MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 2010 SPECIAL HEALTH OBSERVANCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 016776 SIPDIS, FOR ESTH OFFICERS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV AID TBIO SOCI SUBJECT: MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 2010 SPECIAL HEALTH OBSERVANCE DAYS -------------- STATE 00016776 001.2 OF 003 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. There are over one hundred special observance days, months, and years that are celebrated world-wide to bring attention to worthy causes including well known days such as World AIDS Day (Dec. 1) and the lesser known, such as World Rural Women's Day (Oct. 15). The Department has compiled a list of health related special days that Environmental, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) and Public Diplomacy Officers should consider supporting through programming events in cooperation with other USG agencies at post (e.g. USAID, HHS/CDC),host country health authorities, and local civil society engaged in public health. Posts are encouraged to support events, programming, and media appearances that commemorate these dates and highlight the United States commitment to a healthier world through global health diplomacy. ESTH officers should take into account local public health priorities as well as local culture and standards when deciding which observance day(s) to support. The Office of International Health and BioDefense (OES/IHB) will send out reminder notices with talking points and suggested activities for some of the days. ¶2. In addition to these particular days, some posts will receive information on dates for polio immunization campaigns in their host countries, and are urged to support these campaigns through voluntary participation by post personnel or other public diplomacy activities. ¶3. Celebrating special health observance days should be linked where possible to the Administration's Global Health Initiative (GHI); see paragraphs 6 and 14. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶4. The United States, other countries, and the United Nations celebrate special health days to raise global awareness on public health issues of international interest and concern. These days are organized to commemorate a special event, promote awareness on a certain topic, or mobilize private and public action. For posts, supporting observance of special health days can be an important and useful public diplomacy tool. This message contains a list of special health observance days that the Department supports as particularly significant and globally relevant. (There are many other commemoration dates - a more complete list of days can be found on the United Nations website at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/Refere nce_Paper_No_47.d oc.htm and/or the World Health Organization's list of annual days it celebrates: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/ en/index.html. -------------- HEALTH DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶5. The U.S. government sees improving public health and health systems around the world as both a humanitarian and a national security imperative. Better global health promotes stability, growth, and development which can deter the spread of extremism, ease pressure for migration, reduce the need for humanitarian and development assistance and create opportunities for stronger political alliances and economic relations. Health diplomacy is an important element of foreign policy that enhances U.S. and global security and builds strong partnerships. ¶6. The Global Health Initiative (GHI) is a key element of U.S. health diplomacy. The U.S. will invest $63 billion over six years to help partner countries improve health outcomes through strengthened health systems - with a particular focus on improving the health of women, newborns and children through programs including infectious diseases, nutrition, maternal and child health, and safe water. Additional information on the GHI is available in the Implementation of the Global Health Initiative: Consultation Document, which can be found at http://www.pepfar.gov/documents/organization/ 136504.pdf. ¶7. Secretary Clinton has noted in numerous speeches the need to increase America's "smart power." Health diplomacy is a key part of our array of smart power diplomatic tools because it enhances U.S. security and creates a positive image of the United States around the world by improving the quality of life in recipient countries. Observing and supporting World Health Days is an important part of our health diplomacy tool kit. ¶8. In one of her first speeches on Health Diplomacy, OES Assistant Secretary Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones stated that "Health Diplomacy emphasizes the integral relationship between two traditional areas of national and international concern -- diplomacy and global health." She continued that "in earlier times diplomacy had been predominantly focused on issues of STATE 00016776 002.2 OF 003 political, military and commercial affairs, and global health had been perhaps more narrowly included in a development perspective - today the two areas have both broadened to recognize the far greater expanse of health issues in foreign policy and national security." ¶9. The Department asks posts to use their connections in their local diplomatic communities and throughout their host countries to promote global health days as part of a health diplomacy strategy. -------------- SUPPORT FOR HEALTH DAYS IN 2009 -------------- ¶10. Global health days were widely celebrated in 2009 by Posts in all geographic bureaus. For example, over 20 posts participated in World Tuberculosis (TB) Day (March 24) events. The creative and effective programming of some posts deserves special mention: ¶11. In Ulaanbaatar the Medical Unit hosted a lecture for all Embassy staff on both TB and HIV/AIDS. Outside the Embassy, Post organized public presentations at the city library on U.S. efforts to combat TB. In Abidjan, in addition to a Chief of Mission Op-Ed on TB, the DCM delivered the keynote address at the county's National World TB Day Celebration and she also presented certificates to several NGOS who were honored for their work in combating TB. At the same time in Dushanbe, the Ambassador and the Tajik First Deputy Minister of Health opened a TB Day awareness concert. In Gaborone the Embassy co-hosted a one-day seminar on gender and TB which targeted women working as home-based care officers, family welfare educators, counselors and media practitioners. In Maputo, staff used the Embassy's Facebook page to educate all of their "Facebook friends" on TB. ¶12. Several other Missions participated in World TB Day including Ashgabat, Bangkok, Montevideo, Bucharest, Phnom Penh, Brasilia, Oslo, Kuwait City, Durban, Kabul, Djibouti, Seoul, Moscow, Tallinn, Hanoi, Nouakchott, and London. -------------- 2010 CALENDAR -------------- ¶13. The special observance dates are listed below. Department supported, health-related information and guidance will be available for some of the days in the weeks preceding their observance. February * 4 World Cancer Day March * 8 International Woman's Day * 22 World Water Day * 24 World Tuberculosis Day April * 7 World Health Day * 22 Earth Day * 25 World Malaria day May * 12 International Nurses Day * 28 International Day of Action for Women's Health * 31 World No Tobacco Day September * 5 World Environment Day * 21 Alzheimer's Day * The last Sunday is World Heart Day October * 10 World Mental Health Day * 15 Global Handwashing Day * 16 World Food Day * 24 World Polio Day November * 2 World Pneumonia Day * 14 World Diabetes Day December * 1 World AIDS Day ¶14. Post should incorporate the GHI framework where possible when planning their programming for special health observance days. For example, public outreach on days such as the International Day of Action for Women's Health (May 28) should reference the GHI's focus on improving maternal and child health. ¶15. OES/IHB typically sends information and suggested action cables on World Water Day, World Polio Day, and World Tuberculosis day. In 2009 we also sent cables for World Pneumonia Day. The Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator generally sends a cable for World AIDS Day. The cables typically have a background section, cleared talking points, and suggested media-friendly activities. Posts are encouraged to use these cables as primers for the topics and to promote health diplomacy in their host countries. Regional Environmental Hub officers are invited to compile data on their regional activities and/or data on the health issue at STATE 00016776 003.2 OF 003 hand. As always, we are interested in hearing about any public outreach activities post has conducted and we would like to highlight these activities in posts on the OES website. For further information please contact Jehan Jones- Radgowski (OES/IHB) (JonesJS2@state.gov) or OES public outreach officer Alice Chu (OES/PO) (ChuAR@state.gov). ¶16. Minimize considered. CLINTON