What’s Happening Today?

World Patient Safety Day. World Patient Safety Day calls for global solidarity and concerted action by all countries and international partners to improve patient safety. Furthermore, the Day brings together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, health care leaders and policy-makers to show their commitment to patient safety.

Heroes Day (Angola). This holiday is observed on the birthday of the national hero and the first president of independent Angola Agostinho Neto, who was born on this day in 1922. António Agostinho Neto was a doctor who had been involved in and imprisoned for political activities against the colonial system Salazar regime. After two years of detention in Cape Verde and Portugal, Neto escaped to Morocco where he joined the Angolan liberation movement. In 1962 he became president of the Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA).

As president of the MPLA, he was a figurehead for the protracted and violent struggle to break free from Portuguese colonial rule.

Constitution Day (USA). Constitution Day is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is normally observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia.  

What Happened Today?

1. In 1939, Finnish runner Taisto Maki became the first man to run 10,000 metres in less than 30 minutes when he run 29 minutes and 52 seconds. Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, the current 10,000 meters World Champion, will attempt to break the existing record set by Kenenisa Bekele, which he run in 26:17:53 in Brussels, Belgium on August 26, 2005.

2. In 1983, Vanessa Williams (in the picture) became the first black Miss America.

3. In 2006, an audiotape of a private speech by Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány was leaked to the public, in which he confessed that his Hungarian Socialist Party had lied to win the 2006 election, sparking widespread protests across the country.

Birthdays

1. 1950 – Narendra Modi, current Prime Minister of India since 1914.

2. 1962 – Mary Goretti Kitutu, serving Minister of Energy and Mineral Development in the Ugandan cabinet.

Sources: Wikipedia, checkiday, WHO & officeholidays.com

 Picture credit: Washington Post