The Official Documents Service Department (room 207) opens a thematic exhibition "Nation's Health as the Basis of the State Prosperity" dedicated to World Health Day from April 3 to May 12.

From its inception at the first session of the World Health Assembly in 1948, the Day has been celebrated annually on 7 April since 1950. There is the reason why this date was chosen: the Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) entered into force on April 7, 1948.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized UN agency performing as a guiding and coordinating authority in the field of healthcare within the UN system.

The Republic of Belarus, one of the founding countries of WHO, is actively involved in the activity of this organization. The purpose of our state's cooperation with WHO is to provide the most favourable conditions for improving the health system in Belarus using the world best practices. Collaboration with WHO not only allows to use the practices of this organization, but also to receive funding, and draw the world's attention to the country's most pressing problems: health reform and overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.

The National Strategy of the Sustainable Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Belarus for the period up to 2020 stipulates that "the strategic goal in the field of health improvement is to create a state support mechanism for healthy lifestyles, shape a high demand for personal health, and provide all conditions for its satisfaction." The main task for our state in this direction is to create a conscious need among the citizens to value their health.

The state is doing all that is necessary to preserve the health of its citizens. But now it is becoming increasingly obvious that health relies not only on the medical-preventive activities carried out by health care institutions but above all on the person himself or herself, his or her conscious attitude to maintaining health and take care of the health of the family members.

World Health Day serves to present the right idea of a healthy lifestyle, the highest value of health, the need to exercise, practice outside activities, eat healthy food, limit alcohol and tobacco consumption, etc.

Each year, World Health Day selects a theme that reflects a global health problem our planet is facing. This year has been declared the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, so World Health Day 2020 focuses on the vital role of nurses and midwives in health protection around the world and the need for strengthening nursing and midwifery services.

Nurses and midwives play a critical role in the delivery of health services. They dedicate their lives to helping mothers and children, vaccinating and providing medical advice, caring for the elderly and, on the whole, meeting the basic daily health needs of the population. Often, they become the first and only source of health care for the local population.

The exhibition presents more than 80 documents in Russian and English. Among them are books, brochures, and periodicals.

The exposition includes the following thematic sections:

·        International Health Recommendations and Regulations, WHO activities
·        A Healthy Lifestyle as the Basis of a Person's Longevity
·        Maternal and Child Health
·        Fight against Infectious Diseases
·        Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
·        The Role of Nursing and Midwifery Services in Protecting Human Health
·        Public Health Protection in the Republic of Belarus

The exhibition will be of use to health care professionals, medical workers, researchers, teachers, university students, as well as anyone interested in health issues and healthy lifestyles.