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…

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…

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…

Coronavirus - Africa and Middle East: Statement by WHO Regional Director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari

Increasing numbers of cases are also being reported from Iraq, Libya, Morocco, the occupied Palestinian territory, and Oman

By Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari June 30 marked six months since WHO received the first reports of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in China The six-month mark of the outbreak coincides with reaching 10 million cases and 500,000 deaths world-wide.  Although many countries have made some progress,…

More women and children survive today than ever before – UN report

The estimates also show vast inequalities worldwide, with women and children in sub-Saharan Africa facing a substantially higher risk of death than in all other regions

More women and their children are surviving today than ever before, according to new child and maternal mortality estimates released today by United Nations groups* led by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 2000, child deaths have reduced by nearly half and maternal deaths by over one-third, mostly…

Dr Ahmed Salim Saif Al Mandhari nominated as WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean

WHO's Special Session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, held today in Geneva, has nominated Dr Ahmed Salim Saif Al Mandhari from Oman as WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, to be formally appointed by the WHO Executive Board during its 143rd session from 28 to 29…

Morocco eliminates trachoma – the leading infectious cause of blindness

Transmitted through contact with eye and nose discharge of infected people, particularly young children, it affects populations in 42 countries, and is responsible for blindness or visual impairment in around 1.9 million people

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem1 in Morocco.   Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Transmitted through contact with eye and nose discharge of infected people, particularly young children, it affects populations in 42 countries, and is…

WHO Media Advisory - Second Global Conference on Health and Climate 7-8 July in Paris

PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY TO ADOPT AN ACTION AGENDA ON CLIMATE-RELATED HEALTH RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Q & A with Key Spokespersons     WHAT :           The Second Global Conference on Health and Climate 7-8 July in Paris will showcase how the public health community will support implementation of the COP 21 Paris Agreement on climate change in order to advance a healthier and more sustainable society.   The Conference will be opened Hon French Minister of…