Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO), partners urge stronger action to accelerate childhood vaccination in Africa

The side-event at the CPHIA proposed actions to accelerate the Big Catch-Up vaccination campaign

With one in five children in Africa still missing basic, life-saving vaccines, World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are calling for accelerated action to reach all children and put the continent back on track to achieve the Immunization Agenda 2030 goals towards reducing illness and deaths due to vaccine-preventable diseases.…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Health needs to be front and centre of national plans to fight climate change

Climate change is already harming human health and wellbeing

Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-28), WHO has published its “2023 review of health in nationally determined contributions and long-term strategies” highlighting the actions needed to ensure that people’s health is fully prioritised and integrated into national plans to fight climate change. Climate change is already harming human health and…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Global partners cheer progress towards eliminating cervical cancer and underline challenges

The global HPV vaccination coverage of girls that received at least one dose of HPV vaccine has increased to 21% in 2022 – exceeding the pre-pandemic levels for the first time

World leaders, cervical cancer survivors, advocates, partners, and civil society are coming together today to mark the third Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action. The Initiative, which marked the first time Member States adopted a resolution to eliminate a noncommunicable disease, has continued to gain momentum, and this year's commemoration promises…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Global measles threat continues to grow as another year passes with millions of children unvaccinated

Of the countries experiencing outbreaks, 28 were in the WHO Region for Africa

Following years of declines in measles vaccination coverage, measles cases in 2022 have increased by 18%, and deaths have increased by 43% globally (compared to 2021). This takes the estimated number of measles cases to 9 million and deaths to 136 000 – mostly among children – according to a…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Children with cancer evacuated from Gaza for treatment to Egypt and Jordan

WHO, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and key countries coordinate vital humanitarian action amidst ongoing conflict

Some 12 children with cancer or other blood disorders have been evacuated, with their companions, from the Gaza Strip in the occupied Palestinian territory to Egypt and Jordan so they may continue their treatment safely. Additional children are expected to be evacuated for cancer treatment as part of this initiative.…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance pass the mid-point of the global 10-year strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics

The Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) Strategy – a partnership led by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance – launches a report following its mid-term evaluation in 2022

Following devastating outbreaks in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2016 that saw exportation of cases to China, the EYE Strategy  –  a global coalition of over 50 partners in 40 countries  – was launched to accelerate efforts to prevent outbreaks, protect at-risk populations, and save lives across the continent.  The…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes decision by Egypt to receive patients from Gaza Strip

WHO is also working with the Egyptian Red Crescent Society to ensure that psychological trauma support services are available to patients

The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes Egypt’s decision to accept 81 injured and sick people from the Gaza Strip for treatment. WHO has been working to support the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population in planning and establishing a comprehensive triage, stabilization, and medical evacuation system, by providing ongoing training…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

A new resolve to eliminate cholera in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Although vaccines are important, eliminating cholera needs many parts of society to work together, with a focus on getting people safe water and well managed toilet systems

The complex health crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has worsened since the beginning of 2023. In the east of the country, entire villages have been burned to the ground as intercommunal clashes and armed conflict rage, forcing people to leave their homes for their safety and…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Ban smoking and vaping in school to protect young people

WHO encourages all countries to make all indoor public places completely smoke-free in line with Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Today, the World Health Organization released two new publications, “Freedom from tobacco and nicotine: guide for schools,” and “Nicotine- and tobacco-free school toolkit” to help protect children’s health just in time for back-to-school season in many countries. The tobacco industry relentlessly targets young people with tobacco and nicotine products resulting in e-cigarette…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO) health supplies arrive in Libya as part of intensified response to devastating floods

The supplies will be given to hospitals and primary health care centres and will be crucial in restoring their functionality

Today, 29 metric tonnes of health supplies arrived in Benghazi, Libya, from the WHO Global Logistics Hub in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With enough supplies to reach almost 250,000 people with health aid, the shipment reflects an intensified emergency response to the unprecedented flooding in eastern Libya in the aftermath…