May 5 is celebrated as International Day of the Midwife, International Day for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, African World Heritage Day, World Asthma Day, World Hand Hygiene Day and Council of Europe Day. This day combines events from different years in the history of Ukraine, Europe, science, culture, sports and politics, which have had a significant impact on the public life of different countries.
International Day of the Midwife
This is a professional holiday for professionals who accompany pregnancy, childbirth and the first hours of a newborn baby’s life. Its purpose is to remind us of the importance of obstetric care for the health of mothers and babies, especially where access to doctors, hospitals or modern equipment is limited.
The work of a midwife requires high responsibility, calmness, medical knowledge and the ability to act quickly in critical moments. In Ukraine, during the full-scale war, this profession gained special importance, because childbirth took place not only in hospitals, but also in shelters, basements, evacuation points and front-line cities, where doctors often worked under fire and without a stable power supply.
Interesting facts
In the 17th century, the Chamberlain family of French doctors kept the invention of obstetric forceps a secret for over 100 years, using them only for themselves and earning a lot of money from it.
In medieval Europe, midwives were sometimes accused of witchcraft, because they knew the structure of the body, herbs and methods of pain relief that others did not understand.
In the 18th century, men were forbidden to be present at childbirth in many countries, so midwives actually had complete control over this process.
In some cultures, the midwife decided whether a child was considered “born” if the birth was difficult, and this could even affect inheritance.
In the 19th century, doctors began to push midwives out of the profession, but this led to a sharp increase in maternal mortality, as doctors often did not wash their hands.
In traditional Ukrainian culture, a midwife could stay at home for several days after childbirth and effectively supervised the entire process of the mother’s recovery.
In some regions of Africa and Asia, childbirth techniques are still used that have hardly changed in hundreds of years and are passed down orally from generation to generation.
In the 20th century, in some countries, midwives were officially forbidden to deliver babies without a doctor, but in rural areas this practice actually continued.
In ancient Egypt, there were women who professionally assisted during childbirth, and their knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth was partially recorded on medical papyri.
In ancient Greece, midwives were usually women who had already given birth themselves, because it was believed that personal experience helps to better understand the mother in labor.
In the Roman Empire, a midwife could have high authority in the community, and some wealthy families invited only experienced and well-known specialists to deliver babies.
Before the advent of maternity hospitals, midwives worked mainly at home, so they knew families, local customs, and women’s living conditions well, and often helped not only during childbirth, but also after it.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, special schools for midwives began to open in Europe, because states realized that trained specialists reduce maternal and infant mortality.
In the past, a midwife was often the first person to touch a newborn, so she was treated with special trust and at the same time with great demands.
International Day of the Struggle for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
This day has been celebrated since 1992, when people with disabilities in different European countries simultaneously spoke out against discrimination and unequal access to education, work, transport, medicine, and public life.
The main meaning of this day is to remind that a person with disabilities has the right to independence, respect, a barrier-free environment and participation in society without humiliation and dependence on someone else’s “good will”. For Ukraine, this topic became especially acute during the full-scale war, when the number of people with disabilities increased sharply due to injuries to soldiers and civilians, mine and explosive injuries, loss of limbs, vision, hearing and psychological consequences of shelling.
Interesting facts
In 1992, the first major action on this day covered 17 European countries, and it was from it that the tradition began every year to talk about the rights of people with disabilities as a matter of equality, not pity.
In Ukraine, after the start of the full-scale war, the number of people with disabilities increased by about hundreds of thousands: wounded soldiers, civilians after shelling, people with amputations and severe injuries were added to this group.
After 2022, the demand for prostheses in Ukraine has increased significantly, in particular high-functioning bionic arms and legs, and Ukrainian rehabilitation centers have begun to work with experience that they did not have on such a scale before.
Many Ukrainian military personnel have returned to sports after amputations: they participate in running, swimming, rowing, archery, and strength competitions, using sports as part of physical and psychological recovery.
During the war, the problem of accessibility became a matter of survival: shelters, train stations, hospitals, evacuation transport, and aid stations were often inaccessible to people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments.
After 2022, more veterans with amputees appeared in Ukraine, publicly showing life after injury without hiding their prostheses, changing society’s attitude towards disability.
Mine risk has become one of the causes of new disabilities among civilians: explosive devices injure not only military personnel, but also farmers, energy workers, children, rescue workers and people returning to liberated communities.
For many people with disabilities during the war, evacuation has become the most difficult, because leaving frontline cities without special transport, medicine, escort or affordable housing is almost impossible.
African World Heritage Day
The purpose of this day is to draw attention to the cultural and natural wealth of the continent, which is of global importance. These are monuments of history, architecture, traditions, languages, art and unique natural areas that form the diverse heritage of Africa and need to be preserved.
This day also emphasizes the importance of protecting sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, many of which remain little known to the general public. Many of Africa’s heritage sites face challenges from climate change, urbanization and lack of resources for conservation, so raising awareness about them helps support their protection and research.
Interesting facts
Africa has over 140 UNESCO World Heritage sites, but this is fewer than in Europe, despite the continent being much larger and culturally diverse.
The rock-hewn churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia were carved directly into the rock over 800 years ago, and some are still in use today.
The city of Timbuktu in Mali was a major center of science and education in the Middle Ages, housing thousands of manuscripts on astronomy, medicine and law.
The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is home to one of the world’s largest animal migrations, with millions of wildebeest and zebra migrating each year in search of water and food.
South Africa is home to the Cradle of Humankind, a site where some of the oldest human remains have been found, dating back over 2 million years.
Great Zimbabwe is the ruins of an ancient city with massive stone walls built without mortar, which still fascinates researchers.
Gori Island off the coast of Senegal became a symbol of the transatlantic slave trade and is preserved as a memorial to the millions of people who were taken from there into slavery.
Namibia is home to the Namib Desert, one of the oldest in the world, estimated to be over 50 million years old.
Lake Turkana in Kenya is called the “cradle of humanity” because many important archaeological discoveries related to early humans have been found around it.
World Asthma Day
This day is celebrated to draw attention to this chronic respiratory disease that affects millions of people in different countries. The main goal is to spread knowledge about the symptoms, causes and ways to control asthma, as well as to increase access to treatment and prevention.
Asthma is manifested by attacks of shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and a feeling of tightness in the chest, which can be caused by allergens, exercise, cold air or stress. Timely diagnosis, proper use of inhalers and control of triggers allow most people to live a full life without frequent exacerbations.
Interesting facts
The term “asthma” comes from the ancient Greek language and means “shortness of breath” or “difficult breathing”, and the description of this condition can be found in the works of Hippocrates.
Asthma affects over 300 million people worldwide, and it is one of the most common chronic diseases among children.
The modern inhaler was only invented in the mid-20th century, and before that, even smoke from special herbal mixtures was used to relieve symptoms.
Asthma is not always hereditary: it can develop at any age, even in adults without previous symptoms in childhood.
Some athletes do not have asthma to achieve high results, and among Olympic champions there are people with this diagnosis.
Asthma attacks can be triggered not only by pollen or dust, but also by strong emotions, laughter, or a sharp change in air temperature.
In the 20th century, asthma was believed to be mainly psychological in nature, and only with the development of medicine did it become clear that it is an inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract.
Some cities with high levels of air pollution have a significantly higher number of asthma cases, especially among children.
Regular, proper treatment allows asthma to be so well controlled that people can go years without having any attacks.
World Hand Hygiene Day
This day is celebrated on May 5 at the initiative of international organizations to emphasize the importance of simple hygiene actions for maintaining health. The date was chosen symbolically: the fifth day of the fifth month is associated with five fingers on the hands, which reminds us of the need for regular and proper hand washing in everyday life and medical practice.
Hand hygiene remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infections, including bacterial and viral diseases. Particular attention is paid to this in hospitals, where proper hand hygiene by medical staff significantly reduces the risk of nosocomial infections and complications in patients.
Interesting facts
In the mid-19th century, doctor Ignaz Semmelweis proved that washing hands by doctors before giving birth dramatically reduced mortality among women, although his ideas were not recognized for a long time.
Millions of microorganisms can live on a person’s hands, most of which are harmless, but among them there may be pathogens of dangerous diseases.
WHO has developed a rule of “five moments of hand hygiene” for doctors, which defines key situations when hand treatment is mandatory.
Regular hand washing with soap for at least 20 seconds can significantly reduce the number of microbes and the risk of infection.
Drying hands is also important: wet hands transmit bacteria more easily than dry ones.
Alcohol-based antiseptics can kill most microorganisms, but are not always effective against some types of contamination, such as visible dirt.
Studies show that people often skip their thumbs, fingertips, and the areas between them when washing their hands.
During pandemics, hand hygiene practices increase dramatically, but over time, people gradually return to their usual, less careful habits.
In public places, elevator buttons, doorknobs, and handrails can harbor far more bacteria than they first appear.
Council of Europe Day
Council of Europe Day is celebrated on May 5 to commemorate the founding of this international organization in 1949. It was founded after World War II to strengthen cooperation between European states and prevent new conflicts through shared values and legal standards.
The Council of Europe’s main activities focus on protecting human rights, promoting democracy, and ensuring the rule of law. The organization includes most European countries, and its decisions and documents influence legislation, the judiciary, and citizens’ rights in many countries.
Interesting facts
The Council of Europe is not part of the European Union, although they are often confused due to similar names and symbols.
It was the Council of Europe that created the European Court of Human Rights, to which citizens can apply after exhausting all national courts.
The European Convention on Human Rights has become one of the key documents of the organization and defines the basic rights and freedoms that are binding on member states.
The flag with 12 stars on a blue background originally belonged to the Council of Europe, and only later began to be used by the European Union.
The headquarters of the Council of Europe is located in Strasbourg, France, a city that symbolizes reconciliation between European countries after wars.
The number of members of the Council of Europe is significantly larger than that of the EU and includes countries that are not members of the European Union.
The organization deals not only with human rights, but also with issues of culture, education, media and the protection of cultural heritage.
The decisions of the European Court of Human Rights are binding on states that have ratified the relevant agreements.
Historical events on this day
1581 – in Ostroh, the printer Ivan Fedorovych published Andriy Rymsha’s “Chronology”, which is considered the first printed Russian calendar. The publication became one of the important examples of the development of book culture in Ukrainian lands during the Ostroh cultural center.
1789 – the Estates General opened in Versailles, convened against the backdrop of a deep financial and political crisis in France. It was their work that marked the beginning of the processes that soon developed into the French Revolution.
1821 – Napoleon I, the former emperor of France and one of the most influential figures in European history, died on the island of Saint Helena. He spent the last years of his life in British exile after the defeat at Waterloo.
1836 – the first railway in Europe began operating in Belgium. It connected Brussels with Mechelen and became an important step in the development of European transport.
1865 – the first train robbery in the USA took place in Ohio. This incident marked the beginning of an entire era of attacks on railway transport, which later entered the history of the Wild West.
1891 – the Carnegie Hall concert hall was opened in New York. Later, it became one of the most famous music venues in the world, where leading orchestras, singers and composers performed.
1893 – in the village of Zhuzhel in the Sokal region, the first zakhoronka, that is, a kindergarten, was founded in Galicia at the first monastery of the Sisters of the Servants of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. The institution became an important example of organized care and education of children in the local community.
1900 – in the village of Zavallia, Snyatynskyi district, Kyrylo Trylovskyi founded the first sports and firefighting society “Sich”. Such societies combined physical training, self-organization and civic education of Ukrainians.
1912 – the V Olympic Games began in Stockholm, although the grand opening ceremony took place on July 6. These Games became one of the most organized for their time and strengthened the international authority of the Olympic movement.
1915 – the All-Ukrainian Ukrainian Council, an all-Ukrainian political organization created on the basis of the expansion of the Main Ukrainian Council, was established in Vienna. It was supposed to represent Ukrainian interests in the conditions of the First World War.
1920 – the troops of the UNR Directory, together with Polish troops, liberated Kyiv. The event took place during the Polish-Ukrainian offensive against the Bolsheviks and became an important episode in the struggle for Ukrainian statehood.
1920 – the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was proclaimed. This decision reflected the desire of a part of Ukrainian society to have an independent church life.
1921 – Coco Chanel first introduced the perfume “Chanel No. 5” in France. The fragrance quickly became a symbol of elegance and one of the most famous perfumes in the world.
1941 – in the Atlantic, a German submarine sank a ship with 75 Canadian soldiers. These were the first losses of the Canadian army in World War II.
1945 – an anti-German uprising began in Prague. The city’s residents and Czech resistance forces opposed the Nazi regime in the last days of World War II in Europe.
1956 – The first World Judo Championships were held in Tokyo. The tournament helped turn the Japanese martial art into an international sport.
1961 – Alan Shepard became the first American to fly into space. His suborbital flight was the US’s response to the USSR’s early successes in the space race.
1988 – The first television broadcast from the summit of Mount Everest took place. The event demonstrated the technical capabilities of live broadcasting from one of the most extreme points on the planet.
1992 – The Crimean parliament declared Crimea independent and scheduled a referendum for August to confirm this status. The decision became one of the most acute political challenges for Ukraine at the beginning of independence.
1994 – The leaders of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Russia signed an agreement on a ceasefire in Karabakh. The document stopped the active phase of hostilities, but did not completely resolve the conflict.
1999 – North Macedonia closed its borders to Albanian refugees from Kosovo. The decision was made against the backdrop of a humanitarian crisis caused by the war in the region.
1999 – Scotland held its first elections to its own parliament. This was an important stage in the restoration of Scottish self-government after a long break.
2014 – the Azov Volunteer Regiment was created. The unit emerged in the first months of Russian aggression against Ukraine and became one of the well-known volunteer formations of that period.
