Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Over 5 million girls in Tanzania to receive Human PapillomaVirus (HPV) vaccine to combat cervical cancer

The campaign, which is targeting over 5 million girls aged 9–14 years, will run from Monday, 22 April, to Friday, 26 April 2024

The Ministry of Health of the United Republic of Tanzania, in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), today launched the national multi-age cohort (MAC) vaccination campaign against the human papillomavirus (HPV) – the leading cause of cervical cancer. The campaign, which is…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Liberia rewriting cervical cancer narrative, one dose at a time

In Liberia, cervical cancer is the leading cancer among women, followed by breast cancer, making it the primary cause of female cancer-related deaths

Protecting her 13-year-old daughter, Jamsetta Kumeh, from human papillomavirus (HPV) overrode Buludi Martin’s reservations about the vaccine that prevents the infection that can cause cervical cancer. Today she is content that she made the correct decision. “I was afraid, of course,” she admits. “There are so many stories about vaccines,…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Urgent action needed to reach the most vulnerable in Sudan with life-saving health services

A displacement crisis of this magnitude has significant impacts on the health needs of displaced and host populations

Almost 10 months since conflict escalated in Sudan in April 2023, the ever-deteriorating humanitarian situation has led to the world’s largest displacement crisis. About 8 million people in Sudan have been displaced by the conflict, with 6 million people internally displaced and 1.8 million people displaced to neighbouring countries. A…

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) |

Sudan: Top United Nations Officials Sound Alarm at Spike in Violence against Women and Girls

The UN Human Rights Office in Sudan has received credible reports of 21 incidents of conflict-related sexual violence against at least 57 women and girls

Senior United Nations officials today voiced shock and condemnation at increasing reports of gender-based violence in Sudan – including conflict-related sexual violence against internally displaced and refugee women and girls – since fighting erupted in the country more than 11 weeks ago. They called for an immediate end to gender-based…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

A child or youth died once every 4.4 seconds in 2021 – United Nations (UN) report

Another 1.9 million babies were tragically stillborn during the same period, according to a separate UN report

An estimated 5 million children died before their fifth birthday and another 2.1 million children and youth aged between 5–24 years lost their lives in 2021, according to the latest estimates released by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). In a separate report also released…

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

Beyond Numbers: Database Brings to Light Quality of Care for Women and their Babies at a National Scale

New paper on database and programme in Nigeria shows enormous potential for helping to improve quality of care for women and babies

Quality, standardized data on the health of women and girls who are pregnant or have recently given birth, and their babies, is crucial to inform the design of interventions to help to safeguard their lives and well-being. Strong health systems, backed by an efficient health information system – informed by…

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    • WHO Director-General Dr Tedros statement on Female Genital Mutilation
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Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Video News Release: Sunday, 6 February marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM) - WHO Director-General Dr Tedros statement on Female Genital Mutilation

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Sunday, 6 February marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM). This year’s theme is "Accelerating Investment to End FGM" — calling for support for programmes to provide services and response for those affected and those at risk; in developing and enforcing laws, and fortifying institutional…

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    • Dr Sivile at the multi-month dispensing unit that was installed to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit: ©Dr Sivile/Bauleni Clinic
    • Dr Sivile and HIV testers at the clinic review the log-books and discuss the data together. Credit: ©Dr Sivile/Bauleni Clinic
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Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Strength in numbers: data, partners and leadership create resilient HIV services during COVID-19 in Zambia

WHO applauds Zambia’s Ministry of Health and all the health workers for their resilience and achievements in delivering HIV testing and treatment services in face of many challenges

Dr Suilanji Sivile is an HIV clinician in Zambia who started working in the Eastern Province nearly a decade ago. He is also an HIV Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Health, leading many national COVID-19 activities. Reflecting on how the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in Zambia, Dr Sivile highlights key…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

WHO Director-General's remarks at the press conference on the report of the Independent Commission on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse - 28 September 2021

The commission has identified dozens of potential victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, and 21 alleged perpetrators, who were employed by WHO at the time of the events

Good morning, good afternoon and good evening. As you know, in October last year, I appointed an Independent Commission to investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse during the response to the tenth Ebola Virus Disease epidemic in North Kivu and Ituri, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The…