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

Joint COVAX Statement on the Equal Recognition of Vaccines

COVAX urges all regional, national and local government authorities to recognise as fully vaccinated all people who have received COVID-19 vaccines that have been deemed safe and effective by the World Health Organization

COVAX was built on the principle of equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines to protect the health of people all across the globe. That means protecting their lives and livelihoods, including their ability to travel and conduct trade. As travel and other possibilities begin to open up in some parts of…

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

UNESCO and WHO urge countries to make every school a health-promoting school

Global standards will be piloted in Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Paraguay

UNESCO and the World Health Organization today launched the Global Standards for Health-promoting Schools, a resource package for schools to improve the health and well-being of 1.9 billion school-aged children and adolescents.  The closure of many schools around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions to education. …

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

The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator partnership welcomes commitment of 870 million vaccine doses and calls for more investment in all tools to end the pandemic

870 million vaccine doses for low and low-middle income countries over the next year

G7 leaders donate 870 million vaccine doses for low and low-middle income countries over the next year, vital for reducing virus transmission; G7 leaders emphasize the importance of all ACT-Accelerator tools to exit the pandemic; ACT-Accelerator’s funding gap remains significant with an urgent need for funding of tests, treatments and health…

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

WHO steps up action to improve food safety and protect people from disease

New handbook helps countries assess causes, magnitude and distribution of foodborne diseases

Every year 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses are reported.  In 2010, 420 000 people died due to such diseases as salmonella and E.coli infection, a third of them children under five years of age. It is estimated that this figure is increasing year after year, but it is difficult…

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

WHO supports people quitting tobacco to reduce their risk of severe COVID-19

Smokers face a 40 – 50% higher risk of developing severe disease and death from COVID-19

WHO Director-General Special Awards for World No Tobacco Day (https://bit.ly/3vtNHQd) announced: Minister of Health India and University of Bath for exceptional achievement in tobacco control; Smokers face a 40 – 50% higher risk of developing severe disease and death from COVID-19; WHO partners with  Viber (https://bit.ly/3bZNrR2), WhatsApp (https://bit.ly/3oYPcDn), FB Messenger, WeChat and AI company Soul Machines to…

World Health Organization (WHO)
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…

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

WHO issues new guidance for research on genetically modified mosquitoes to fight malaria and other vector-borne diseases

Malaria and other vector-borne diseases, including dengue and Zika, affect millions globally

New guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) sets essential standards to inform future research and development on genetically modified mosquitoes, particularly in addressing issues relating to ethics, safety, affordability and effectiveness. Malaria and other vector-borne diseases, including dengue and Zika, affect millions globally. More than 400 000 people a…

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

WHO Director General's opening remarks at the high-level emergency virtual meeting of African Ministers of Health on the COVID-19 situation in Africa

Africa is the only region to have developed a unified continental strategy on COVID-19

Please find the weblink and text of the WHO Director General's opening remarks at the high-level emergency virtual meeting of African Ministers of Health on the COVID-19 situation in Africa, held today 8 May, 2021 Link: https://bit.ly/3uw542e By WHO Director General Your Excellency President Tshisekedi, Your Excellency President Ramaphosa, Your Excellency…

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

RTS,S malaria vaccine reaches more than 650 000 children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi through groundbreaking pilot programme

Malaria vaccine coverage through childhood immunization programme signals strong community demand for vaccine

Two years on from the launch of a pilot programme, more than 1.7 million doses of the world’s first malaria vaccine have been administered in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, benefitting more than 650 000 children with additional malaria protection. The number of children reached in this relatively short period indicates strong community…

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

WHO and the International Organisation of the Francophonie (IOF) sign Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen access to health in Francophone countries

Promoting COVID-19 vaccine equity, fighting malaria and advancing universal health coverage are key elements of the memorandum

The World Health Organization and the International Organisation of the Francophonie (IOF) today signed a memorandum of understanding to scale up collaboration and boost access to health services in Francophone countries. The agreement, finalized at a ceremony held at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, focuses on advancing universal health coverage, fighting…