Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Tobacco responsible for 20% of deaths from coronary heart disease

Just a few cigarettes a day, occasional smoking, or exposure to second-hand smoke increase the risk of heart disease

Every year, 1.9 million people die from tobacco-induced heart disease, according to a new brief released today by the World Health Organization, World Heart Federation and the University of Newcastle Australia ahead of World Heart Day, marked on 29 September. This equates to one in five of all deaths from…

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 - Rwanda: WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 (10 August 2020)

Some countries in the Mekong Region, New Zealand, Rwanda, and many island states across the Caribbean and the Pacific were able to suppress the virus early

By WHO Director-General Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, This week we’ll reach 20 million registered cases of COVID-19 and 750,000 deaths. Behind these statistics is a great deal of pain and suffering. Every life lost matters. I know many of you are grieving and that this is a difficult…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - Africa: Substantial investment needed to avert mental health crisis

Reports already indicate an increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety in a number of countries

The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting the need to urgently increase investment in services for mental health or risk a massive increase in mental health conditions in the coming months, according to a policy brief on COVID-19 and mental health issued by the United Nations today. “The impact of the pandemic…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - Somalia: As Somalia braces to effectively respond to COVID-19 outbreak, life-saving essential health care services are scaled up

Since the beginning of the outbreak, seven associated deaths out of 135 cases have been reported by the government in Somalia as of 19 April 2020

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Somalia including associated deaths attributed to coronavirus disease. While the cases grow in numbers, the health systems in Somalia is being rapidly confronted with increasing demand for patient care from COVID-19. When health systems are strained and overwhelmed specially in…