Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO) launches funding appeal to help a record number of people in complex, intersecting health emergencies

WHO’s Health Emergency Appeal 2023 calls for US$ 2.54 billion

WHO is launching its 2023 health emergency appeal today for US$ 2.54 billion to provide assistance to millions of people around the world facing health emergencies. The number of people in need of humanitarian relief has increased by almost a quarter compared to 2022, to a record 339 million. Currently,…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus: How polio personnel are pivoting against COVID-19

On World Polio Day, we recognize the immense contributions of polio workers to COVID-19 response and acknowledge the major challenges ahead

World Polio Day, on 24 October, is when the world comes together to celebrate the determination that has brought us 99% of the way to ending polio, and reflect on the heights we must scale to defeat the disease completely.    This year, Africa was declared free of wild poliovirus, a…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World leaders, celebrities to join WHO’s Big Event for Mental Health on 10 October

Close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, 3 million people die every year from the harmful use of alcohol and one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide

On 10 October, World Mental Health Day, world leaders and internationally-recognized celebrities and mental health advocates will come together for the World Health Organization’s Big Event for Mental Health. WHO’s first-ever online advocacy event for mental health will focus on the urgent need to address the world’s chronic under-investment in mental health  ̶  a problem…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus: Boost for global response to COVID-19 as economies worldwide formally sign up to COVAX facility

156 economies, representing roughly 64% of the global population in total, are now either committed to or eligible for the COVAX Facility

64 higher income economies have now joined the COVAX Facility, with a further 38 economies expected to sign in the coming days; these self-financing economies, which include 29 from ‘Team Europe’ participating as part of an agreement with the European Commission, join 92 lower income economies eligible for financial support…

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: COVID-19 could reverse decades of progress toward eliminating preventable child deaths, agencies warn

In May, initial modelling by Johns Hopkins University showed that almost 6,000 additional children could die per day due to disruptions due to COVID-19

With the number of under-five deaths at an all-time recorded low of 5.2 million in 2019, disruptions in child and maternal health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic are putting millions of additional lives at stake. The number of global under-five deaths dropped to its lowest point on record in…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - Libya: Statement by WHO's Regional Director on COVID-19 developments in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Libya reached a new daily record of cases and deaths this week

As of 26 August 2020, a total of 1 862 635 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the Eastern Mediterranean Region since the start of the novel coronavirus outbreak, which represents 8.0% of the global burden of more than 23 million cases reported to date. Some countries in the Region…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Global Polio Eradication Initiative Applauds WHO African Region for Wild Polio-Free Certification

Support from national governments and global donors critical to the region’s success against wild polio and must continue to achieve a polio-free world

Today, the Africa Regional Certification Commission certified the WHO African Region as wild polio-free after four years without a case. With this historic milestone, five of the six WHO regions – representing over 90% of the world’s population – are now free of the wild poliovirus, moving the world closer…

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 - Libya: Health Sector Bulletin

There was a reported serious lack of capacity in the south to handle the COVID-19 response

KEY ISSUES Expected shift of lines of military control from LNA/Benghazi to GNA/Tripoli. The humanitarian situation is defined by Libyan authorities as dire and aggravated by COVID-19. There was a reported serious lack of capacity in the south to handle the COVID-19 response. South-specific list of recommendations was developed. Health…