May Health Observances Concern Everyone’s Well-Being
Vision, Arthritis, Hand Hygiene, Obstetric Fistula and Quitting Tobacco
By Meghan Spirito; Edited by Allison Kozicharow
The COVID-19 pandemic is top of mind worldwide. However, May health observances remind everyone that there are other health topics that warrant our attention. WiRED International invites you to take a look at the following health issues and corresponding health education modules WiRED offers on them.
Healthy Vision Month
Every May Healthy Vision Month underlines the importance of prioritizing eye care. Scheduling dilated eye exams regularly checks for common eye problems and conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. To protect your vision, get routine exams, know your family eye health history, eat right, quit smoking and wear sunglasses even on cloudy days. WiRED offers a Vision Overview module that describes eye disorders and diseases and how to prevent eye problems. WiRED also provides a Diabetes: Keep Your Eyes Healthy module.
Arthritis Awareness Month
Arthritis Awareness Month raises awareness for one of the most widespread health conditions, occurring mostly in working-age adults and older adults. Arthritis can cause difficulties moving and performing daily activities. To help prevent arthritis, adults should walk 2.5 hours a week and do muscle strengthening activities. Celebrate Arthritis Awareness Month by routinely walking and reducing your risk of lifestyle diseases. To learn more go to WiRED’s Arthritis modules that define the condition and go into depth to describe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. WiRED’s Arthritis module is also available in Spanish.
World Hand Hygiene Day, May 5
World Hand Hygiene Day occurs annually to elevate attention about the effectiveness of hand hygiene action. 2021’s campaign slogan this year is, “Seconds save lives — clean your hands!” — an especially lifesaving message during these times of COVID-19 The campaign objectives are to engage multiple audiences to play a role in hand hygiene from healthcare workers to vaccinators to families. WiRED offers a Handwashing module to share information about handwashing protocols, challenges and use of sanitizers.
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, May 23
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula raises awareness about obstetric fistula and the tragic injuries that come along with it. Obstetric fistula is a preventable medical condition occurring in childbirth in which a hole develops in the birth canal, vagina, rectum, ureter or bladder. Delaying the age of first pregnancy, ending female genital mutilation and providing timely access to maternal care can largely prevent obstetric fistula, but these goals can be difficult to achieve in light of harmful traditional practices and inadequate health care. WiRED not only offers Obstetric Fistula modules in English, Spanish and French but also broadens general knowledge about maternal health through the WiRED Mother and Child Health Series: Motherhood Before and After.
World No-Tobacco Day, May 31
Each year World No Tobacco Day informs the public about the dangers of tobacco use, tobacco business practices and how to fight the tobacco epidemic globally and personally. The 2021 slogan is “Commit to Quit.” May 31 draws global attention is to the tobacco epidemic and the many preventable death and diseases that it causes. Go to WiRED’s three-part module on Quitting Tobacco for more information about the causes of dependency, medications and treatments, and ex-smoker lifestyle habits.