Purple Day is a campaign run each year where people around the world are asked to spread the word about epilepsy by wearing purple. Epilepsy is a medical condition that affects the electrical messages sent by the brain, causing seizures. Disrupted electrical activity in the brain can lead to a change in a person’s movement, behaviour, level of awareness, and/or feeling.

Every week, 305 Australians are diagnosed with epilepsy.

Purple Day aims to encourage people to talk about epilepsy and to remind those who live with seizures that they are not alone. Purple Day is dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide.

Get involved with Purple Day by:

• Wearing purple to demonstrate support
• Spreading awareness on social media
• Buying merchandise or making a donation
• Organising a fundraiser or volunteering

For more information, visit: https://epilepsyfoundation.org.au/you-can-help/fundraise/purple-day/ and https://www.purpleday.com.au/

Each year World TB Day is commemorated on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.

World TB Day 2023, with the theme ‘Yes! We can end TB!’

The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.TB most commonly affects a person’s lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body and can cause serious illness.

Get involved this March by:

• Educating friends and family about World TB Day
• Raising awareness on social media
• Learning more about tuberculosis

For more information, visit: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-tb-day

Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity.

Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into communities. This week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.

There are some fascinating statistics about Australia’s diversity that can be good conversation-starters:

• Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was
• We identify with over 300 ancestries
• Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia
• 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia
• Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi
• More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.

Everyone can get involved this March by:

• Communicating the importance of cultural diversity
• Encouraging the values of respect, equality and freedom
• Promoting harmony in the workplace, at home and in schools

For more information, visit: https://www.harmony.gov.au/

Coeliac Awareness Week aims to spread awareness about coeliac disease, especially to reach undiagnosed Australians and help them identify the symptoms and take steps towards diagnosis and treatment.

Coeliac disease affects on average approximately 1 in 70 Australians. However, around 80% of this number remain undiagnosed.

In people with coeliac disease, the immune system reacts abnormally to gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats), causing small bowel damage. Coeliac disease can develop at any age and affects both men and women.

Get involved Coeliac Awareness Week by:

• Reading online resources and learning more about coeliac disease
• Spreading awareness on social media
• Organising a fundraiser
• Making a donation

For more information, visit: https://www.coeliac.org.au/s/coeliac-disease/coeliac-awareness-week

World Kidney Day is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness of the importance of our kidneys.
World Kidney Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. 

The theme for 2023 is -Kidney Health for All– Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable

Get involved with World Kidney Day by:

• Raising awareness of World Kidney Day
• Learning about your kidneys and lifestyle habits to help promote kidney health
• Educating friends and family about the importance of kidney health

For more information, visit:https://www.worldkidneyday.org/facts/chronic-kidney-disease/

THEME FOR 2023 WOMEN’S DAY IS :

DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality

This theme focuses on how technology and education in the digital age can help the empowerment of women and girls across the world.

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

World Hearing Day raises awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss, and to promote ear and hearing care across the world. Globally more than 1.5 billion people experience some degree of hearing loss and if unaddressed, hearing loss can negatively impact many aspects of life

World Hearing Day aims to:

• Promote public health actions for ear and hearing care
• Stimulate intersectoral partnership for ear and hearing care
• Raise awareness on hearing loss and care at national and community levels across the world
• Encourage behaviour change towards healthy EHC practices.

Get involved with World Hearing Day by:

• Speading awareness about hearing loss
• Hosting an event or organising a fundraiser
• Spreading awareness about World Hearing Day on social media

For more information, visit
https://www.deafnessforum.org.au/events/world-hearing-day/

March into Yellow is a campaign designed to raise awareness for women with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common disease in which the tissue that is similar to the lining of the womb grows in other parts of the body. Wear yellow in March to demonstrate support for those living with endometriosis and as an opportunity to start conversations about March into Yellow.

Over 830,000 Australians have endometriosis and diagnosis can take up to 6.5 years.

Get involved with March into Yellow by:

• Spreading awareness on social media using #MarchintoYellow #endoaustralia
• Educating family and friends of the cause
• Making a donation to Endometriosis Australia
• Volunteering with an Endometriosis Australia event

For more information, visit: https://www.marchintoyellow.org.au/

A disease is considered rare when it affects fewer than 1 in 2000 people. Rare Disease Day is a globally-coordinated movement, working towards equity in social opportunity, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for people living with a rare disease. Raising awareness and generating change for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease, their families and carers.

Those living with a rare disease face many challenges, including:

• Difficulties in access to treatment and care, often resulting in heavy social and financial burdens on patients.
• A lack of scientific knowledge and quality information on the disease, often resulting in delays in diagnosis.
• Instances of misdiagnosis.

Get involved with Rare Disease Day by:

• Spreading awareness of the event
• Making a donation
• Joining or hosting a local event

For more information, visit:
https://www.rarediseaseday.org/what-is-a-rare-disease/

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers—having a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years allows for early prevention and detection. Since the National Screening Program began in 1991, incidence and death from cervical cancer has halved in Australia.

A Cervical Screening Test prevents cervical cancer by detecting the human papillomavirus (HPV). Screening identifies women at risk of eventually developing cervical cancer, so they can be monitored and treated accordingly.

Call Waitara Family Medical Practice Reception on 02 8038 1070 to book a suitable time with the GP.

For more information about cervical screening, visit: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/prevention-and-screening/screening-and-early-detection/cervical-screening