RAISE AWARENESS
World PH Day
Raising Global PH Awareness on May 5th
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Held annually on May 5th, World Pulmonary Hypertension Day raises awareness of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and celebrates the strength and resilience of the PH community worldwide. It is also an opportunity to highlight new developments in PH research and treatment.
What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension is a serious and potentially fatal lung disease for which there is no cure. It is a condition that affects the arteries of the lungs, hindering the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. People living with pulmonary hypertension suffer from continuous high blood pressure in the lungs, which results in an enlargement of the heart. If left untreated, this will often lead to a weakness of the right-side of the heart, a serious type of heart failure. Pulmonary hypertension can strike anyone. It typically affects people between 20 and 60 years of age, but PH can also affect children and older people.
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Learn more about pulmonary hypertension:
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​How Can You Get Involved?
Join us on May 5th to raise awareness & advocate for change. Each year on May 5th, World PH Day unites the global pulmonary hypertension community to shine a light on this life-threatening disease. In Canada, we mark the occasion by illuminating landmarks in periwinkle purple, sharing patient stories, and mobilizing advocates to push for better care and access to treatment.
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Here’s how you can get involved:​
1. Awareness
Help us spread the word about pulmonary hypertension and its impact. The more people who understand PH, the greater our chances of making a difference. Here’s how you can raise awareness:
Paint Canada Purple
Request a local landmark to be illuminated in periwinkle purple on May 5th, and ask your local government to issue a World PH Day proclamation. These efforts help bring visibility to PH and its impact. Use our ready-made templates to easily submit a request for an illumination or proclamation in your city!
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​Tell 5 for May 5th
Awareness starts with a conversation. Tell five people about pulmonary hypertension, what it is, and why early diagnosis matters. Then challenge them to tell five more people. Together, we can spread knowledge across Canada.
Share on Social Media
Help us make pulmonary hypertension impossible to ignore! Raising awareness is more powerful when we do it together. Share PHA Canada’s World PH Day posts, use #WorldPHDay #TimeMattersPAH, and tell your followers why PH awareness is important. The more people who see these messages, the bigger the impact!
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Post a Video or Story
Personal stories help others understand the true impact of pulmonary hypertension. Share your journey or experience with PH on social media. Tell others what it’s like to live with pulmonary hypertension and why awareness matters. Tag @PHA Canada and use #WorldPHDay so we can amplify your message.
2. Advocacy
Join Us In Person: World PH Day Advocacy Events
We’d love for you to be part of our in-person advocacy events on May 5 in recognition of World Pulmonary Hypertension Day. Join us in Winnipeg or St. John’s to meet with local MLAs—and hopefully Ministers!—to help raise awareness about PH and the urgent need for action on treatments like sotatercept.
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Interested in joining us? Contact Kimberly Brunelle—we’d love to have you!
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Sign the Advocacy Letter
Your voice matters! Help us push for public funding of a newly approved pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment by sending a pre-written letter to policymakers. It only takes two minutes, but your support could help change lives. Sign here.
Write to Your Local Representative
Your story is powerful. Reach out to your Member of Parliament or provincial health minister and let them know what it’s like to live with pulmonary hypertension. Ask them to prioritize access to life-changing treatments and better PH care.
Every Action Counts!
Whether you raise awareness, advocate for change, or share your story, you are making a difference. Together, we can ensure pulmonary hypertension is recognized, diagnosed earlier, and treated more effectively.
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Mark your calendar for May 5th and help us make pulmonary hypertension impossible to ignore!
Previous Years
1. The Paint Canada Purple Campaign
World PH Day 2024 saw 23 landmarks illuminated purple and 7 proclamations issued recognizing May 5th, World PH Day in communities from coast to coast!
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2. The Socio-Economic Burden of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
PHA Canada and Canadian VIGOUR Centre have conducted a survey on the socio-economic burden of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The findings reveal significant disruptions to quality of life and major medical and socioeconomic consequences for PAH patients.
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Read the report and share it to raise awareness of the impact of PAH.
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Listen the PHaware Podcast featuring Dr. Jason Weatherald discussing the Burden of PAH
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3. PHA Canada holding awareness days on Parliament Hill
On May 6th & 7th, representatives of PHA Canada were on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to raise awareness with officials and parliamentarians of the challenges faced by Canadians affected by PAH and to urge them to move ahead quickly with the provinces to allocate the new funding promised for rare disease medicines through the National Strategy for Rare Disease Drugs.
Thank you to the following government and elected officials for the opportunity to discuss the challenges experienced by our community:
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Francesco Sorbara - MP for Vaughan-Woodbridge
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Tracy Gray, MP for Kelowna - Lake Country
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Ekateryna Nova, Senior Policy Advisory, Minister's Office
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Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia - Senator for Newfoundland and Labrador
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MP Robert Morrissey - Member of Parliament
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MP Vance Badawey - Niagara Centre
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Daniel MacDonald - Director General, Drugs for Rare Diseases, Health Canada
These discussions are crucial in improving access to care and treatments for Canadians with PAH. Let's continue to advocate together to make a difference!
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4. Media Outreach
Engaging with the media is a powerful way to amplify awareness about pulmonary hypertension (PH). Effective media outreach can lead to increased public understanding, support, and funding for PH initiatives.
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Op-ed by PHA Canada Board Member, Dr Sanjay Mehta, published in The Hill Times
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Press release from May 6, 2024
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Article “The severe impact of pulmonary arterial hypertension on Canadians” published in Healthing
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Article “New funding urged for PAH treatment in Canada“ published in Benefits and Pensions Monitor
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Brin Marks and Jamie Myrah raising awareness of PH on Global News
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Joan Paulin raising awareness of PH on the "What's with RWE" podcast