The Health Awareness Events of March
Like all months, March is host to a range of health awareness-oriented events that’re dedicated to spread valuable information on different medical conditions. These observances subscribe to the wisdom in the saying “a pinch of prevention is a pound of solution”, and they essentially frame the month as a time when various activities, information drives and educational campaigns on different diseases and conditions take place. Here’s a roundup on some of the many healthand-awareness-related observances that’re happening this month. March 3 | World Hearing Day
World Hearing Day is an annual campaign organized by the World Health Organization’s Office for the Prevention of Blindness and Deafness.
Initially known as International Ear Care Day, it was first observed in 2007, and was established to spread information and encourage people to take steps to avoid hearing loss and enhance hearing care.
Renamed in 2016, the day celebrated a milestone in 2021 when the first World Report on Hearing was released to commemorate its holding that year.
As a health-oriented campaign, it largely encourages people to take ear and hearing care seriously, and enjoins everyone to undergo regular checkups or immediately consult with their healthcare providers if one experiences changes in hearing quality.
Rabies Awareness Month
Rabies is a type of infectious viral disease which, at the onset of clinical signs, is almost always fatal. It is often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, and the rabies virus is known to infect the central nervous system of mammals, which can cause brain disease and in extreme cases, death.
In humans, there are three clinical phases associated with a rabies infection: the prodromal phase (onset of clinical signs of the condition within 2 to 4 days after exposure to the rabies virus), the excitation phase (a phase wherein averse clinical signs of the condition become more evident) and the paralytic phase (the phase wherein hydrophobia, an aversion to water, shows the detrimental effects of the virus).
In as much as the disease is almost incurable when clinical signs start to show, it is listed by health agencies all over the world as one that’s highly preventable via anti-rabies vaccines designed for humans and domestic pets like cats and dogs.
March 9 | World Kidney Day
World Kidney Day was formalized by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations in 2006 to raise awareness about the importance of kidneys – alongside drawing focus on the prevalence of kidney diseases.
Kidney disease can lead to a gradual loss of kidney function. One’s kidneys function as waste filters that remove excess fluids from the blood, which are then removed in one’s urine. Advanced kidney disease can cause dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and waste to build up in one’s body, which could lead to different problems.
Damage to one’s kidneys can not be reversed, but if doctors find kidney concerns early, there are treatments and therapies which can keep the damage from getting worse, hence the reason why taking care of one’s kidneys is important.
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
With over two million cases diagnosed in 2020, colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent type of cancer in the world. Based on data from the World Health Organization, the condition causes over one million deaths each year, which sets it as the second leading cause of cancer-related death, despite the fact that there are effective screening methods that could lower the number of deaths associated with the condition.
As such, anyone above the age of 45 years old is advised to include colorectal cancer screenings in annual physical examinations, owing to the fact that such exams can help healthcare experts take action to prevent the disease, or enable doctors to prescribe treatments at early stages of the condition when treatments are most effective.
According to the International Institute for Research on Cancer (IARC), there will be more than 3 million new cases of colorectal cancer year by 2040 – which is roughly a 56 percent rise in the worldwide incidence of the disease.
Even more significantly, an anticipated 69% rise in disease-related fatalities, or over 1.6 million deaths globally by 2040, is being projected by the organization.
As with most cancers, healthy diets, regular exercise and staying away from tobacco products are considered the baseband ways for one to steer clear from the risks and dangers of colorectal cancer.
March 24 | World Tuberculosis Day
Observed annually on March 24, World Tuberculosis Day was established by the World Health Organization in 1982 as a way to bring awareness to the risks and dangers associated with the condition.
It was on March 24, 1882 when Dr. Robert Kock discovered the TB bacillus, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, and this was the reason why the WHO chose to observe the occasion every March 24.
Tuberculosis is a deadly lung affliction that results in night sweats, violent coughing, the coughing of blood and other symptoms. If left untreated, it can be lethal, and it largely remains to be an epidemic among certain populations in the world.
Research has shown that many with tuberculosis are not even aware that they have it, what with the prevalence of latent tuberculosis. A latent tuberculosis condition can remain “dormant” for years without showing any symptoms, and this aspect of the condition stresses on the importance of regular tests/screenings.
World Tuberculosis Day essentially brings up this aspect to the condition, apart from brining up the fact that though it is thought to be an “outdated” disease, experts estimate that around one-third of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis, with estimates set at around 2 billion all over the world.