The World Health Day is being observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe on Wednesday.

The theme of this year’s day is: Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone

This is a global health awareness day observed every year on April 7 under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO) marking its birthday.

To mark the day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate General of Health Service and various non-government organizations chalk out elaborate programmes including seminars, publishing souvenirs and supplements in national dailies and cultural programmes in Dhaka and elsewhere every year.

But no programme has been arranged this year due to the 7-day lockdown amid rising Covid cases.

Read: World Health Day: WHO calls for fairer, healthier world post-COVID-19

However, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) will hold a virtual discussion marking the day.

From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the celebration has aimed to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization.

Over the past 50 years this has brought to light important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care, and climate change, according to WHO.

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