Posted on 24 July 2019

International Self-Care Day (ISD) on July 24 each year provides an opportunity for organisations and individuals to promote self-care. Every year, around the world, thousands of people get involved in a multitude of initiatives.

Particularly noteworthy – the WHO organised a ‘self-care’ month starting on 24th June and ending on 24th July to coincide with International Self-care Day. This was to allow for regional and national level initiatives by WHO and partners to be highlighted. As part of these efforts, the White Ribbon Alliance and the Self-Care Trailblazers Group (SCTG) undertook a series of activities in Kenya to elevate self-care in the lead up to the Nairobi Summit to Advance the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action and as part of the roll-out of Kenya’s Universal Health Care initiative, Afya Care.

In China, a range of activities took place around ISD. The Second Big Health and Self-Care Grand Conference was held in Tongli, Suzhou (pictured). An expert media seminar was organised in Shanghai by Self-Care Magazine, the Self-Care and Pharmacotherapy Steering Committee of the China Medical Education Association, the Shanghai Health Education Association and Bayer Health Consumer Goods. A mass walk for health was held in Pingchang Square in Suichang County, supported by Lishui City and Suichang County Government and sponsored by Lishui City Health Management Society.