By: Olívio Gambo, WHO Angola Communication Officer.
Every year, we receive birthday messages, blow out the candles, gather with family and friends, or give thanks for another year of life. It is one of the most universal moments of the human experience. Regardless of age, religion, or social status, there is something deeply symbolic about celebrating a birthday: the recognition that life goes on and deserves to be celebrated.
However, some time ago, a simple question occurred to me: if birthdays exist to celebrate life, why don’t we use this moment to look after it as well?
Although the question may seem trie live, make decisions, and form habits. In his book *This Is Marketing*, Seth Godin defines culture as the set of behaviors that characterize a group. We celebrate birthdays because others do so. We give presents because we’ve learned that’s what one does. We repeat traditions because they help reinforce our sense of belonging
Culture is not confined to history books or museums. It is present in the small, everyday choices we make, often without a second thought. This is precisely why culture remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming societies.
Throughout history, many social practices have evolved as communities have come to value new behaviors. The same has happened with the way we dress, eat, raise our children, and look after our health. When a behavior is widely accepted and valued, it tends to spread and become a new collective habit.
Health is one of the best examples of this phenomenon. Today, we know that living longer and better does not depend solely on hospitals or medicines. It also depends on what we do daily: our diet, physical activity, basic sanitation, the quality of our housing, access to safe drinking water, adequate rest, and preventative care.
It is precisely this that has enabled communities such as Okinawa in Japan to achieve one of the highest life expectancies in the world. For decades, habits associated with a balanced diet, strong social interaction, regular physical activity, and a healthy lifestyle have been embedded in the local culture and passed down from generation to generation.
In Rwanda, a commitment to a strong culture of solidarity in the health sector has significantly increased access to primary healthcare, strengthened prevention, and contributed to major improvements in various health indicators.
These examples show that culture does not merely influence the way we live. It also influences the way we fall ill, prevent disease, and protect our families.
That is why I believe Angola has an interesting opportunity to enrich the way it celebrates life. No one is suggesting that we replace the cake, the birthday wishes, or the moments of togetherness that make birthdays special. The promotes health? A blood pressure monitor, for example. A set of bathroom scales. A basket of fruit. Or a simple invitation to go for a family walk.
What if a birthday were used as an opportunity to encourage a medical check-up? To talk about <a >
