Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus Global Response: Access to COVID-19 Tools-Accelerator Facilitation Council holds inaugural meeting

The ACT-Accelerator is the proven, up-and-running, global collaboration accelerating the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres appeals for a quantum leap in funding for the ACT-Accelerator, a global solution to get the world moving, working and prospering again -         H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, and H.E. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, co-chair the ACT-Acceleration Facilitation Council -        …

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - Africa: WHO and UNICEF warn of a decline in vaccinations during COVID-19

This is due to disruptions in the delivery and uptake of immunization services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

WHO and UNICEF call for immediate efforts to vaccinate all children as new data shows that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine coverage stalled at 85 per cent for nearly a decade, with 14 million unvaccinated infants yearly The World Health Organization and UNICEF warned today of an alarming decline in…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

WHO announces four new goodwill ambassadors for promoting global health

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Cynthia Germanotta, Alisson Becker and Natália Loewe Becker to champion global health

World Health Organization today announced today the appointment of four new goodwill ambassadors, from the fields of sports, politics and community mobilization, to promote healthier lives, stronger health workforces and improved mental health globally. The new ambassadors are: Alisson Becker, goalkeeper of the Brazilian national and Liverpool football teams, and…

World Health Organization (WHO)
Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Too many babies are born too small

Around one in seven of all babies worldwide are born with a low birthweight

More than 20 million babies were born with a low birthweight (less than 2500g; 5.5 pounds) in 2015—around one in seven of all births worldwide according to the first-ever estimates documenting this major health challenge. These findings and more are documented in a new research paper developed by experts from…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Advocates around the World #SpeakUp for #RoadSafety

Despite progress, road traffic deaths continue to rise, with an annual 1.35 million fatalities

In the context of the Fifth UN Global Road Safety Week (6-12 May 2019), thousands of road safety advocates from around the world are highlighting the need for more effective leadership for road safety. Strong leaders - both government and nongovernment alike - are those who #SpeakUp for road safety…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Disease detection in a box – a high-tech solution for emergency settings

WHO is rolling out its early warning alert and response system (known as EWARS-in-a-Box) to rapidly detect priority epidemic-prone diseases and allow a quick response

In the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, hundreds of thousands of Mozambicans were left without shelter, food or access to health services. Many people have been living in temporary settlements without access to safe water and sanitation, putting them at high risk of diseases like cholera, malaria and measles. Under the…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Close to 3 million people access hepatitis C cure

World Hepatitis Summit 2017 calls for accelerated action to eliminate viral hepatitis

On the eve of the World Hepatitis Summit in Brazil, WHO reports increasing global momentum in the response to viral hepatitis. A record 3 million people were able to obtain treatment for hepatitis C over the past two years, and 2.8 million more people embarked on lifelong treatment for hepatitis B in 2016. “We…