WHD: WHO urges support for science to advance health care
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on people everywhere to renew their commitment to working together and supporting science as the twin engines driving better health.
WHO also calls on governments, institutions and individuals to continue supporting and collaborating on science and ensuring that evidence-based approaches guide health policies and everyday decisions.
WHO stated this in a statement to mark the 2026 World Health Day (WHD), under the theme: “Together for health. Stand with science.”
The campaign marks the anniversary of WHO’s founding on April 7, 1948, introducing a year-long public health campaign.
Every year on April 7, the world marks World Health Day — a day dedicated to raising awareness about global health issues and promoting healthier living for all people.
According to WHO, human health has been profoundly transformed over the past century, largely due to scientific progress and international collaboration.
“The global maternal mortality rate has fallen by more than 40 per cent since 2000, and deaths among children under five have been reduced by over 50 per cent.
“Advances in technology, scientific knowledge and skills, and collaboration between different disciplines, sectors and countries continue to turn once-life-threatening health challenges – such as elevated blood pressure, cancer diagnoses or HIV infection – into manageable health issues, extending and improving lives worldwide.”
Yet, WHO stated that health threats continue to grow, fuelled by climate impacts, environmental degradation, geopolitical tensions and shifting demographics, noting that these challenges include persistent diseases and strained health systems as well as emerging diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential.
Across the globe, it stated that thousands of scientists – together with organisations such as WHO – are accelerating research and developing policies, tools and innovations needed to protect communities today and safeguard the health of future generations.
“Science is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for protecting and improving health,” the statement quoted WHO Director General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, as saying.
“People in every country live longer and healthier lives on average today than their ancestors did, thanks to the power of science.
“Vaccines, penicillin, germ theory, MRI machines and the mapping of the human genome are just some of the achievements that science has delivered that have saved lives and transformed health for billions of people.”
According to WHO, scientific innovations are most powerful when they are widely adopted and used and every success in improving human health reflects the collective work and collaboration of scientific organisations, policy- makers, heath workers and the public.
The UN health agency cited some examples: before modern anesthesia, surgery meant unimaginable pain. Today, safer medicines, affordable technologies and trained specialists allow life-saving operations to be performed while patients sleep comfortably.
“Scientific progress has helped democratize these advances, making safe surgical care accessible across the world, including in many resource-limited communities;”
It also noted that over the past 50 years, global immunisation efforts had saved over 154 million children from infectious diseases and vaccines had contributed to a 40 per cent reduction in infant mortality, with just one vaccine – the measles vaccine – saving over 90 million children.
It further noted that progress in early screening technologies is transforming health outcomes. From electronic blood pressure monitors to breast cancer screening through mammography, these tools have become life-saving interventions for millions.
WHO, over its 78 years of convening of global scientific organisations, has stood at the forefront of global health and scientific transformation.
In line with the World Health Day 2026 theme, WHO and the G7 Presidency of France are convening a One Health Summit in Lyon, France, from April 5 to 7, bringing together Heads of State, scientists and community leaders to strengthen coordinated action.
WHO will host the Global Forum of its Collaborating Centres network from April 7 to April 9, with representatives from over 800 academic and research institutions from more than 80 countries.
These centres support WHO’s research, technical assistance and capacity-building work worldwide.
“Science transforms uncertainty into understanding and reveals the pathways to protect and heal our communities,” Dr Sylvie Briand, WHO Chief Scientist, said.
“Without the clarity of rigorous scientific inquiry, we risk being led by bias and misconception – and too often toward treatments that fail us or even place us in harm’s way.
“Today, we must stand together with science so that our collaboration is sustained, supported and enhanced for the better health of generations to come.”
WHO emphasises that science must continue to guide health decision-making at all levels.
WHO and its partners generate and translate evidence across a wide range of health priorities, from infectious diseases and chronic conditions to mental health, nutrition and environmental risks, supporting countries to deliver effective, equitable care.
Achievements in global health show that when countries unite behind science, they not only respond to crises more effectively but also build stronger, more equitable health systems for the future.
