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…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

WHO/UNICEF statement on the 40th anniversary of the international code of marketing breastmilk substitutes

Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

In 1981, health officials from around the world gathered at the World Health Assembly to address aggressive marketing tactics by the infant and young child feeding industry, which was promoting formula feeding over breastfeeding and causing a dramatic increase in infant morbidity and mortality. The result was the International Code…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Breastfeeding Week 2020 Message

Analysis indicates that increasing rates of exclusive breastfeeding could save the lives of 820,000 children every year

The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2020 is “Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet”. In line with this theme, WHO and UNICEF are calling on governments to protect and promote women’s access to skilled breastfeeding counselling, a critical component of breastfeeding support. Breastfeeding provides every child with the best possible…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared over; vigilance against flare-ups and support for survivors must continue

World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates all those involved in the arduous and often dangerous work required to end the outbreak, but stresses the need for vigilance

Today marks the end of the 10th outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This long, complex and difficult outbreak has been overcome due to the leadership and commitment of the Government of the DRC, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), a multitude…