Founded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1948 and celebrated on the 7th of April, World Health Day seeks to draw attention to global health and focuses on various health topics every year. In the UK, World Health Day brings attention to the role that the NHS plays, as well as the many public health campaigns, disease prevention programmes, and mental wellbeing projects. Our team at Remitly has put together this quick article to give you more information about this global event.
Across the UK, businesses, charities, schools, and individuals can take part in World Health Day by encouraging staff and students to adopt more healthy practices or by learning about human health. In this article, we’ll be focussing on how British Citizens can participate in the event, the various government and NHS health initiatives, as well as public health campaigns and wellness events.
The Importance of World Health Day in the UK
World Health Day was launched by the WHO to raise awareness about global health matters. Its aim is not only to draw attention to human health conditions, but also to promote healthier lifestyle habits for everyone. Each year focuses on a different theme. However, the event provides an opportunity to focus on human health as a wider topic.
The UK, just like many other nations across the world, faces national health challenges which can compromise overall human health. We’ve identified a few of these below:
NHS Funding and Resources
The demand for NHS services has been high, and expectations of the service to deliver healthcare to the nation are even higher. In 2024, an increase in 999 calls for the Ambulance service was up by 12% on the previous year. Waiting times have also increased and the demand for cancer services reached a record high in January 2024, with urgent suspected cancer referrals at 128% of pre-pandemic levels.
This strain on services despite challenges around funding and resourcing places the health of the nation in a precarious position.
Chronic Diseases
Despite the steady rise in life expectancy in both males and females in the UK, chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease have also steadily increased. Many health experts suspect that this rise is attributable to an aging population as opposed to a less healthy population. On the contrary, statistics show that the health of the nation has improved in some areas such as smoking prevalence.
Mental Health Awareness
Mental health awareness has been at the forefront of global health discussions in the last few years. With internationally recognised events like #worldmentalhealthday, this important topic has been made the subject of many campaigns, charity aims and awareness events.
Lifestyle-Related Health Issues
Government initiatives like the Change4Life campaign promote and encourage UK citizens to adopt healthier lifestyle habits such as healthy eating, better sleep habits, and fitness.
The Impact of Environmental Health
Climatic challenges such as global warming and air and river pollution continue to pose a risk to public health. Public Health England has said that following an environmental report, poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK.
How the UK Observes World Health Day
Government & NHS Health Initiatives
The NHS long-term plan published in 2019 is an operational framework which looks to improve healthcare within the NHS. It aims to do so by utilizing improved funding pathways and redesigning the way patients access care.
Running alongside this is the Public Health England Strategy, which looks at the broader health of the nation whilst taking into account not just the care provided by the NHS, but other impact factors as well. The plan looks at key issues such as sufficient income, safety within the home, and community and support networks.
Workplaces also provide a forum through which employees can access healthcare and support through occupational health practitioners and employer-sponsored counselling.
Other key services in the space help alleviate pressure on the NHS, such as the many mental health and wellbeing charities like MIND UK and Samaritans. Other organisations like the British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK also have dedicated professionals able to assist with physical health conditions.
World Health Day Events & Activities in the UK
There isn’t much in the way of specific World Health Day events like festivals or fairs in the UK, but there is a fierce online community of health advocates. There are also thousands of health-inspired events which occur regularly throughout the UK every single day. We’ve listed a few of our favourite examples below:
London
London is the mecca of all things fitness, from huge events like London’s Yoga Show to London’s premier wellness festival, Wellnergy. There are also many large parks and public spaces to choose from if you’re into running or cycling.
Manchester
Manchester City Council’s health and wellbeing webpage is the best place to start. It gives information on everything from health and wellbeing services to sexual health advice and the best places for cycling and walking.
Edinburgh & Glasgow
There are plenty of health and wellbeing services and charities available in Scotland’s big cities. Organisations like Wellbeing Glasgow and Forever Edinburgh provide places to get support and advice from health and wellbeing experts.
Birmingham & Cardiff
Birmingham offers a range of mental health services like Cranstoun and Anvil House. Birmingham’s vast canal network also provides a unique opportunity to walk, run, or cycle for miles on end by the canal.
In Cardiff, there are a great many council-run leisure centres and sports clubs. The Welsh are known for their love of rugby and there is no shortage of rugby clubs in Cardiff.
Of course, there are still a great many services that can be accessed online or over the phone. Many charities such as MIND offer a 24/7 helpline. The NHS also operates online services and remote consultations in some instances.
In the world of social media, there is never a time when there’s not some sort of health and fitness challenge. Try searching for key phrases like #WorldHealthDayUK and #HealthyBritain.
Corporate & Educational Health Campaigns
Schools and workplaces across the UK are keen to get their students and staff engaging in healthy lifestyle habits. There are many examples of initiatives designed to help people to adopt healthy lifestyle choices. Programmes such as the cycle-to-work scheme, for example, or subsidised gym memberships, incentivise staff to get fit.
Some institutions offer free health check-ups for their staff or students. Drop-in services may be available, like blood pressure monitoring, BMI testing, and vision screening. Some employers, particularly those who require their staff to use computers as part of their work, offer free eye care vouchers.
Public campaigns and challenges like the Couch to 5K programme encourage people to take part in physical activity outside of their normal working or studying lives. These are often endorsed by workplaces and charities across the UK.
Some institutions offer mindfulness sessions, mental wellbeing resources, and drop-in sessions as well as free counselling and mentor support. These services are free and independent and also completely confidential.
Ways UK Residents Can Participate in World Health Day
This World Health Day 2025 is all about maternal and newborn health. The WHO is urging the government and broader society as well as health experts to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths. If you or someone you know is having or has had a baby recently, it is worth getting up to speed on all the latest information about child safety, such as safe sleeping practices, choking hazards, or what to do in the event of a health emergency involving a baby.
Other practical ways of participating in World Health Day include getting health MOT’s, using NHS screening services, and attending wellness events.
Making healthier lifestyle choices is one of the most important and beneficial ways people can celebrate. Things like committing to better eating and sleeping habits and exercising more are great ways to honour this day.
Mental wellbeing is just as important as physical wellbeing. Try some helpful activities such as mindfulness, guided stress-relief sessions, or therapy. Well and truly though, any activity which makes you feel happy and relieves any feelings of stress or worry works just as well as any dedicated mental health support activity.
Environmental health implications are a lesser-considered topic of conversation when it comes to personal health. Consider swapping the car for the bicycle or taking the more scenic route to work.
Some people may choose to celebrate by giving something back. There are plenty of health-related charities out there to volunteer for or donate to.
The Future of Public Health in the UK
We’ve already discussed the NHS long-term health plan and the Public Health England long-term strategy, but what about the other priorities and initiatives? How do these things prepare us for the future when it comes to the health of the nation?
The continued investment into digital healthcare like AI-powered diagnostics, for example, will revolutionise the way we receive care.
Mental health and support initiatives continue to expand, with access to workplace mental health support and occupational health services growing year on year.
Government initiatives continue to focus on some of the biggest health challenges for the nation. As demand placed on the NHS increases, the Government are keen to look at ways to alleviate the pressure. Smoking bans, obesity campaigns, and alcohol consumption are under continual review.
With the Government’s net-zero targets by 2050 looming, healthcare practices and service providers look to change healthcare delivery. This shift in conventional practices may bring new challenges in terms of procurement or operational delivery.
Conclusion
Good health is the cornerstone of a prosperous, functioning, stable society. World Health Day serves as a reminder to look after our health and to emphasise the importance of a healthy nation through access to healthcare, good lifestyle habits, and continued medical research.
We’d encourage our readers to celebrate World Health Day this year by reflecting on their own health and lifestyle habits and finding ways to improve. Much in the same way that a New Year’s resolution might spark the idea to start running or join the local gym, World Health Day can do the same.
In addition to considering your own health commitments, why not spread the word and promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle by taking to social media or by supporting medical research through charitable donations, sponsored walks, or volunteering? Some great resources to find out more include the NHS website, health charities like OurFutureHealth, and any campaigns, charities, and initiatives local to you.
FAQs
What is World Health Day?
World Health Day is an internationally recognised event which celebrates, promotes, and draws attention to global health. It was founded by the World Health Organisation in 1948. It is celebrated on 7th April every year , with each year focussing on a different health theme. This year (2025) the theme is “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.”
How is World Health Day celebrated in the UK?
People can engage in World Health Day by participating in health events, fitness expos, charity events, sponsored walks or runs, or by simply spreading the word about World Health Day and advocating for the message it brings.
What are the biggest health concerns in the UK?
Some of the biggest health concerns in the UK include mental health and wellbeing, obesity, diabetes, and chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s. There are also some significant concerns around the operation of the NHS in terms of funding, resourcing, and demand.
What government programmes support public health in the UK?
The UK has seen its fair share of public health initiatives throughout the years. Some of these include preventative measures such as restrictions or bans on certain products. The 2007 smoking ban is one example, or the sugar levy on soft drinks. There are also several Government-sponsored health campaigns which look to promote health living. There has been the Better Health Quit Smoking initiative and the Childhood Immunisations programme, for example.
What are some World Health Day events in the UK?
London boasts health festivals and events like the Yoga Show and Wellnergy. Manchester has many great local authority-led health services and big parks to exercise in. Edinburgh has some fantastic health support programmes like Forever Edinburgh, and Birmingham offers some amazing mental health support services like Cranstoun and Anvil House.
How can I improve my health on World Health Day?
The best way to improve your health is by taking practical steps and starting now. Try a morning walk or light jog as a great way to start the day. From there, you can slowly work up to more challenging routes. When it comes to eating, try getting more fruit and vegetables into your diet with each meal. Helpful tips and advice can be found on the NHS Eatwell Guide.