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The Complete List of

Observances for Public

Health Communication

and Marketing

Observances present a powerful tool for social marketing, health education, health promotion, and health marketing. Health awareness and action days, weeks, and months provide designated periods of time for helping to raise awareness of, mobilize resources for, and celebrate advancements in addressing important public health topics and issues.

Incorporating observances into your strategic planning and coordinating your efforts to correspond with relevant observances can potentially expand the reach of your messages and the impact of your activities.  

This list is designed to be evergreen, and includes observances specific to:
  • Public health
  • Allied health and healthcare
  • ​Health and wellness
  • Groups experiencing disparities in health and health care
How to Use This List
  1. Search this page by topic/keyword (using Ctrl+F or Command+F) or browse by month (using the Table of Contents below) to find relevant observances.
  2. Search each observance online to check for this year’s theme, exact dates, hashtag(s), resources (e.g., social media toolkit), and potential activities that you or your organization or business can participate in.
  3. Incorporate relevant observances into your strategic planning.
Last updated: March 9, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • January Public Health Observances
  • February Public Health Observances
  • March Public Health Observances
  • April Public Health Observances
  • May Public Health Observances
  • June Public Health Observances
  • July Public Health Observances
  • August Public Health Observances
  • September Public Health Observances
  • October Public Health Observances
  • November Public Health Observances
  • December Public Health Observances

January Public Health Observances

Day
11    National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
12   National Pharmacists Day
Week
National Healthy Weight Week – Third full week in January
National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Week – Last full week in January​
Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
National Cannabidiol (CBD) Month
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
National Blood Donor Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Poverty in America Awareness Month
National Radon Action Month
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Month
National Stalking Awareness Month
One Health Awareness Month
Thyroid Awareness Month

February Public Health Observances

Day
​
2      National Women Physicians Day
4       World Cancer Day    
7       National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
13     International Condom Day
14     National Donor Day
15     International Childhood Cancer Day
20    World Day of Social Justice
22    National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day
25    International Cochlear Implant Day

Give Kids a Smile Day – First Friday in February
National Caregivers Day – Third Friday in February
National Wear Red Day – First Friday in February
Rare Disease Day – Last day in February​
Week
7-14      Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
14-21    National Condom Week

African Heritage and Health Week – First full week in February
Heart Failure Awareness Week – Second full week in February
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week – Starts last Monday in February
National Patient Recognition Week – First full week in February
Tinnitus Awareness Week – First full week in February​​
Month
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)/Low Vision Awareness Month
American Heart Month
Black History Month
Earthquake Awareness Month
Ethnic Equality Month
I Heart Public Health Month
International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
National Cancer Prevention Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
National Fasting February
National Self-Check Month
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month​

March Public Health Observances

Day
2     World Teen Mental Wellness Day
3     World Hearing Day
        World Wildlife Day
6     National Dentist’s Day
8     International Women’s Day
10    National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
19    National Certified Nurses Day
20   National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
        World Oral Health Day
21    International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
        World Down Syndrome Day
22   World Water Day
24   World Tuberculosis Day
26   Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
30   National Doctors Day
        World Bipolar Day
31    International Transgender Day of Visibility

Diabetes Alert Day – Fourth Tuesday in March
National Hospitalist Day – First Thursday in March
National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day – Second Wednesday in March
World Kidney Day – Second Thursday in March
World Sleep Day – Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox
World Social Work Day – Third Tuesday in March​​
Week
25-31    National Physicians Week

Brain Awareness Week – Third week in March
Equal Pay Day – Changes annually
International Women’s Week – Week of March 8
National Agriculture Week – Third full week in March
National Dental Assistants Recognition Week – First full week in March
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week – Third full week in March
National Groundwater Awareness Week – First full week in March
National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week – Third full week in March
National Poison Prevention Week – Third full week in March
National School Breakfast Week – First full week in March
National Schools Social Work Week – First full week in March
National Sleep Awareness Week – Second full week in March
National Surveyors Week – Third full week in March
Patient Safety Awareness Week – Second full week in March
World Glaucoma Week – Second full week in March​​​
Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Gender Equality Month
Greek American Heritage Month
Irish American Heritage Month
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
National Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Endometriosis Awareness Month
National Kidney Month
National Nutrition Month
National Social Work Month
Save Your Vision Month
Trisomy Awareness Month
Women’s History Month​​

April Public Health Observances

Day
2     World Autism Awareness Day
7     World Health Day
10    National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
        World Homeopathy Day
11     World Parkinson’s Day
13    International Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Awareness Day
16    National Healthcare Decisions Day
        World Voice Day
17     World Hemophilia Day
22    National Earth Day
23    World Laboratory Day    
25    World Malaria Day
28    World Day for Safety and Health at Work
29    International Dance Day
30    National Sarcoidosis Day

Geologists Day – First Sunday in April
International Noise Awareness Day – Last Wednesday in April
National Alcohol Screening Day – Thursday of first full week in April
National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day – Third Friday in April
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day – Last Saturday in April
World Tai Chi and Qigong Day – Last Saturday in April
World Veterinary Day – Last Saturday in April
Youth Homelessness Matters Day – Third Wednesday in April​​​
Week
7-13    National Integrated Respiratory Care Week
​11-17
    Black Maternal Health Week


Every Kid Healthy Week –  Last full week in April
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week – Last full week in April
National Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week – Second full week in April
National Cancer Registrars Week – First full week in April
National Infant Immunization Week – Last full week in April
National Infertility Awareness Week – Last full week in April
National Public Health Week – First full week in April
National Wildlife Week – First full week in April
National Youth Violence Prevention Week – Last full week in April
World Immunization Week – Last full week in April​​​​
Month
Alcohol Awareness Month
Arab-American Heritage Month
Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Diversity Month
Earth Month
Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
National Donate Life Month
National Facial Protection Month
National Fair Housing Month
National Financial Literacy Month
​National Minority Health Month

National Parkinson’s Awareness Month
National Safe Digging Month
Occupational Therapy Month
Oral Cancer Awareness Month
Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
Scottish-American Heritage Month
Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
World Autism Month​​​

May Public Health Observances

Day
4      National Weather Observers Day
5      World Hand Hygiene Day
6      National Nurses Day
8      National Student Nurse Day
         World Ovarian Cancer Day
10     World Lupus Day
12     International Nurses Day
         Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
17      World Hypertension Day
18     National HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
19     Hepatitis Testing Day
         National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
         World Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Day
21     World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
22    International Day for Biological Diversity
         World Preeclampsia Day
24    World Schizophrenia Day
25    World Thyroid Day
30    World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day
31     Dam Safety Awareness Day
         Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day
         World No Tobacco Day

Don’t Fry Day – Friday before Memorial Day
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for Children Day – Wednesday of EMS Week
Global Accessibility Awareness Day – Third Thursday in May
National Endangered Species Day – Third Friday in May
National Fentanyl Awareness Day – Second Friday in May
National Foster Care Day – First Tuesday in May
National School Nurse Day – Wednesday of National Nurses Week
National Senior Health and Fitness Day – Last Wednesday in May
World Asthma Day – First Tuesday in May​​​​
Week
1-7       National Physical Education and Sport Week
6-12    National Nurses Week

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week – First full week in May
Food Allergy Awareness Week – First full week in May
Healthy and Safe Swimming Week – Last full week in May
National Emergency Medical Services Week – Third full week in May
National Hospital Week – First full week in May
National Hurricane Preparedness Week – First or second full week in May
National Public Works Week – Third full week in May
National Stuttering Awareness Week – Second full week in May
National Women’s Health Week – Starts second Sunday in May
North American Occupational Safety and Health Week – First full week in May​​​​​
Month
ALS Awareness Month
Arthritis Awareness Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Brain Tumor Awareness Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Healthy Vision Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Jewish-American Heritage Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Melanoma Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
National Adolescent Health Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
National Building Safety Month
National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
National Foster Care Month
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Stroke Awareness Month
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
National Water Safety Month
National Wildfire Awareness Month
Older Americans Month
Personal History Awareness Month
Skin Cancer Awareness Month
South Asian Heritage Month
Sturge-Weber Syndrome Awareness​​​​

June Public Health Observances

Day
​
1     World Narcissistic Abuse Awareness Day
      World Reef Awareness Day
5    World Environment Day
6    National Eyewear Day
      National Gardening Exercise Day
7    World Food Safety Day
8   World Brain Tumor Day
      World Oceans Day
9    Coral Triangle Day
14   World Blood Donor Day
15   Global Wind Day
       World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
17    National Eat Your Vegetables Day
       World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
18    Autistic Pride Day
19    International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
        Juneteenth
        World Sickle Cell Day
22   World Rainforest Day
26   International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
27    National HIV Testing Day
        National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day
28   National Insurance Awareness Day

Family Health and Fitness Day – Second Saturday in June
International Ragweed Day – Fourth Saturday in June
National Call Your Doctor Day – Second Tuesday in June
National Cancer Survivors Day – First Sunday in June
National Career Nurse Assistants’ Day – Thursday of the second full week in June
National Running Day – First Wednesday in June
National Trails Day – First Saturday in June​​​​
Week
1-7    National CPR and AED Awareness Week

Bed Bug Awareness Week – First full week in June
Community Health Improvement Week – First full week in June
Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week – Last week in June
International Clothesline Week – Starts first Saturday in June
Men’s Health Week  – Ends third Sunday in June
National Fishing and Boating Week – First full week in June
National Gardening Week – First full week in June
National Lightning Safety Awareness Week – Third full week in June
National Nurse Assistants Week – Starts National Career Nurse Assistants’ Day
Waste and Recycling Workers Week – Week of June 17​​​​​​
Month
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
Cataract Awareness Month
LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Men’s Health Month
Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
National Aphasia Awareness Month
National Caribbean-American Heritage Month
National Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Awareness Month
National Dysphagia Awareness Month
National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month
National Great Outdoors Month
National Headache and Migraine Awareness Month
National Pet Preparedness Month
National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month
National Scleroderma Awareness Month
National Safety Month​​​​​

July Public Health Observances

Day
3      International Plastic Bag Free Day
4      Filipino-American Friendship Day
10    Global Energy Independence Day
11     World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day
        World Population Day
24    International Self-Care Day
26    National Disability Independence Day
28    World Hepatitis Day
         World Nature Conservation Day​​​​​
Month
French-American Heritage Month
International Group B Strep Throat Awareness Month
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month
National Cord Blood Awareness Month
Sarcoma Awareness Month
Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Awareness Month​​​​​​​

August Public Health Observances

Day
1      National Minority Donor Awareness Day
       World Lung Cancer Day
9     International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
17    National Nonprofit Day
19    World Humanitarian Day
22   National Surgical Oncologist Day
23   International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
25   National Park Service Founders Day
26   Women’s Equality Day
31    International Overdose Awareness Day​​​​​​​
Week
1-7    National Minority Donor Awareness Week
         World Breastfeeding Week

Contact Lens Health Week – Third full week in August
National Health Center Week – Second full week in August​​​​​​​​
Month
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Gastroparesis Awareness Month
National Breastfeeding Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Water Quality Month
National Wellness Month
Psoriasis Awareness Month
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Awareness Month​​​​​​​​

September Public Health Observances

Day
4    National Wildlife Day
      World Sexual Health Day
8    National Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day
       World Physical Therapy Day
10   World Suicide Prevention Day
13    National Celiac Disease Awareness Day
        World Sepsis Day
15    National Neonatal Nurses Day
        World Lymphoma Awareness Day
17     World Patient Safety Day
18    National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day
        World Water Monitoring Day    
19    National LGBT Center Awareness Day
21    World Alzheimer’s Day
22    World Car-Free Day
25    World Pharmacist Day
26    World Contraception Day
28    World Rabies Day
29    World Heart Day

International Coastal Cleanup Day – Third Saturday in September
National Hunting and Fishing Day – Fourth Saturday in September
National Public Lands Day – Fourth Saturday in September
National School Backpack Awareness Day – Third Wednesday in September
National Women’s Health and Fitness Day – Last Wednesday in September
Sport Purple for Platelets Day – Last Friday in September
Usher Syndrome Awareness Day – Third Saturday in September
World First Aid Day – Second Saturday in September
World Rivers Day – Fourth Sunday in September​​​​​​
Week
1-7    National Childhood Injury Prevention Week

Balance Awareness Week – Third full week in September
International Week of Deaf People – Last full week in September
National Healthcare Environmental Services Week – Second full week in September
National Farm Animals Awareness Week – Third full week in September
National Farm Safety and Health Week – Third full week in September
National Folic Acid Awareness Week – Second full week in September
National Indoor Plant Week – Third full week in September
National Nephrology Nurses Week – Second full week in September
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week – Third full week in September
National Suicide Prevention Week – Monday through Sunday surrounding World Suicide Prevention Day
National Surgical Technologists Week – Third full week in September
Telehealth Awareness Week – Third full week in September​​​​​​​​
Month
15-30    National Hispanic American Heritage Month

Blood Cancer Awareness Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
Healthy Aging Month
National Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Awareness Month
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
National Cholesterol Education Month
National Disease Literacy Month
National Food Safety Education Month
National Head Lice Prevention Month
National Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) Awareness Month
National Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month
National Preparedness Month
National Recovery Month
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month
National Suicide Prevention Month
National Yoga Month
Newborn Screening Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Pain Awareness Month
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month
Sepsis Awareness Month
Sexual Health Awareness Month
World Alzheimer’s Month​​​​​​​​

October Public Health Observances

Day
2     International Day of Non-Violence
       World No Alcohol Day
4     World Animal Day
6     German-American Day
        World Cerebral Palsy Day
7      National Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day
10    World Mental Health Day
        World Homeless Day
12    World Arthritis Day
13    International Day for Disaster Reduction
        International Plain Language Day
       National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
       World Thrombosis Day
15    Global Handwashing Day
        National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day
        Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day
16    World Anesthesia Day
        World Food Day
        World Spine Day
17     International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
18     World Menopause Day
19     World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day
20    World Osteoporosis Day
22    International Stuttering Awareness Day
24    World Development Information Day
         World Polio Day
25    World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day
27    World Occupational Therapy Day
28    National Internal Medicine Day
         National First Responders Day
29    World Psoriasis Day
         World Stroke Day

Medical Assistants Recognition Day – Wednesday of third business week in October
National Child Health Day – First Monday in October
National Depression Screening Day - First Thursday in October
National Eat Fruit At Work Day – First Tuesday in October
National Emergency Nurses Day – Second Wednesday in October
National Mammography Day – Third Friday in October
National Pharmacy Technician Day – Third Tuesday in October
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day – Last Saturday in October
World Financial Planning Day – First Wednesday in October
World Habitat Day – First Monday in October
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day – Second Saturday in October
World Sight Day – Second Thursday in October​​​​​​
Week
6-12      National Physician Assistants Week
12-20   Bone and Joint Health National Action Week

Healthcare Security and Safety Week – Second full week in October
International Infection Prevention Week – Third full week in October
Mental Illness Awareness Week – First full week in October
National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week – Third full week in October
National Fire Prevention Week – Week of October 9
National Forest Products Week – Third full week in October
National Health Education Week – Third full week in October
National Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week – First full week in October
National Healthcare Quality Week – Third full week in October
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week – Last full week in October
National Massage Therapy Awareness Week – Last full week in October
National Midwifery Week – First full week in October
National Pharmacy Week – Third full week in October
Respiratory Care Week – Last full week in October
Veterinary Technicians Week – Third full week in October​​​​​​
Month
1-15    National Hispanic American Heritage Month

Antidepressant Death Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Filipino-American History Month
Financial Planning Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Head Start Awareness Month
Health Literacy Month
Healthy Lung Month
International Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month
Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month
LGBT History Month
Long-Term Care Planning Month
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
National Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Family History Month
National Medical Librarians Month
National Physical Therapy Month
National Protect Your Hearing Month
Polish-American Heritage Month
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
Prenatal-onset Group B Strep (GBS) Disease Recognition Month
Spina Bifida Awareness Month
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month​​​​​​

November Public Health Observances

Day
1       National Biologic Coordinators Day
        National Family Literacy Day
3      One Health Day
5      World Tsunami Awareness Day
6      International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
7       International Day of Medical Physicists
8      World Radiography Day
12     World Pneumonia Day
14     World Diabetes Day
17     World Prematurity Day
19     World Toilet Day
25    National Family Health History Day
30    National Methamphetamine Awareness Day

Great American Smokeout – Third Thursday in November
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day – Saturday before Thanksgiving
National Rural Health Day – Third Thursday in November
Public Health Thank You Day – Monday before Thanksgiving
World COPD Day – Third Wednesday in November
World Pancreatic Cancer Day – Third Thursday in November​​​​​​
Week
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Week – Week before or of Thanksgiving
Health Professions Week – First or second full week in November
National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week – Week before Thanksgiving
National Nurse Practitioner Week– Second full week in November​​​​​​​​
Month
Bladder Health Month
Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month
Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
National American Indian Heritage Month
National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Awareness Month
National Diabetes Month
National Epilepsy Awareness Month
National Family Caregivers Month
National Gastric (Stomach) Cancer Awareness Month
National Healthy Skin Month
National Home Care and Hospice Month
National Hospice and Palliative Care Month
National Marrow Awareness Month
National Prematurity Awareness Month
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month​​​​​​​​

December Public Health Observances

Day
1      World AIDS Day
3     International Day of Persons with Disabilities
4     World Wildlife Conservation Day
5     World Soil Day
10    Human Rights Day
13    International Universal Health Coverage Day​​​​​​​​
Week
1-7    Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week

National Handwashing Awareness Week – First full week in December
National Influenza Vaccination Week – First full week in December​​​​​​​​​
Month
National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Worldwide Food Service Safety Month​​​​​​​​​

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