UV SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH
UV Safety Awareness Month serves to inform the public about the risks of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and encourage habits that protect against sun-related damage. Established by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2008, this annual observance emphasizes the importance of protecting both skin and eyes from harmful UV rays. With the right precautions, people can safely enjoy time outdoors while reducing the dangers of UV exposure.
Tips to Protect yourself in the Sun:
- Check the UV index before heading outside to make informed decisions about sun exposure (wear sunscreen for UV index 3+)
- Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours
- Seek shade when the sun is strongest, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Wear protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses
NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, was first established in 2008. This month was dedicated to raising awareness about the unique mental health challenges experienced by racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States, including stigma, lack of culturally competent care, language barriers, and limited access to quality treatment. The observance serves as a call to action for improving mental health equity, encouraging open conversations about mental wellness in communities where these topics are often overlooked or misunderstood, and promoting education, reducing stigma, and advocating for more inclusive policies and services.
WORLD HEPATITIS DAY (July 28th)
Each year on July 28, the World Health Organization and its partners observe World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and the serious health problems it can cause. The 2024 theme, Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down, calls for immediate action to remove financial, social, and systemic barriers that prevent progress toward eliminating hepatitis and preventing liver cancer. The campaign highlights the urgent need to expand access to care, coordinate services, and work toward ending hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Originally observed on May 19th by the World Hepatitis Alliance in 2008, the date was later changed to July 28th in 2010 to honor Dr. Baruch Samuel Blumberg, the Nobel Prize winner who discovered the hepatitis B virus.
Risk for hepatitis include:
- living in areas with poor sanitation
- limited access to safe water,
- people who live with someone who is infected
- sexual partners of someone with acute hepatitis
- people who use recreational drugs
- travelers to regions where hepatitis is widespread without having received vaccination