WHO has called on people everywhere to renew their commitment to working together and supporting science as the twin engines driving better health, under the World Health Day 2026 theme, “Together for health. Stand with science.” The campaign marks the anniversary of WHO’s founding on 7th April 1948, launching a year-long public health campaign.
“Science is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for protecting and improving health,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “People in every country live longer and healthier lives on average today than their ancestors did, thanks to the power of science. Vaccines, penicillin, germ theory, MRI machines and the mapping of the human genome are just some of the achievements that science has delivered that have saved lives and transformed health for billions of people.”
In line with the World Health Day 2026 theme, WHO and the G7 Presidency of France are convening a One Health Summit in Lyon, France, from 5th–7th April, bringing together Heads of State, scientists and community leaders to strengthen coordinated action.
WHO will host the Global Forum of its Collaborating Centres network from 7th–9th April with representatives from over 800 academic and research institutions from more than 80 countries. These Centres support WHO’s research, technical assistance and capacity-building work worldwide.
“Science transforms uncertainty into understanding and reveals the pathways to protect and heal our communities,” said Dr Sylvie Briand, WHO Chief Scientist. “Without the clarity of rigorous scientific inquiry, we risk being led by bias and misconception – and too often toward treatments that fail us or even place us in harm’s way. Today, we must stand together with science so that our collaboration is sustained, supported and enhanced for the better health of generations to come.”
