Herewith a list sorted by months of the most popular health and awareness ribbons globally (not just in South Africa).
January | School Safety Awareness Month Self-Help Group Weight Loss National Mentoring Month National Blood Donor Month Birth Defects Prevention Month Days in January 1 – World Day of Peace 4 – World Braille Day 11- World Human trafficking day 15 – Intestinal Malrotation and Volvulus 24 – Moebius Syndrome 27 – Holocaust Remembrance Day – (UN) – 30 – CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) 31 – World Leprosy Day – 31 – Street Children’s Day |
February | Social Justice Awareness Month 01-07 World Interfaith Harmony Week 06 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 13 World Radio Day 14 Valentine’s Day 20 World Day of Social Justice Human Relations Month International Mother Language Day Month Black History Month Career and Technical Education Month Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Weeks in February February 26 – March 4, 2017 was Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak (CSF) Awareness Week. (Planning for Leak Week 2018 is underway.) 1st Wk – Eating Disorder Awareness Week; National; National Eating Disorder Information Center 1st Wk – National Therapeutic Recreation Week Days in February February 2 – Rheumatoid Arthritis February 4 – World Cancer Day February 6 – International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation – (International) February 11 – World Day of the Sick – (International) February 12 – Sexual and Reproductive Health February 12 – International Day of Women’s Health – (Purple ribbon) February 13 – Breast Implant Illness February 15 – International Childhood Cancer Day – (International) February 17 – Random Acts of Kindness day February 20 – World Day of Social Justice (Recognized by the UN) – (International) February 21 – International Mother Language Day – (UN) – (International) February 22 – National Heart Valve Disease (U.S.) February 27 – Anosmia February 28 (29th in leap year) – Rare Disease Day |
March | March American Red Cross Month – (U.S.) Cerebral Palsy – (U.S.) Color Therapy Month – (U.S.) Caffeine – (U.S.) Colorectal Cancer DVT – (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Prevention Developmental Disabilities Month Endometriosis Epilepsy – (Epilepsy Canada) Easter Seals Month – (Ontario, Canada) Essential Tremor – (U.S.) Foot Health Month Help Fight Liver Disease Month Juvenile Arthritis – (Canada) Kidney Month – (Kidney Foundation of Canada) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – (U.S.) Music in Our Schools Month National Athletic Training Month (U.S.) Nutrition Month – (U.S.) Polio – (Polio Canada) Red Cross Month – (Canadian Red Cross) Reading – (U.S.) Self-Injury – (U.S.) Social Workers Month – (U.S.) Trisomy Women’s History Month Weeks in March 1st Wk – Pharmacy Awareness Week – Canadian Pharmacists Association 1st Wk – Lymphedema Awareness Week – BC Lymphedema Association 1st Wk – World Glaucoma Awareness Week – World Glaucoma Week 2nd Wk – Canadian Agricultural Safety Week – Canadian Federation of Agriculture 2nd Wk – National Social Work Week – Canadian Association of Social Workers 3rd Wk – Crisis Line Awareness Week – BC Crisis Line Association Days in March March 1 – International Wheelchair Day March 1 – Self-Injury March 5 – Multiple Personality Day March 6 – National Lymphedema March 8 – United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace – (UN) March 8 – International Women’s Day – (UN) March 10 – National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS March 12 – World Glaucoma Day March 14 – International Day of Action for Rivers March 15 – National Agriculture Day (US) March 16 – Brain Injury (Global) March 18 – National Trisomy 18 Awareness Day March 20 – International Day of Happiness March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day March 21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination March 21 – World Poetry Day – (UN – UNESCO) March 21 – International Day of Nowruz March 24 – International Day for Achievers March 24 – World Tuberculosis Day – (UN) March 25 – U.S. National Cerebral Palsy March 26 – Purple Day for Epilepsy March 27 – AFE – An international day uniting those affected by Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) |
April | 30-hour Famine – (U.S.) Alcohol American Cancer Society Month – (U.S.) Autism – (Canada and U.S.) Child Abuse Prevention Month – (U.S.) Community Service Month Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) Awareness Month Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Limb Loss Narz – (U.S.) Oral Health Month – (U.S.) Parkinson’s Disease Primary Immunodeficiency – (U.S.) Sarcoidosis Sexual Assault Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Spondylitis Stress Testicular Cancer Volunteer Appreciation Month Weeks in April 2nd Saturday of April – Sarcoidosis Last Saturday in April – Show Your Mettle Day – to encourage amputees to show their metal (prosthetic devices, wheel chairs, etc). April 6-13 (2019) – National Porphyria Awareness Week (NPAW) to enhance porphyria awareness in communities by spreading the word about porphyria. April 12-18 – Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. 13 – 19 – National Dental Hygiene Week; National; Canadian Dental Hygienists Association 20- 27 – National Organ Donor Awareness Week 2nd Wk – World Homeopathy Awareness Week 3rd Wk – National Medical Laboratory Week; National 3rd Wk – National Volunteer Week; National; Volunteer Canada Days in April April 1 – Youth Homelessness Matters Day April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day – (UN) April 4 – Auditory Processing Disorder April 6 – Bohring-Opitz Syndrome (International) April 7 – World Health Day – (UN) April 7 – Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide April 7 – National Making The First Move Day April 8 – National Gifted Education in Ireland April 8 – Cushing Disease/Syndrome April 9 – National Alcohol Screening Day – (NASD) April 10 – National Youth HIV and AIDS April 11 – Parkinson’s Disease International. April 12 – International Day for Street Children April 13 – Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) (International) April 16 – National Stress April 17 – World Hemophilia Day – (UN) April 19 – Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Action Day April 22 – Earth Day April 23 – Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) April 25 – World Meningitis Day April 25 – World Malaria Day – (WHO) April 25 – Parental Alienation – (PAAD) April 28 – International Workers Memorial Day or International Commemoration Day – (ICD) April 29 – Make-A-Wish Day (International) April 29 – Day of Remembrance of Victims of Chemical Warfare April 29 – World Primary Immunodeficiency Day (Canada) April 29 – International Noise |
May | ALS – (U.S.) Asthma Arthritis Month Allergy/Asthma Better Sleep Month Better Speech and Hearing Month Borderline Personality Disorder Brain Tumor Cystic fibrosis (Australia and U.S.) Celiac Awareness Month Correct Posture Month Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) Fibromyalgia Awareness Foot Health Month Foster Care Month – (U.S.) Guide Dog Month – (U.S.) Haitian Heritage Month Hepatitis High Blood Pressure Month – (U.S.) Huntington’s Disease – (U.S.) Lupus Lyme Disease Mental Health Month Mobility Older Americans Month – (U.S.) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – (Canada) Physical Fitness and Sports Month Stroke – (U.S.) Weeks in May U.K. Deaf Awareness Week (DAW) – (Dates Vary) Week surrounding May 5 – International Cri du Chat Syndrome Awareness Week 1st Saturday in May each year is World Ankylosing Spondylitis Day 1st Tuesday of May – World Asthma Day 2nd Sunday of May – International Mothers’ Day 2nd Week in May – Williams Syndrome Awareness Week 3rd Thursday of May – Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) Days in May Misophonia falls on the first Monday in May, and is known as Misophonia Monday May 1 – Global Mesh May 2 – International Scurvy May 3 – Start of Brain Tumor Action Week May 5 – Cri du Chat Syndrome Day (www.fivepminus.org) May 5 – International Midwives Day May 5 – Ependymoma May 5 – National Childhood Stroke May May 5 – World Asthma Day May 6 – World Moyamoya Day May 7 – National Children’s Mental Health May 6 – International Awareness Day for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones) May 7 – Bladder Cancer May 8 – World Ovarian Cancer May 8 – World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day May 10 – World Lupus Day May 12 – Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) May 12 – International Nurses Day May 12 – International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND) May 14 – Childhood Speech Apraxia May 15 – International Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) May 15 – International Day of Families – (UN) May 17 – Worldwide Neurofibromatosis (NF) May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia May 18 – International AIDS Vaccine Day May 18 – International AIDS Candlelight Memorial May 19 – World Hepatitis Day May 19 – Schizencephaly May 20 – International Behcet’s Disease Awareness Day May 20 – International Blue Cone Monochromacy May 20 – World AiArthritis Day (AiArthritis Day) – Global – Annually – (Was: World Autoimmune Arthritis Day (WAAD)) May 21 – Global Accessibility May 22 – International Day for Biological Diversity – (UN) May 23 – International Day to End Obstetric Fistula May 24 – Schizophrenia (Canada) May 25 – World Thyroid Day (WTD) May 27 – World Multiple Sclerosis (MS). May 28 – World Hunger Day May 31 – World No Tobacco Day – (UN) |
June | June Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) Audiobook Month Chronic Venous Insufficiency Migraine and Headache Hemiplegic Migraine Men’s Health Month National Hunger PTSD Weeks in June Days in June June 1 – International Children’s Day June 1 – World Hypoparathyroidism Awareness June 2 – National Gun Violence June 3 – Telehealthcare June 4 – International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression June 5 – National HIV/AIDS Long-Term Survivors June 6 – Hunger Day June 7 – National Cancer Survivors Day June 7 – World Food Safety Day – (UN) June 8 – World Brain Tumor Day June 11 – Neuropathy Action June 13 – Young Carers (U.K.) June 13 – International Albinism June 14 – World Blood Donor Day – (UN) June 15 – World Elder Abuse (WEAAD) June 17 – CDKL5 Worldwide June 18 – Autistic Pride Day June 19 – World Sickle Cell Day – (UN) June 20 – World Refugee Day – (UN) June 21 – Global day of recognition of ALS/MND June 23 – Dravet Syndrome. June 25 – World Vitiligo June 26 – International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – (UN) June 27 – U.S. National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Day June 29 – Chronic Migraine June 29 – World Scleroderma June 30 – Arthrogryposis |
July | July Disability Pride Month (NY) Fragile X (FXS) National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month (NCCAPM) Sarcoma – (U.S.) Weeks in July Last Friday of July – System Administrator Appreciation Day Days in July July 1 – Doctor’s Day – Bidhan Chandra Roy Birthday July 2 – National Corpus Callosum (Australia) July 5 2015 – International Day of Cooperatives (Recognized by the UN first Saturday in July) July 6 – International Kissing Day July 11 – World Population Day July 12 – Disability Awareness Day (DAD) (U.K.) July 12 – Heterochromia July 13 – Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) July 15 – World Youth Skills Day July 17 – World Day for International Justice July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day July 21 – National Farm Safety July 22 – Fragile X (FXS) July 23 – World Sjogren’s Day July 24 – National Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Day July 26 – Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Awareness Day July 28 – World Hepatitis Day July 30 – Gastroschisis July 30 – International Day of Friendship |
August | August Autoinflammatory Disorders Awareness Cataract Children’s Eye Health and Safety Children’s Vision and Learning Digestive Tract Paralysis (DTP) Don’t be a Bully Month Immunization Awareness Neurosurgery Outreach Month Never Leave a Child Unattended in a Car, Purple Ribbon Month Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) Studious Behavior Awarenessa Weeks in August Days in August August 1 – Clergy Sexual Abuse US and International August 6 – National Fresh Breath Day August 6 – National Wiggle Your Toes Day August 7 – Purple Heart Day August 8 – Happiness Happens Day August 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples August 12 – International Youth Day August 13 – International Left-handers Day August 19 – World Humanitarian Day August 20 – National Honey Bee Day August 21 – National Senior Citizens Day August 30 – International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances August 31 – International Overdose |
September | September Alopecia – (U.S.) Arnold-Chiari Malformation Achalasia – achalasiaawareness.org Baby Safety Month – (U.S.) Childhood Cancer – (U.S.) Childhood Obesity Awareness Month – (U.S.) Chiari Cholesterol Awareness Month – (U.S.) Deaf (International) Emergency Care Month Gynecological Cancer – (U.S.) Hispanic Heritage Month – (U.S. – Sept. 15 to Oct. 15) Life Insurance – (U.S.) Lymphoma National Guide Dog Month – (U.S.) National Recovery Month – (U.S.) National Hydrocephalus – (U.S.) National Honey Month – (U.S.) National Preparedness Month – (U.S.) Orthostatic Tremor Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month – (U.S.) Pain Polycystic ovary syndrome Prostate Recovery Month – (U.S.) Sight Saving Month – (U.S.) Suicide Prevention Month – (U.S.) Spinal Cord Injury – (U.S.) Thyroid Cancer Tumor – (U.S.) Wilderness Month – (U.S.) World Alzheimer’s Disease Month Women of Achievement Month Weeks in September National Rehabilitation Awareness Week – (Actual Date Subject to Change Each Year) Idiopathic Hypersomnia Awareness Week – First week of September – (4th – 10th Sept, 2017) Last week of September – International Week of the Deaf (International) Days in September September 4 – World Cerebral Palsy Day (List of Famous People with Cerebral Palsy) September 5 – International Day of Charity – (U.N.) September 7 – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy September 8 – National Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day September 9 – International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Children) September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day September 11 – Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance (U.S.) September 12 – World First Aid Day (2015) September 13 – Celiac Disease – List of Gluten Free Food and Drink Products September 15 – Pension (U.K.) September 15 – World Lymphoma – Hodgkin’s Lymphoma September 16 – National School Backpack September 18 – National HIV/AIDS and Aging September 19 – Aortic Dissection September 19 – Usher Syndrome (Global) September 21 – Myositis – Designated by U.S. Congress September 21 – World Alzheimer’s Day September 21 – International Day of Peace September 22 – World Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Day September 23 – Falls Prevention – (First Day of Fall) September 24 – Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) September 25 – International Ataxia September 26 – Mesothelioma September 27 – National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS (NGMHAAD) September 29 – World Heart Day September 28 – World Rabies Day September 30 – Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy |
October | October AIDS – (U.S.) Black History Month – (U.K.) Breast Cancer Bullying Prevention Month – (U.S.) Breast Cancer Awareness Month – (U.S.) Collegiate Alcohol – (U.S.) Colon Cancer Dental Hygiene Month – (U.S.) Depression Education – (U.S.) Disability Employment Diversity Diarrhea Domestic Violence Down Syndrome – (U.S.) Dwarfism Dysautonomia (www.dysautonomiainternational.org) Eczema Emotional Intelligence – (www.e-ii.org) Fire Prevention Month – (U.S.) Health Care Food Service Month – (U.S.) Hunger International Walk to School Month – (Canada) Infant Loss and Miscarriage – (U.S.) Information Literacy – (U.S.) Lupus Pharmacy Month – (U.S.) Physical Therapy Month – (U.S.) Pregnancy and Infant Loss – (U.S.) Raynaud’s Rett Syndrome Selective Mutism Spina Bifida Spina bifida awareness month Work and Family Month – (U.S.) Vaccine Injury – (U.S.) Vegetarian – (U.S.) Weeks in October Days in October October 1 – International Day of Older Persons – (UN) October 1 – World Vegetarian Day October 2 – World Cerebral Palsy Day October 5 – World Day of Bullying Prevention October 5 – American Veterans Disabled for Life October 7 – International Trigeminal Neuralgia October 7 – Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow October 7 – World Cerebral Palsy October 8 – World Humanitarian Action Day October 9 – PANDAS / PANS October 10 – World Hospice and Palliative Care Day October 10 – World Mental Health Day October 10 – World Day Against Death Penalty, recognized by the WCADP October 11 – International Day of the Girl Child October 13 – Metastatic Breast Cancer October 14 – Global Food Protein Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) Day October 15 – World Blind Day / World Sight Day October 15 – International Day of Rural Women – (UN) October 15 – Global Hand-washing Day October 15 – National White Cane Safety Day October 15 – Blind Americans Equality Day October 16 – World Food Day – (UN) October 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – (UN) October 18 – World Vasectomy Day October 20 – World Osteoporosis Day October 21 – Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day October 22 – Phelan-McDermid Syndrome – International Day of Awareness October 22 – International Stuttering October 23 – Kabuki Syndrome October 24 – World Development Information Day October 24 – United Nations Day October 25 – Spina Bifida October 25 – Hydrocephalus Day October 25 – 31 – International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week October 26 – Intersex October 27 – World Day for Audiovisual Heritage October 29 – World Stroke Day |
November | November Adoption – (U.S.) COPD Awareness Month Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month Alzheimer’s Dercum’s Disease (Adiposis Dolorosa) Diabetes Epilepsy Month Good Nutrition Month Hospice Month Lung Cancer Native American Heritage Month Prematurity Prostate Cancer / Men’s Health Red Ribbon Month (Anti-drunk-driving) RSD/CRPS Vegan Weeks in November National Radiologic Technology Week 5th-11th November – Vulval cancer awareness week (UK) Days in November November 1 – World Vegan Day November 1 – Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome November 4 – National Stress (NSAD) (U.K.) November 7 – Cancer (India) November 8 – Aicardi Syndrome November 10 – World NET Cancer November 10 – World Immunization Day November 11 – Veterans Day – Remembrance Day – Armistice Day November 12 – World Pneumonia Day November 13 – World Pancreatic Cancer Day November 14 – World Diabetes Day – (UN) November 15 – World Ohtahara Syndrome November 16 – International Day for Tolerance – (UN) November 17 – International Students Day November 17 – World Prematurity Day November 18 – World COPD Day November 19 – International Men’s Day (IMD) November 20 – Universal Children’s Day – (UN) November 24 – N24 November 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – (UN) November 30 – Self Harm |
December | December AIDS Constipation Universal Human Rights Month Weeks in December Days in December December 1 – World Aids Day – (UN) December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities – (UN) December 5 – International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development December 6 – National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Canada) December 10 – Human Rights Day – (UN) Awareness Weeks in December: 5th-11th December – Vaginal Atrophy Awareness week (UK) |