as many cases in warmer regions of the United States, due to the many control methods over the mosquito population. Local communities spray chemicals over the land during mosquito season, and many residents have easy access to repellants.

However, such control methods aren’t as common in other areas of the world, such as Central America and Africa. For this reason, malaria cases are higher compared to other regions. Visitors and travelers are just as susceptible as local peoples. Supporters of World Malaria Day hope that knowledge can help increase methods of mosquito control and protection, thereby reducing cases of malaria.

History

World Malaria Day was founded in 2007 by WHO, which is the United Nations’ leading panel on global health. During this time there was also a surge in worldwide malaria cases. Many countries jumped on board to help WHO with efforts for malaria awareness. The United States, Uganda, Germany and Switzerland are just a few of the examples of active participants in the holiday. Since the first holiday was held in 2008, it has been held on April 25^th every year.

While the United States participates in World Malaria Day, the government does not recognize April 25^th as a public holiday. This means that all banks, schools and other government institutions are all open.

Celebrations and Observations

Education is at the core of World Malaria Day. The more that people understand malaria, the better they are equipped to ward off the disease. This can include simple measures, such as protecting yourself against mosquito bites. Furthermore, learning the symptoms of malaria can help save lives.

In some countries, people do not have access to mosquito repellants and localized control methods. On World Malaria Day, some supporters hose fundraisers to gain money needed to help communities pay for these crucial protection methods. Others may petition local politicians to urge changes to reduce malaria in various communities around the globe.

World Autism Awareness Day

Held on April 2^nd of every year, World Autism Awareness Day is a holiday designed to increase awareness about the related spectrum disorder. It is officially observed by the United Nations as well as other non-governmental organizations across the globe. Not only is increased awareness important to activists, but it is also an opportunity for affected families to come together and support each other.

Autism Defined

Autism is a developmental disorder. Formally known as autism spectrum disorder, this medical condition develops in early childhood. By the age of three, affected children may exhibit numerous developmental delays. Speech and cognitive skills are among the most common delays. In many cases, autistic children do not have an interest in socializing with others and they are obsessed with repetition. This makes it difficult for them to adapt to new environments.

Treating autism requires a combination of treatments, such as behavioral, speech and occupational therapies. Some children may require medications for hyperactivity. While treatments help, there is no cure for autism. Therefore, early detection is crucial in the overall treatment of the disorder. World Autism Awareness Day was created to help promote such early detection so children in all countries get the services they need to improve their lives. Autism affects children of all gender, races, ethnicities and backgrounds.

History

The concept of a holiday dedicated to autism was founded by the United Nations. In 2007, the organization voted on dedicating April 2^nd as World Autism Awareness Day. It was first officially held on April 2, 2008. It is a worldwide holiday that has supporters increasing awareness through education and activism in various countries across the globe.

Celebrations

World Autism Awareness Day is primarily celebrated through educational efforts. Autism rates are on the rise, but it is not clear if this is due to increased diagnoses or if more children are actually getting the disorder. No matter what the reason, early intervention is important in the success and overall quality of life. While symptoms may be apparent before the age of three, many families are afraid to take action, or they don’t know about the disorder. One of the goals of this holiday is to provide education about autism so parents can provide medical and behavioral intervention right away.

Research is ongoing in autism. There is still no one direct cause, and there is no cure. Proponents of World Autism Awareness Day may host fundraisers or write letters to help support autism research. Scientists hope to find the cause someday so that better treatments may be available. Other supporters encourage increased availability of resources, such as behavioral therapies, for families who cannot otherwise afford them.

Another aspect of World Autism Awareness Day is support for affected families. Due to the way many autistic patients do not like to socialize, other family members may feel isolated. World Autism Awareness Day shows parents that they are not alone in the struggle, and many form lifelong friendships to help carry them through this journey.

Other organizations and entities are jumping on the bandwagon to support this holiday. For example, the Empire State Building held a lighting event in 2012 for World Autism Awareness Day.

While this is a global holiday, it is not recognized by public governments. Public schools remain open, although some autism groups may hold special days for celebrations.

World Water Day

Water is one of the most valuable resources that we often take for granted. Many battles already exist surrounding the right to clean water, and scientists keep making dire predictions as to when the world may run out of water. While the latter fact may be debatable for the near future, the fact is that millions of people do not have regular access to clean drinking water worldwide. This has subsequently led to the spread of waterborne illnesses, malnutrition and even death. To recognize such issues, the United Nations established World Water Day in 1993 on March 22^nd.

History

In June 1992, the United Nations held a conference in Rio de Janeiro to discuss environmental concerns in relation to human activities. Formally referred to as the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development, the organization adopted a plan called Agenda 21 to deal with related environmental issues. A part of Agenda 21 was the formation of World Water Day. This holiday was established in 1993 as a way to increase awareness of water’s important role in health and daily living, as well as its effects on human rights.

Annual Themes

Every year, the United Nations has a different theme for World Water Day. To commemorate its 20^th celebration, 2013’s theme is designated as the “International Year of Water Cooperation.”

Since 2003, UN-Water has been responsible for coming up with annual themes for World Water Day. The first theme was in 1994, entitled: Caring for Water Resources is Everybody’s Business.” Other past themes include: “The World’s Water: Is There Enough?” (1997), “Water for Health” (2001), “Water and Disasters” (2004), “Coping with Water Scarcity” (2007), and “Water and Food Security” (2012).

The purpose of these annual themes is to focus on an important aspect of water in communities worldwide to increase awareness. For example, increasing education about the health impacts of unclean water may promote action among societies so people can find ways to obtain better water. While such issues are important year-round, the United Nations hopes to reach as many people as possible during each World Water Day and to equip individuals with knowledge that can last a lifetime.

Water for Life Decade

On March 22, 2005, the United Nations launched the Water for Life Decade. This initiative focuses on the roles women have in terms of clean water for their communities. The program is especially important in nations where women do not often have a say in community and government affairs; in this essence, the U.N. has provided opportunities for women to grow and enrich their lives, as well as the lives of others. The decade-long celebration will run through 2015.

Celebrations

While World Water Day is not considered a public holiday, it is widely celebrated in numerous ways. Under the direction of the United Nations, many organizations seek to increase the awareness of local issues related to the year’s theme. Since water issues often differ by region, it is important that these entities play a role in interpreting the annual theme as seen fit.

Much of the celebrations conducted for World Water Day encourage the public to see available water resources. Whether this is a boat ride or a swim, many people hold events at rivers and lakes, as well as the seaside. Other regions hold more serious events that involve protests against poor drinking water conditions.

World Water Day Gift Ideas

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World Poetry Day

March 21^st is considered the ultimate day of poetry. The United Nations recognized this date as World Poetry Day to help promote the reading and writing of poems throughout the world. Not only is poetry considered in art form, but this type of writing also helps to promote literacy. Poems continue to capture our hearts and expand our way of thinking, and many poems of writers past contain a great deal of history to them.

History

World Poetry Day was officially established in 1999 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This U.N. agency is primarily responsible for promoting peace and equality through science and education, as well as worldwide cultural appreciation. Given the fact that poetry is produced in several forms from every region of the world, reading works from various countries can help promote literacy as well as cross-cultural understanding.

Some examples of different types of poems from around the world include:

• Haiku (from Japan)
• Ode (from ancient Greece)
• Ruba’i  (from Persian region)
• Canzone (from Italy)

Poetry is an important venue of self-expression for many writers. At the same time, this form of writing has been utilized to create famous political and religious pieces. UNESCO continues to support this art form to promote reading and writing across the world. The first World Poetry Day was established at the turn of the century on March 21, 2000.

Celebrations

Poets celebrate March 21^st of each year as the ultimate day to showcase their works. Libraries and bookstores often hold special readings on World Poetry Day where poets can read poetry to audiences. Some poets choose to read their own writings in conjunction with history’s most famous poems.

While World Poetry Day is one of the most popular days of the year for writers, it is certainly not exclusive to poets. Anyone who enjoys poetry is encouraged to participate by reading poems or even by creating their own works. This is an art form unlike any other, and the purpose of the holiday is to encourage celebration by all. Also, in contrast with other forms of writing, poetry doesn’t have as many rules, which provides more opportunities for expression.

Schools also celebrate World Poetry Day by emphasizing reading and writing. Elementary schools may introduce students to the structure of poetry for the first time. While the concept may seem new to children, they will likely remember the structures of some of the earliest poems they ever heard: nursery rhymes.

Alternative Dates

Prior to 1999’s designation of World Poetry Day, the holiday was observed on October 15^th. This date commemorated the birthday of the famous Roman poet, Virgil. His most famous writings include Aeneid, Eclogues and Georgics. Virgil’s influence on poetry was so great that he even had an appearance in Dante’s famous Divine Comedy. Some nations continue to commemorate October 15^th as World Poetry Day in lieu of the date established by the United Nations.

Special Considerations

In the United States, World Poetry Day is often considered as a kick-off to April’s National Poetry Month. Some schools, libraries and bookstores hold special poetry-related events throughout the end of March and the entire month of April. March 21^st is viewed as the start of the biggest poetry celebration of the year.

World Poetry Day Collectibles
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