In observance of World Health Day, the UN Office (UNO) Baku teamed up with the State Centre of Public Health and Reforms (CPHR) and the Country Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness on the dangers of high blood pressure, also known as hypertension.

A group of doctors, volunteers and staff affiliated with the CPHR gathered at Baku Park Boulevard to offer free blood pressure tests and provide vital information on the causes and consequences of high blood pressure, as well as preventative measures. 

“Cut your risk of heart attack and stroke, control your blood pressure; these messages could have been heard on many corners of the Boulevard’s Entertainment Centre,” said UNO's Envera Selimovic, whose office gave strong media support to World Health Day-related activities.

Though a leading cause of death, high blood pressure is a preventable condition, and can be countered by reducing salt intake, eating a balanced diet and avoiding too much alcohol, among other things.

Ms. Selimovic emphasized that the collaborating around World Health Day was “a great example of teamwork within the UN DPI’s ongoing promotion of a healthy lifestyle - a campaign launched earlier this year.”

On air: Asmus Hammerich

The ninth episode of the UN Office Tashkent’s UNews Weekly reminds all that Earth Hour is a unique opportunity for individuals, groups, businesses and governments to do something positive for the environment. If you listen to the podcast, you’ll know that it symbolizes the first step in integrating environmentally friendly activities into everyday life to lead the way towards a cleaner environment and a sustainable lifestyle. 

The programme also highlights NGO Millennium Promise, which is solely committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty, hunger and preventable disease. 

UNDP and UN Volunteers held a workshop on the “Social Innovation and Volunteerism” Project that focused on how to generate and put into practice innovative ideas.  They also carried out several trainings and debates in Westminster International University in Tashkent to encourage youth to be active and pose freely.  

Also in the news was 7 April, World Health Day. Did you know that the Day marks the founding anniversary of the World Health Organizaiton in 1948? Tune in to listen to Asmus Hammerich, WHO Representative and Head of the Country Office discuss the 2013 theme of high blood pressure. 

Inka Potma and Jack Rogerson

Australia marked Autism Awareness Day 2013 with the brilliant blue illumination of Sydney Opera House in Sydney.

To the applause of over one hundred gathered to witness the lighting from across the harbor, the switch was flipped by two young teenagers on the autism spectrum, Inka Potma and Jack Rogerson. Coincidentally, Jack's mother, Nicole Rogerson, CEO of Autism Awareness Australia and organizer of the evening was in New York moderating the UN Department of Public Information panel discussion on Autism. 

The Director of UNIC Canberra, read out the Secretary-General's message for the Day and spoke of how momentum was gaining traction within the international community to build a greater awareness of autism.  He noted that the Opera House was the first blue beacon of many that would be lit up around the world to celebrate the Day.

Following the success of the joint two-year campaign “Stop TB in my lifetime”, the UNO Baku - Department of Public Information (UN DPI) office and the US Alumni Outreach Program once again teamed up and conducted an event in Lankaran, in the southern region of Azerbaijan, on 17 March 2013. The session aimed at raising teenage awareness about the consequences of tuberculosis and it presented the efforts taken by the United Nations to prevent and cure this disease.

Bilgeyis Najafova from the UN DPI team stated that the purpose of this event is to observe the upcoming World Tuberculosis Day, and that it is conducted as part of a larger DPI campaign, which was launched earlier this year in promotion of a healthy, disease-preventative lifestyle. “At a time when partners are calling for zero TB deaths, we need to make a stronger statement that the world’s failure to stop deaths from TB is an outrage. Each individual can do his or her part to advocate for increased commitment, visibility and funding for TB care and research,” said Ms. Najafova in her opening speech at the event.

The event was followed by a short documentary on the history of World Tuberculosis Day, briefly presenting the first diagnosis of the disease in 1882 by a German scientist, Robert Koch. To impart further knowledge on teenagers regarding this issue, the guests gave their audience a broad definition of tuberculosis, enlightening them on the epidemiology of the disease and on prevention methods.

“We appreciate the measures taken by the US AOP and the UN DPI against tuberculosis in our society,” said Nermin Kyazimova, coordinator at the local American Center.

Also presented was a video about the experience of a girl who was diagnosed with TB, entitled Christina’s Story. Throughout the video, young activists are shown being introduced to a former tuberculosis patient, who talks about her bitter memories of being diagnosed with TB, her months of subsequent treatment, and her post-TB life.

“To see a personal example showing insights of this dreadful illness is very harsh, but helps people realize the outcomes of the disease. I will make sure that further actions of raising awareness are undertaken, because not many people know how crucial their unhealthy lifestyle is,” states Dunya Bayramova,  a high school student

“It is very helpful to learn so many things about the TB disease, such as the fact that people with weakened immune systems have a much greater risk of getting it, or the fact that about one third of the world’s population is infected with the tuberculosis (TB) bacteria. I hope that the campaign will continue to involve scholars in the fight against TB and promote healthy lifestyle,” states a member of AAA (American Alumni Association), Suleyman Huseynzade, during the presentation. “Tuberculosis mostly strikes at a young age, and therefore we are focusing particularly on young people.”