World Health Day falls on April 7, the anniversary of the World Health Organization's founding in 1948. This year's theme -- "Together for health. Stand with science." -- is a deliberate framing at a moment when public health institutions face political pressure in multiple countries [1].

WHO is marking the day by convening a One Health summit with France's G7 presidency, bringing together governments, scientists, and health workers to align policy with evidence-based practice [2]. The One Health approach recognises that human, animal, and environmental health are inseparable -- a framework that gained urgency after the pandemic and has since become a battleground for science funding [3].

The theme's language is not accidental. "Stand with science" is a call to action directed at policymakers who have cut research budgets, restricted data sharing, or questioned institutional expertise [4]. WHO's key messages for the day emphasise scientific collaboration as the mechanism that "protects the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment" [5].

The G7 France summit adds diplomatic weight. France holds the G7 presidency this year and has positioned One Health as a priority of its term [2]. The summit's outcomes will shape how member countries fund research, regulate pharmaceuticals, and respond to the next cross-species health threat.

World Health Day is one day. The question it poses -- whether governments will align health policy with scientific evidence or with political convenience -- is the question of the year.

-- NORA WHITFIELD, Chicago