7 Abril 2026
World Health Day 2026
World Health Day 2026
On World Health Day 2026, WHO unites and mobilizes the world under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science.” celebrating the power of scientific collaboration to protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the planet. The year‑long campaign spotlights both scientific achievements and the multilateral cooperation needed to turn evidence into action.
Message from WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi
On this World Health Day, Africa joins the global call: “Together for health. Stand with science.” The longer lives, effective prevention and life-saving treatments we value today are the result of decades of scientific progress. Across Africa, science is driving practical solutions that improve lives and contribute to global health.
African scientists, institutions and communities have played a vital role in shaping responses to major health challenges. The rapid development and deployment of Ebola vaccines during outbreaks in West and Central Africa demonstrated the power of research rooted in local partnerships. Genomic sequencing in South Africa enabled the early identification of new COVID-19 variants, informing global responses. And the establishment of WHO-supported mRNA vaccine technology transfer hubs is paving the way for Africa to produce its own vaccines. Through science we are not only solving African problems, but helping shape global solutions.
Across the Region, public health efforts grounded in scientific evidence and innovation have turned some of our most difficult challenges into stories of hope. Expanded immunization has protected millions from preventable diseases. Antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable condition. Investments in maternal and child health have significantly reduced deaths among mothers and newborns.
We call on governments, scientists, health workers, partners, and the public
to stand with science to protect lives, rebuild trust,
and secure a healthier future.
Call to action: stand with science
Choose evidence. Trust facts. Support science-led health, for people, animals, and the planet.
Ask. Share. Stand with science.
- Ask a health question that matters to you.
- Share how science helps solve it.
- Join the global conversation with #StandWithScience and #WorldHealthDay.
Commit to science-based policy and One Health action
Governments and institutions are called to strengthen investment in science, support WHO's normative role, and embed evidence in health, climate, food, and environmental decision-making.
Activate. Explain. Lead.
Collaborating Centres and the scientific community are mobilized to make science accessible and understandable, share clear explanations of evidence, engage with the public, and serve as visible, trusted voices championing facts and science-based solutions.
Be ambassadors of science
Show patients and communities how science guides care, and why evidence saves lives.