Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick
Whereas The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) was established on April 7, 1948 in Geneva, Switzerland; and
Whereas The World Health Organization is committed to advancing global health and primary health care for all, as issued in the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978, to promote the highest attainable standard of health as the fundamental right of every human being; and
Whereas This year’s theme, Good health adds life to your years, emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle, which includes physical activity, access to healthcare and social engagements that can enhance the quality of life, independence, and productivity of older adults, help them lead productive lives and be a resource for their families and communities; and
Whereas All throughout the world older populations are growing faster than the overall population, which necessitates cooperation between social, economic, political, government, business, civic organizations and academia in order to address the challenges that stem from a rapidly aging population; and
Whereas It is appropriate to recognize the policy makers, business and non-profit leaders, and health care professionals that help to further the World Health Organization’s mission,
Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim April 7th, 2012, to be
World Health Day
And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this twenty-eighth day of March, in the year two thousand and twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
By His Excellency
Deval L. Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts