World Health Day 2009 | Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies

What is the theme of World Health Day for 2009?

“Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies” is the slogan of this year’s World Health Day.

World Health Day is celebrated globally on 7 April to mark the founding of the World Health Organization and to raise awareness on a key global health issue. This year the theme is "Health facilities in emergencies", which underscores the importance of investing in health infrastructure that is able to withstand natural hazards, conflicts or a deteriorating situation and that is able to serve and protect people in immediate need.

However, the reality is often different and many health facilities, health workers and patients are vulnerable in the event of an emergency and in the aftermath of an emergency.

Coming soon... Welcome to the World Health Day Blog, a platform aiming at pushing forward the agenda of the 2009 World Health Day theme “Health Facilities in Emergencies”.

Key messages The most expensive health facility is the one that fails. Health workers are the first line of defense during crises so they must be prepared and ready to act. Safe health facilities are central to community emergency response, preparedness and resilience. Life is precious, invest in health. Strengthen partnership and work together.   More key messages