Health observances are days, weeks, or months devoted to promoting particular health concerns.

Health professionals, teachers, community groups, and others can use these special times to sponsor health promotion events, stimulate awareness of health risks, or focus on disease prevention. Materials available from sponsoring organizations range from a single flyer to packets of promotional materials.

Information appearing in this document does not represent an endorsement by the Office of Minority Health or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which do not have any role in naming national health observances.

For more information, please contact the sponsoring organization directly.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Affairs Contacts

January 2009

1. Cervical Health Awareness Month
   http://www.nccc-online.org/awareness.html
   
   
2. Glaucoma Awareness Month
   http://www.preventblindness.org/news/observe.html
   
   
3. National Birth Defects Prevention Month
   http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1206.asp
   
   
4. National Blood Donor Month
   http://www.aabb.org
   
   
5. National Radon Action Month
   http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram/index.html
   
   
6. Thyroid Awareness Month
   http://www.thyroidawareness.com
   
   

This information is in the public domain, and duplication is encouraged. Please provide an appropriate credit line in any reproduction of this information, whether print or electronic: "Source: 2009 National Health Observances, National Health Information Center, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC."