Health events in September

September is a busy month in terms of health events and observances. Check out what’s interesting for you!

Worldwide observances

• World Suicide Prevention Day
  10 September 2009
  International Association for Suicide Prevention, WHO and other partners
  This event promotes worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) on average, almost 3000 people commit suicide daily. For every person who completes a suicide, 20 or more may attempt to end their lives.
  At the global level, awareness needs to be raised that suicide is a major preventable cause of premature death. Governments need to develop policy frameworks for national suicide prevention strategies. At the local level, policy statements and research outcomes need to be translated into prevention programmes and activities in communities.
• World Heart Day
  27 September 2009
  World Heart Federation and WHO
  Cardiovascular diseases claims 17.5 million lives worldwide every year, making it the world’s number 1 killer. Only his day, awareness events are organized in more than 100 countries – including health checks, organized walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.
• World Rabies Day
  28 September 2009
  Alliance for Rabies Control and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  55,000 die of rabies every year. This day will highlight the impact of human and animal rabies and promotes how to prevent and stop the disease by combating it in animals.
• 21 September
  World Alzheimer’s Day
  Alzheimer’s Disease International
  “Diagnosing Dementia: See It Sooner”

United States observances and events

• 1 – 30 September
  America On the Move’s Steptember Campaign
  America On the Move Foundation (AOM)
  www.americaonthemove.org
  AOM’s annual one-month promotion for healthy eating and active living
• 1 – 30 September
  Childhood Cancer Month
  Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
  www.candlelighters.org/awareness/childhoodcancerawarenessmonth/tabid/406/default.aspx
  Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children younger than 15
  
• 1 – 30 September
  Craniofacial Acceptance Month
  Children’s Craniofacial Association
  www.ccakids.org
  “Empowering and giving hope to those affected by facial differences”
• 1 – 30 September
  Fruit and Veggies – More Matters Month
  Fruit and Vegetable Program Office
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH)
  www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov
  www.pbhfoundation.org/retail/partners/retailers/retailmembers/fvmm_month/
• 1 – 30 September
  Healthy Aging®Month
  Educational Television Network, Inc.
  www.healthyaging.net/events.htm
  An annual observance month designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older “because there’s lots of living left to do...”
• 1 – 30 September
  Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month
  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
  www.lls.org
• 1 – 30 September
  National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
  Office of the Director, Consumer Affairs, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  www.recoverymonth.gov
• 1 – 30 September
  National Cholesterol Education Month
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center
  hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth/
  “…a good time to get your blood cholesterol checked and take steps to lower it if it is high. .. also a good time to learn about lipid profiles and about food and lifestyle choices that help you reach personal cholesterol goals.”
• 1 – 30 September
  National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
  National Healthy Start Association
  www.healthystartassoc.org
  “healthy families = healthy babies”
• 1 – 30 September
  National Pain Awareness Month
  26 September is National Day of Action
  American Pain Foundation
  www.painfoundation.org/take-action/conquering-pain-together/
• 1 – 30 September
  National Pediculosis Prevention Month/Head Lice Prevention Month
  National Pediculosis Association, Inc.
  www.headlice.org/news/2009/national-head-lice-prevention-month-08112009.html
  “Precaution, Preparedness & Peace of Mind”
• 1 – 30 September
  National Sickle Cell Month
  Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc.
  www.sicklecelldisease.org/news/events/month.phtml
• 1 – 30 September
  National Yoga Awareness Month
  Yoga Health Foundation
  www.yogamonth.org
• 1 – 30 September
  Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
  National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
  www.ovarian.org
  “…raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer”
• 1 – 30 September
  Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
  American Cancer Society
  www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_1_Cancer_Calendar.asp
• 1 – 30 September
  Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
  Zero – The Project to End Prostate Cancer
  www.zerocancer.org/site/PageNavigator/PRO_Prostate_Cancer_Awareness_Month
  21 – 27 September
  Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
  www.pcaw.org/
  Check for free or low cost screening
• 1 – 30 September
  Reye’s Syndrome Awareness Month
  National Reye’s Syndrome Foundation
  www.reyessyndrome.org 
• 1 – 30 September
  Sports and Home Eye Safety Month
  Prevent Blindness America
  www.preventblindness.org 
• 1 – 30 September
  Whole Grains Month
  Whole Grains Council
  www.wholegrainscouncil.org/get-involved/celebrate-whole-grains-month-in-september
• 6 – 12 September
  National Suicide Prevention Week
  American Association of Suicidology
• www.suicidology.org/web/guest/about-aas/nspw
  13 September
  National Celiac Disease Awareness Day
  Celiac Sprue Association
  www.csaceliacs.org/month.php 
• 15 September
  Get Ready Day
  American Public Health Association
  www.getreadyforflu.org/getreadyday/index.htm
  “get ready for the flu season“
• 20 – 26 September
  National Farm Safety & Health Week
  National Education Center for Agricultural Safety
  www.nsc.org/necas/  
• 21 – 27 September
  America on the Move Week
  YMCA of Greater Hartford
  www.ymca.net/about_the_ymca/aom.html 
• 26 September
  National Mesothelioma Awareness Day
  Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
  www.curemeso.org/site/c.kkLUJ7MPKtH/b.3081255/k.DADE/Mesothelioma_Awareness_Day_2009.htm 
• 30 September to October 2
  4th National FDA Symposium
  Washington DC
  www.FDASymposium.com