Together for health. Stand with science- World Health Day.

World Health Organisation(WHO), a global health organisation under the United Nations, celebrates World Health Day on 7th April every year. The theme of 2026 World Health Day is ‘Together for Health. Stand with Science.’ The theme emphasizes bridging gaps in women’s health through innovation, research, and increased funding. The key focus is on expanding access to sexual and reproductive health and using digital technologies for screening, such as for cervical cancer, which is one of the diseases that many women and girls are suffering from.

According to the WHO, health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. The important part in the description is that mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders. 

As early as 2026, existing data shows that mental health issues have gradually increased in women and girls globally compared to men since female faces unique challenges during hormonal transitions and often carry invisible burdens that go unrecognised and untreated. This issue is triggered by various components in life, like trauma, gender based violence, and others.

The WHO is reducing mental health issues through evidence-based and scientific strategies. It has come up with some initiatives which are guided by the comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030, which emphasizes strengthening leadership, community care, promotion, and data systems. The key initiatives are :

1. Integrated mental health care(mhGAP)- This ensures that non-specialised health workers identify and manage mental health conditions.

2. Quality rights initiatives involve rights-based, community-based, and patient-based. It also involves equal rights for all.

3. Suicide prevention strategies – This includes live life approach in aiming in reducing suicidal rate by one-third by 2030.

4. Workplaces and schools initiatives – Aims to promote mental health by creating a supportive environment, reducing stigma, and implementing programs in schools and workplaces.

In summary, mental health is an issue that is supposed to be taken care of on an individual level and also as a whole.

Written by,

Rehema Asiko, 15 years Sauti Zetu Member.