Together for Health. Stand with Science: The role of communications in advancing global health 

By Sara Shahbaz

This World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on the world to stand with science. This year’s theme is centred around the recognition that science, when communicated effectively and embraced collectively, has the power to transform lives, rebuild trust, and secure a healthier future for all. 

In global health, scientific evidence alone does not change outcomes. It must be translated into messages that resonate with communities, policymakers, and individuals. Communications play a critical role in bridging the gap between complex data and real-world decisions, whether encouraging vaccination, promoting healthy behaviours, or countering misinformation. Clarity, transparency, and accessibility allow facts to guide choices, reduce uncertainty, and build trust. 

At Sciad, this principle underpins how we support the scientific community. There are many ways to help science be heard and understood, from strategic communications and media engagement, to developing animations that bring new discoveries to life, to convening conferences that give scientists and policymakers a shared platform. Each of these approaches contributes to ensuring that complex science is not only accessible, but meaningful to those who can act on it. 

This connection between science and society is what turns knowledge into impact. Progress in public health has always depended on solidarity and collaboration. The WHO connects science with real-life practice through its network of more than 800 collaborating centres across over 80 countries. These institutions work in specialised fields such as influenza, bioethics, nursing, radiation, and occupational health, forming a global system where knowledge is generated, shared, and applied. Communications ensures that this knowledge does not remain within institutions but becomes meaningful and actionable in local contexts. 

World Health Day 2026 also highlights the importance of strengthening this global exchange. The WHO is convening a Global Forum of collaborating centres to showcase how its scientific network delivers tangible impact across communities and countries. This is not only a moment to celebrate scientific achievements, but also an opportunity to reinforce the importance of working together to translate evidence into action. 

Standing with science is ultimately about people. It means sharing experiences, supporting evidence-based solutions, and advocating for policies grounded in facts. It means recognising that everyone has a role to play in strengthening trust and promoting health. Governments, scientists, health workers, partners, and communities all contribute to how science is understood and applied. 

On World Health Day 2026, the call is clear. Stand with science, speak with clarity, and work together for health. At Sciad, we work with scientists to make complex ideas clearer and more accessible, so they can reach the people who need them. When science is understood and trusted, it becomes a powerful force for the wellbeing of people and the planet.