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11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

ACTILINK Enhances Dental Implant Treatment Success Rates in Elite Dental Group, Singapore SINGAPORE, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Plasmapp's newly developed and launched device, ACTILINK, designed to significantly enhance treatment success rates and dental implant healing speed...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, the nation's leading pulmonary fibrosis (PF) research, education and advocacy organization, has announced the election of Dr. Wayne Pan as Chair of its Board of Directors. CHICAGO, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

Driving sustainable revenue growth with a math-based approach, CEO Sales Strategies helps businesses build scalable sales systems and achieve long-term success. NASHUA, N.H., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- CEO Sales Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in sales revenue growth...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

Honest Medical, an e-commerce leader in essential healthcare products, has been recognized as one of San Diego County's fastest-growing companies for the second consecutive year by the San Diego Business Journal, ranking 46th on the "Fast 50" list. CEO Mike Greenan emphasized that this...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

Draper has been selected by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health as an awardee of the Sprint for Women's Health, a funding opportunity to address critical unmet challenges in women's health, champion transformative innovations, and tackle health conditions that uniquely or...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

INFINITT Healthcare, a trailblazing leader in enterprise imaging solutions, is set to transform the future of imaging at the 110th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), taking place December 1-4, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. This year,...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

New Fall Release Delivers Efficiency to Medical Affairs through AI-Driven Insights and Powerful Workflows WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Sorcero, a pioneer of AI-powered intelligence solutions for the life sciences industry, today announced a suite of significant...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

With support from Bracco Diagnostics Inc., Anderson Publishing, Ltd., publisher of Applied Radiology, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Leaders on the Horizon Radiology Residents' Program. Open to both international and US-based radiology residents, Leaders on the Horizon...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

This press release highlights the new hemorrhoidal and pain management products from Bunnies Bum Crème, emphasizing their unique approach to reimagining the conversation around embarrassing anorectal conditions. LAKE MARY, Fla., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- FloCal—experts in pain...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

SightMD NJ, a leading multi-specialty ophthalmology platform in New Jersey, welcomes Marez Megalla, MD to its expert team. HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- SightMD NJ, a leading multi-specialty ophthalmology platform in New Jersey, welcomes Marez Megalla, MD to its...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

Aesthetic Island NYC joins Haute Beauty Network as a Medical Spa expert representing the Brooklyn, NY market. NEW YORK, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Aesthetic Island is a premier med spa dedicated to providing cutting-edge beauty and wellness treatments in the heart of Brooklyn....

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

Global pet health platform Vetster sees rapid growth connecting pet owners with virtual veterinarians anywhere - anytime. Recognized as one of Canada's Companies-to-Watch in the Deloitte Fast 50 Program. TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Vetster Inc., received a...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

In this free webinar, learn about the fundamentals of early access, including history, definitions, nomenclature, country archetypes, strategic considerations, operational elements and data capture. The featured speakers will discuss why running early access programs is vital for launch...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

Professional's expansion and growth strategy continues with new state-of-the-art clinic in Roxbury, NJ. MELVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Professional Physical Therapy, a leading provider of outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation services throughout New York, New...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

DLM Media's "Give-Back" Program offers firehouses special rates on premium TV and sports programming, plus donations, to honor and support firefighters. PHOENIX, Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- DLM Media, a leader in customized television and entertainment solutions, is proud to...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

XRHealth has acquired NeuroReality, including its flagship product "Koji's Quest," to further establish its position as a leading XR therapeutic platform. This acquisition follows XRHealth's purchase of Amelia Virtual Care and enhances its suite of therapeutic offerings for physical,...

11/06/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

The companies expand partnership to enhance genetic variant interpretation for cancers and rare diseases BOSTON and ROLLE, Switzerland , Nov. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- SOPHiA GENETICS (Nasdaq: SOPH), a cloud-native healthcare technology leader in data-driven medicine, today announced...

11/05/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

Health Canada has licensed Stethophone®, a Canadian-developed, AI-powered app that allows users to capture and analyze heart sounds using only a smartphone. Designed for both healthcare professionals and personal use, Stethophone helps detect structural and rhythmic heart anomalies at the...

11/05/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine edited the special issue presenting scientific evidence on nutrition's role in optimizing health through case reports, observational studies, lifestyle interventions and clinical trials. ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The American...

11/05/2024   PR Web Health & Fitness

The acquisition aims to enhance Purivitae Ventures' fitness offerings and drive innovation with new leadership from industry veterans. ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Purivitae Ventures is pleased to announce the acquisition of CoreMasters, a leading name in the fitness...

11/04/2024   WHO News

A new World Health Organization (WHO) study published today in eBioMedicine names 17 pathogens that regularly cause diseases in communities as top priorities for new vaccine development. The WHO study is the first global effort to systematically prioritize endemic pathogens based on criteria that included regional disease burden, antimicrobial resistance risk and socioeconomic impact.

The study reconfirms longstanding priorities for vaccine research and development (R&D), including for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis – three diseases that collectively take nearly 2.5 million lives each year.

The study also identifies pathogens such as Group A streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae as top disease control priorities in all regions, highlighting the urgency to develop new vaccines for pathogens increasingly resistant to antimicrobials.

“Too often global decisions on new vaccines have been solely driven by return on investment, rather than by the number of lives that could be saved in the most vulnerable communities,” said Dr Kate O’Brien, Director of the Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department at WHO. “This study uses broad regional expertise and data to assess vaccines that would not only significantly reduce diseases that greatly impact communities today but also reduce the medical costs that families and health systems face.”

WHO asked international and regional experts to identify factors that are most important to them when deciding which vaccines to introduce and use. The analysis of those preferences, combined with regional data for each pathogen, resulted in top 10 priority pathogens for each WHO region. The regional lists where then consolidated to form the global list, resulting in 17 priority endemic pathogens for which new vaccines need to be researched, developed and used.

This new WHO global priority list of endemic pathogens for vaccine R&D supports the Immunization Agenda 2030’s goal of ensuring that everyone, in all regions, can benefit from vaccines that protect them from serious diseases. The list provides an equitable and transparent evidence base to set regional and global agendas for new vaccine R&D and manufacturing, and is intended to give academics, funders, manufacturers and countries a clear direction for where vaccine R&D could have the most impact.

This global prioritization exercise for endemic pathogens, complements the WHO R&D blueprint for epidemics, which identified priority pathogens that could cause future epidemics or pandemics, such as COVID-19 or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The findings of this new report on endemic pathogens are part of WHO’s work to identify and support the research priorities and needs of immunization programmes in low- and middle-income countries, to inform the global vaccine R&D agenda, and to strategically advance development and uptake of priority vaccines, particularly against pathogens that cause the largest public health burden and greatest socioeconomic impact. 

WHO Priority endemic pathogens list

Vaccines for these pathogens are at different stages of development.

Pathogens where vaccine research is needed

  • Group A streptococcus
  • Hepatitis C virus
  • HIV-1
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae

 Pathogens where vaccines need to be further developed

  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Influenza virus (broadly protective vaccine)
  • Leishmania species
  • Non-typhoidal Salmonella
  • Norovirus
  • Plasmodium falciparum (malaria)
  • Shigella species
  • Staphylococcus aureus

Pathogens where vaccines are approaching regulatory approval, policy recommendation or introduction

  • Dengue virus
  • Group B streptococcus
  • Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
11/01/2024   WHO News

 We the leaders of 15 United Nations and humanitarian organizations urge, yet again, all parties fighting in Gaza to protect civilians, and call on the State of Israel to cease its assault on Gaza and on the humanitarians trying to help. 

The situation unfolding in North Gaza is apocalyptic. The area has been under siege for almost a month, denied basic aid and life-saving supplies while bombardment and other attacks continue. Just in the past few days, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and thousands have once again been forcibly displaced. 

Hospitals have been almost entirely cut off from supplies and have come under attack, killing patients, destroying vital equipment, and disrupting life-saving services. Health workers and patients have been taken into custody. Fighting has also reportedly taken place inside hospitals. 

Dozens of schools serving as shelters have been bombed or forcibly evacuated. Tents sheltering displaced families have been shelled, and people have been burned alive. 

Rescue teams have been deliberately attacked and thwarted in their attempts to pull people buried under the rubble of their homes. 

The needs of women and girls are overwhelming and growing every day. We have lost contact with those we support and those who provide lifesaving essential services for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence. 

And we have received reports of civilians being targeted while trying to seek safety, and of men and boys being arrested and taken to unknown locations for detention. 

Livestock are also dying, crop lands have been destroyed, trees burned to the ground, and agrifood systems infrastructure has been decimated. 

The entire Palestinian population in North Gaza is at imminent risk of dying from disease, famine and violence. 

Humanitarian aid cannot keep up with the scale of the needs due to the access constraints. Basic, life-saving goods are not available. Humanitarians are not safe to do their work and are blocked by Israeli forces and by insecurity from reaching people in need. 

In a further blow to the humanitarian response, the polio vaccination campaign has been delayed due to the fighting, putting the lives of children in the region at risk. 

And this week, the Israeli Parliament adopted legislation that would ban UNRWA and revoke its privileges and immunities. If implemented, such measures would be a catastrophe for the humanitarian response in Gaza, diametrically opposed to the United Nations Charter, with potential dire impacts on the human rights of the millions of Palestinians depending on UNRWA’s assistance, and in violation of Israel’s obligations under international law. 

Let us be very clear: There is no alternative to UNRWA. 

The blatant disregard for basic humanity and for the laws of war must stop. 

International humanitarian law, including the rules of distinction, proportionality and precautions, must be respected. IHL obligations do not depend on reciprocity. No violation by one party ever releases the other from its legal obligations. 

Attacks against civilians and what remains of civilian infrastructure in Gaza must stop. 

Humanitarian relief must be facilitated, and we urge all parties to provide unimpeded access to affected people. Additionally, commercial goods must be allowed to enter Gaza. 

The wounded and sick must receive the care they need. Medical personnel and hospitals must be spared. Hospitals should not turn into battlegrounds. 

Unlawfully detained Palestinians must be released. 

Israel must comply with the provisional orders and determinations of the International Court of Justice. 

Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups must release the hostages immediately and unconditionally and must abide by international humanitarian law. 

Member States must use their leverage to ensure respect for international law. This includes withholding arms transfers where there is a clear risk that such arms will be used in violation of international law. 

The entire region is on the edge of a precipice. An immediate cessation of hostilities and a sustained, unconditional ceasefire are long overdue. 

Signatories: 

  • Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 
  • Ms. Nimo Hassan, MBE, Chair, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA
  • Mr. Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA
  • Ms. Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM
  • Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR
  • Ms. Abby Maxman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Oxfam 
  • Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR of IDPs) 
  • Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 
  • Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) 
  • Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 
  • Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 
  • Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) 
  • Ms. Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women 
  • Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP) 
  • Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO) 

 

11/01/2024   WHO News
The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) and the World Health Organization concluded the first in-person Global Model WHO (GMWHO) today, marking a powerful gathering of over 350 youth delegates from 52 countries from all Regions.
11/01/2024   WHO News
The Quadripartite collaboration on One Health - comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) - co-organized the G20 High-Level Meeting on One Health on 30 October 2024.
11/01/2024   WHO News

A third phase of the polio vaccination campaign is set to begin tomorrow in part of the northern Gaza Strip after being postponed from 23 October 2024 due to lack of access and assured, comprehensive humanitarian pauses, intense bombardment, and mass evacuation orders. These conditions made it impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccination and to organize campaign activities.  

The humanitarian pause necessary to conduct the campaign has been assured; however, the area of the pause has been substantially reduced compared to the first round of vaccination in northern Gaza, conducted in September 2024. It is now limited to just Gaza City. Though in the past few weeks, at least 100 000 people have been forced to evacuate from North Gaza towards Gaza City for safety, around 15 000 children under ten years in towns in North Gaza like Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun still remain inaccessible and will be missed during the campaign, compromising its effectiveness. To interrupt poliovirus transmission, at least 90% of all children in every community and neighborhood must be vaccinated. This will be challenging to achieve given the situation. 

The final phase of the campaign had aimed to reach an estimated 119 000 children under ten years old in northern Gaza with a second dose of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). However, achieving this target is now unlikely due to access constraints.  

Despite the lack of access to all eligible children in northern Gaza, the Polio Technical Committee for Gaza, including the Palestinian Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and partners has taken the decision to resume the campaign. This aims to mitigate the risk of a long delay in reaching as many children as possible with polio vaccine and the opportunity to vaccinate those recently evacuated to Gaza City from other parts of North Gaza.   

 To overcome challenges posed by the volatile security situation and constant population movement, robust micro plans have been developed to ensure the campaign is responsive to the significant population shifts and displacement in the north, following the first round in September. The campaign will be delivered by 216 teams across 106 fixed sites, 22 of which have been added to ensure increased availability of vaccination in areas where recently displaced people are seeking refuge. Two hundred and nine social mobilizers will be deployed to engage communities and raise awareness around vaccination efforts. The time period for the humanitarian pause has been extended by two hours and is expected to run from 6am to 4pm daily. As in the first two phases, vitamin A will also be co-administered to children between two to ten years in the north to help boost overall immunity. 

The campaign in northern Gaza follows the successful implementation of the first two phases of the second round in central and southern Gaza, which reached 451 216 children – 96% of the target in these areas. A total of 364 306 children aged between 2 and 10 years have received vitamin A so far in this round.  

Despite the challenges, WHO and UNICEF urge for the humanitarian pauses to be respected to ensure the successful delivery of this second round of the polio vaccination campaign. This is crucial to help curb the spread of polio in Gaza and neighboring countries.

10/31/2024   WHO News
Ministers of Health expressed their support for WHO's Investment Round during a G20 meeting chaired by Brazil held today in Rio de Janeiro.
10/30/2024   WHO News

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance quality-assured testing options, the World Health Organization (WHO) has listed two additional mpox in vitro diagnostics under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure. WHO’s EUL is based on the review of quality, safety and performance data in compliance with international standards while addressing the specific needs of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, which detects viral DNA, is considered the gold standard for diagnosing mpox infection.

WHO listed the Xpert Mpox, a real-time PCR test manufactured by Cepheid under its EUL procedure, on 25 October. This test is designed for use on compatible GeneXpert systems. The Xpert Mpox test is easy to operate and delivers results in under 40 minutes. Once the cartridge is placed in the system, the process is fully automated, with real-time PCR detecting viral DNA of monkeypox virus clade II. The GeneXpert system is a near-point-of-care testing option, which can support decentralized testing.

Another PCR-based option, the cobas MPXV assay, developed by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., was listed on 14 October 2024. It is intended for use on the cobas 6800/8800 Systems. This tool is a real-time PCR test capable of detecting both mpox clades and delivering results in under 2 hours. It can process multiple samples simultaneously and is suitable for clinical laboratories that handle large volumes of tests.

“Ensuring global access to mpox diagnostic tests that meet WHO standards for quality, safety and performance is essential for efficient and effective testing in settings affected by mpox outbreaks,” said Dr Rogerio Gaspar, WHO Director for Regulation and Prequalification. “Rapid access to those listed products is critical not only for prompt diagnosis and timely treatment but also for effectively containing the spread of the virus."

WHO previously listed Alinity m MPXV assay, manufactured by Abbott Molecular Inc. under EUL on 3 October. 

In 2024, 19 countries in Africa have reported over 40 000 suspected mpox cases with most remaining unconfirmed due to limited testing capacity, especially in LMICs. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo—the hardest-hit country—testing has significantly increased in 2024, following efforts to decentralize testing with support from WHO and partners. However, the proportion of tested cases remains low, accounting for 40-50% of the suspected cases.

WHO is working with manufacturers of the EUL-listed products and national regulatory authorities in affected countries to facilitate domestic registration or emergency listing. Fast-tracking approvals and applying reliance principles will enhance access to quality-assured mpox tests.

Overall, WHO has received over 60 expressions of interest for the EUL review of mpox diagnostic tests. Seven of these progressed to EUL applications, with 2 products currently under review and 2 more expected soon.

The status of active applications and listed mpox diagnostics under WHO EUL procedure can be seen on WHO webpages.


After WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 14 August 2024, WHO called on mpox in vitro diagnostic manufacturers to submit expressions of interest for Emergency Use Listing on 28 August 2024.

WHO EUL is a risk-benefit assessment designed to meet urgent needs during public health emergencies based on limited available data, accelerating the availability of life-saving medical products such as vaccines, tests, and treatments. It assists decision-making for procurement by UN, partner agencies and Member States at international, regional and national levels. Under EUL, the manufacturers must commit to continue generating any missing information in order to fulfil prequalification requirements. Once this information is available, a prequalification application should be submitted to complete the full process for achieving a recommendation for international procurement in both emergency and non-emergency settings.

Note to editors

On 31 October 2024, a correction was made to the first sentence of the seventh paragraph of this news release as noted below.

The sentence in the original news release read:

In 2024, 18 countries have reported over 40 000 suspected mpox cases with most remaining unconfirmed due to limited testing capacity, especially in LMICs. 

This was changed to:

In 2024, 19 countries in Africa have reported over 40 000 suspected mpox cases with most remaining unconfirmed due to limited testing capacity, especially in LMICs. 

10/29/2024   WHO News

In October 2024, WHO and partners, in collaboration with Member States, activated the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) for the first time to provide support to countries facing mpox outbreaks.

GHEC is a grouping of professionals with the objective of strengthening the response to health emergencies, and a collaboration platform for countries and health emergency networks. It supports countries on their health emergency workforce, the surge deployment of experts and the networking of technical leaders. GHEC was established by WHO in 2023 after the response to the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need to streamline efforts of existing networks to ensure better-coordinated support to countries.

“WHO and partners are supporting the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries to implement an integrated approach to case detection, contact tracing, targeted vaccination, clinical and home care, infection prevention and control, community engagement and mobilization, and specialized logistical support,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. “The GHEC enhances the ability of the many effective responders at national and regional levels to collaborate and ensure the success on the ground in interrupting transmission and reducing suffering.”

The first activation of this new support mechanism follows the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on 14 August 2024. Eighteen African countries have reported mpox cases this year, and the rapid spread of clade 1b mpox to at least two other regions has raised concerns about further spread.

In collaboration with the International Association of National Public Health Institutes, GHEC is assessing the emergency workforce capacities in 8 countries affected by the mpox outbreak, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, the two most affected countries. The assessment has so far identified 22 areas that need strengthening, including epidemiology and surveillance, laboratory capacities, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Health Cluster partners have joined in strengthening the coordination set up by the Ministry of Health under the leadership of the public health emergency operations centre.

As of 17 October, WHO has managed the deployment of 56 experts to the affected countries. This includes WHO staff as well as experts mobilized through the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and the African Volunteers Health Corps (AVoHC-SURGE). The AVoHC-SURGE responders, coordinated by WHO’s Regional Office for Africa and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, are a growing cohort of professionals with diverse skillsets that can be deployed in the region.

“By mobilizing trained professionals from within the continent, we ensure that responses are not only timely but also contextually relevant,” said Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, Regional Emergency Director for the WHO Regional Office for Africa. “The dedication and expertise of these responders are essential in saving lives and building resilient health systems capable of withstanding future threats.”

Additionally, GOARN is leading the efforts to map the support provided by partners on a bilateral basis to affected countries and the regional coordination structure. This includes the provision of experts, supplies, financial support, capacity strengthening and other activities. 

As part of the GHEC activation, on 22 October, technical leaders from affected countries and leaders from other countries, including those who have experienced previous mpox outbreaks, convened to discuss the most effective control measures, share best practices and coordinate their efforts to halt the outbreak.

 

Note to editors:

GHEC was established by WHO in 2023 in response to the gaps and challenges identified during the COVID-19 response. It supports countries experiencing public health emergencies through three key pillars:

  • Emergency workforce assessment: GHEC conducts assessments of emergency workforce capacities in affected countries to identify gaps and challenges hindering an effective response.
  • Rapid deployment of surge capacities: Countries can request support from various pools of experts with specific skill sets tailored to the identified needs. These experts can be rapidly deployed to affected countries to support the emergency response.
  • Leadership network: Countries nominate representatives to connect with other leaders to share best practices and coordinate the response. Leaders include representatives from national public health agencies, national emergency operation centres or other disease experts.
10/29/2024   WHO News

The World Health Organization (WHO) today published a new report on tuberculosis revealing that approximately 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023 – the highest number recorded since WHO began global TB monitoring in 1995. This represents a notable increase from 7.5 million reported in 2022, placing TB again as the leading infectious disease killer in 2023, surpassing COVID-19.

WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 highlights mixed progress in the global fight against TB, with persistent challenges such as significant underfunding. While the number of TB-related deaths decreased from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, the total number of people falling ill with TB rose slightly to an estimated 10.8 million in 2023.

With the disease disproportionately affecting people in 30 high-burden countries, India (26%), Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%) and Pakistan (6.3%) together accounted for 56% of the global TB burden. According to the report, 55% of people who developed TB were men, 33% were women and 12% were children and young adolescents.

“The fact that TB still kills and sickens so many people is an outrage, when we have the tools to prevent it, detect it and treat it,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “WHO urges all countries to make good on the concrete commitments they have made to expand the use of those tools, and to end TB.”

In 2023, the gap between the estimated number of new TB cases and those reported narrowed to about 2.7 million, down from COVID-19 pandemic levels of around 4 million in 2020 and 2021. This follows substantial national and global efforts to recover from COVID-related disruptions to TB services. The coverage of TB preventive treatment has been sustained for people living with HIV and continues to improve for household contacts of people diagnosed with TB.  

However, multidrug-resistant TB remains a public health crisis. Treatment success rates for multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) have now reached 68%. But, of the 400 000 people estimated to have developed MDR/RR-TB, only 44% were diagnosed and treated in 2023.

Funding gaps and challenges

Global funding for TB prevention and care decreased further in 2023 and remains far below target. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which bear 98% of the TB burden, faced significant funding shortages. Only US$ 5.7 billion of the US$ 22 billion annual funding target was available in 2023, equivalent to only 26% of the global target.

The total amount of international donor funding in LMICs has remained at around US$1.1 – 1.2 billion per year for several years. The United States government remains the largest bilateral donor for TB. The While Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) is the top contribution to international funder of the TB response, especially in LMICs. is important, it remains However, resources remain insufficient to cover essential TB service needs. The report emphasizes that sustained financial investment is crucial for the success of TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment efforts.

Globally, TB research remains severely underfunded with only one-fifth of the US$ 5 billion annual target reached in 2022. This impedes the development of new TB diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines. WHO continues leading efforts to advance the TB vaccine agenda, including with the support of the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council launched by the WHO Director-General.

Complex drivers of the epidemic

For the first time, the report provides estimates on the percentage of TB-affected households that face catastrophic costs (exceeding 20% of annual household income) to access TB diagnosis and treatment in all LMICs. These indicate that half of TB-affected households face such catastrophic costs.  

A significant number of new TB cases are driven by 5 major risk factors: undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking (especially among men), and diabetes. Tackling these issues, along with critical determinants like poverty and GDP per capita, requires coordinated multisectoral action.

“We are confronted with a multitude of formidable challenges: funding shortfalls and catastrophic financial burden on those affected, climate change, conflict, migration and displacement, pandemics, and drug-resistant tuberculosis, a significant driver of antimicrobial resistance,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme. “It is imperative that we unite across all sectors and stakeholders, to confront these pressing issues and ramp up our efforts.”

Global milestones and targets for reducing the TB disease burden are off-track, and considerable progress is needed to reach other targets set for 2027 ahead of the second UN High-Level Meeting. WHO calls on governments, global partners, and donors to urgently translate the commitments made during the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB into tangible actions. Increased funding for research, particularly for new TB vaccines, is essential to accelerate progress and achieve the global targets set for 2027.

Note to editors

On 31 October 2024, a correction was made to this news release as noted below.

The sentence in the original news release read:

The total amount of international donor funding in LMICs has remained at around US$ 1.1–1.2 billion per year for several years. The United States government remains the largest bilateral donor for TB. While the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) contribution to international funding of the TB response, especially in LMICs, is important, it remains insufficient to cover essential TB service needs. 

This was changed to:

The total amount of international donor funding in LMICs has remained at around US$1.1--1.2 billion per year for several years. The United States government remains the largest bilateral donor for TB. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) is the top international funder of the TB response especially in LMICs however resources remain insufficient to cover essential TB service needs.

 

10/24/2024   CDC Travel Notices
Areas in the following countries are reporting a low number of cases of Oropouche: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, and Peru. Oropouche is spread primarily through the bites of infected midges (small flies) and mosquitoes. Country List : Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Peru, Guyana, Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands
10/24/2024   CDC Travel Notices
There is an outbreak of Oropouche in Cuba. Oropouche is spread primarily through the bites of infected midges (small flies) and mosquitoes.
10/23/2024   WHO News

Due to the escalating violence, intense bombardment, mass displacement orders, and lack of assured humanitarian pauses across most of northern Gaza, the Polio Technical Committee for Gaza, including the Palestinian Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and partners have been compelled to postpone the third phase of the polio vaccination campaign, which was set to begin today. This final phase of the ongoing campaign aimed to vaccinate 119 279 children across northern Gaza.

The current conditions, including ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure continue to jeopardize people’s safety and movement in northern Gaza, making it impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccination, and health workers to operate.

All logistics, supplies and trained human resources were prepared to vaccinate children across northern Gaza with a second dose of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), following a first round conducted across the Gaza Strip from 1-12 September 2024. However, given that the area currently approved for temporary humanitarian pauses was substantially reduced—now limited only to Gaza City, a significant decrease from the first round—many children in northern Gaza would have missed out on the polio vaccine dose.

To interrupt poliovirus transmission, at least 90% of all children in every community and neighborhood must be vaccinated – a prerequisite for an effective campaign to interrupt the outbreak and prevent its further spread. Humanitarian pauses are essential for its success, allowing partners to deliver vaccination supplies to health facilities, families to safely access vaccination sites, and mobile teams of health workers to reach children in their communities. A delay in administering a second dose of nOPV2 within six weeks reduces the impact of two closely spaced rounds on concurrently boosting the immunity of all children and interrupting poliovirus transmission. Having a significant number of children miss out on their second vaccine dose will seriously jeopardize efforts to stop the transmission of poliovirus in Gaza. This could also lead to further spread of poliovirus in the Gaza Strip and neighboring countries, with the risk of more children being paralyzed.

Since the rollout of the second round of the polio campaign in Gaza on 14 October 2024, 442 855 children under ten years have been successfully vaccinated in central and south of the Gaza Strip– 94% of the target in these areas. A total of 357 802 children between two to ten years received vitamin A supplements as part of efforts to integrate the delivery of polio vaccine with other essential health services in Gaza.

It is imperative to stop the polio outbreak as soon as possible, before more children are paralyzed and poliovirus spreads further. It is crucial therefore that the vaccination campaign in northern Gaza is facilitated through the implementation of the humanitarian pauses, ensuring access for wherever eligible children are located. WHO and UNICEF urge all parties to ensure that civilians, health workers, and civilian infrastructure, such as schools, shelters, hospitals, are protected and renew their call for an immediate ceasefire.

 

10/22/2024   WHO News

On 21 October, 14 patients and 10 caregivers were transferred from Kamal Adwan in North Gaza to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City during a high-risk, WHO-led joint mission, amid intense hostilities and access restrictions. Despite an initial agreement, the delivery of critical medical supplies, blood, and fuel – resources essential for keeping Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda hospitals operational – was denied just a few hours before the mission began on 20 October. 

The mission lasted two days, with the team facing delays at successive checkpoints, and during extensive security screenings. The team was forced to stay overnight at Kamal Adwan Hospital, as they were not cleared to proceed to Al-Shifa hospital due to active conflict in the area. Heavy bombardment continued near the hospital throughout the night, causing distress among patients, health workers and the mission team. The team was only able to proceed to Al-Shifa Hospital around midday on 21 October. En route to Al-Shifa, all patients were taken out of the ambulances for a security screening. Some patients on stretchers were left lying on the ground for some time during the screening was conducted, while some partner staff were subjected to humiliating treatment.  

This was the fourth WHO mission to the north of Gaza since 1 October. So far this month, out of the 21 missions requested by WHO, only 6 were facilitated, the majority being denied or impeded.   

Kamal Adwan Hospital remains partially functional but is struggling to meet growing needs due to intensified hostilities in the north and a shortage of medical supplies and fuel. A strike near the hospital causing damages to the gate was reported earlier today, 22 October. Currently, there are 95 patients in the hospital, including 15 in intensive care (including four requiring continuous life support) seven of whom are children. Over the last two days, at least 200 severely injured people and 53 dead bodies have been brought to the already overwhelmed hospital. Damaged roads, combined with ongoing hostilities, are severely disrupting safe access to the hospital. If patients, ambulances, and health workers are unable to reach the facility, and partners cannot resupply it, the hospital may soon become non-functional.  

As hostilities intensify in North Gaza, WHO is deeply concerned about the last two functional hospitals – Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda – which must be protected. A complete lack of health care in North Gaza would make an already catastrophic situation worse, and lead to more lives being lost. 

One year on, health care continues to be attacked and deprived of supplies and fuel, while WHO’s ability to regularly reach health facilities is severely compromised due to mission delays and denials.  

WHO reiterates its call for unimpeded access to health facilities, reliable and timely facilitation of missions, sustained flow of aid into and across Gaza, protection of health care, and above all a ceasefire.  

10/21/2024   WHO News

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced a new milestone digital health collaboration today to expand the Hajj health card initiative to support the roughly 3 million pilgrims who undertake the holy pilgrimage every year.

The Hajj health card, built on the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network’s public key infrastructure, summarizes critical health information, such as medication needs, allergies, immunization status and pre-existing conditions. The card gives individuals agency over their own health information when they travel to Saudi Arabia so that they can provide authorized health providers access to accurate, up-to-date patient summary information and obtain personalized quality care.

“Today marks a notable progress in WHO’s support to Member States to expand access to safer and person-centered digital health tools for people to improve their access to quality health care when and where they need it,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO Chief Scientist. “We are thankful for the excellent collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, participating countries, and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, and look forward to further support building capacity and infrastructure in countries shifting to more digitized health systems.”

The Hajj is the largest pilgrimage in the world, drawing almost 3 million pilgrims from over 180 countries every year. Over 250 000 pilgrims from 3 countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Oman, were issued Hajj health cards in 2024, as part of the pilot collaboration between WHO and Saudi Arabia. This test-phase demonstrated that each country was able to use global standards to issue their own national versions of the card, enhancing the pilgrims’ safety and quality of care while undertaking the Hajj.

WHO and Saudi Arabia agreed to further collaborate to improve and expand upon the successful pilot programme for the Hajj health card. The expertise and support from the Saudi government and their digital implementing partner LEAN, will enable increased data security and essential technical support to additional countries joining the Hajj health card programme.

“This exciting partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the World Health Organization to expand the Hajj health card initiative enhances the safety and well-being of millions of pilgrims,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO). “By leveraging digital health solutions, we strengthen quality of care, and help strengthen health systems in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and around the world."

Eighty countries joined the WHO’s digital health certification network

WHO launched the Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) in 2023 building on a successful collaboration with the European Union and other partnering countries to support COVID-19 vaccination certificates. The GDHCN now includes over 80 WHO Member States that have established systems to verify the authenticity of health information between each other, leveraging a new global ISO standard, IPS – the International Patient Summary.

The GDHCN is based on a robust public key infrastructure (PKI) encryption system that keeps health credentials verifiable and secure, allowing national authorities and health providers to trust the authenticity of health documents across borders without compromising individual privacy.

The initiative aims to bring a digital health future where people can carry internationally recognized health credentials for improved travel and health care access. This enables greater access and control for people over their health information with the ability to select and decide which health information should be shared when seeking care domestically or abroad.

By joining WHO’s certification network, countries can cut down on administration processes, making border controls more efficient and health visits better informed. The global network lays the groundwork for long-term improvements in international health collaboration, enabling future use-cases such as cross-border e-prescriptions, insurance, and even telemedicine.

 

10/19/2024   WHO News
The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Egypt as malaria-free, marking a significant public health milestone for a country with more than 100 million inhabitants. The achievement follows a nearly 100-year effort by the Egyptian government and people to end a disease that has been present in the country since ancient times.
10/17/2024   CDC Travel Notices
Many international destinations are reporting increased numbers of cases of measles. Country List : Afghanistan, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo , Senegal, Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, Togo, Yemen, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Mauritania, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Burkina Faso, Türkiye (Turkey), Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Burundi, Romania, Malaysia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Austria, Belarus, Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, San Marino, Guinea, Comoros, Kenya, Monaco, United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, Libya, Montenegro, Moldova, Serbia
10/17/2024   WHO News

On 16 October, the Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon confirmed a cholera case, highlighting the escalating health risks amidst ongoing conflict. The case was identified in Akkar governorate in the north of the country, marking the first case since the October 2022-June 2023 outbreak was declared over. Authorities are investigating the extent of the disease’s spread, gathering samples from the patient’s contacts, and assessing potential water contamination. 

“WHO has been sounding the alarm on the risk of emerging infectious diseases like cholera resurfacing in Lebanon as a result of poor water and sanitation conditions and the impact of the current conflict,” said Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, WHO Representative in Lebanon. “Our immediate focus now is to enhance surveillance and water sanitation conditions to interrupt transmission and prevent further spread.”

The current resurgence occurs as conflict strains Lebanon’s already overburdened health system, exacerbating displacement, and contributing to a further decline in water and sanitation services and infrastructure. Overcrowded shelters are not equipped to accommodate the increasing number of displaced people, raising the risks of the spread of cholera.

WHO is collaborating closely with the Ministry of Health and partners, leveraging lessons from the last outbreak in October 2022 to contain the disease outbreak and prevent its spread. The 2022-2023 outbreak was the first in Lebanon in over 30 years and was driven by economic decline and inadequate access to clean water and sanitation, resulting in 8,007 suspected cases, 671 lab-confirmed cases, and 23 deaths.

Earlier in August, the Ministry of Public Health launched a preemptive oral cholera vaccination campaign in coordination with WHO, UHNCR, UNICEF and other partners, targeting 350 000 people living in high-risk areas. The campaign, which was interrupted by the escalation in violence, aimed to cover individuals aged one year and above residing in high-risk areas in 5 out of Lebanon’s 8 governorates.

In response to the detection of the current case, WHO has immediately activated a cholera preparedness and response plan to enhance surveillance and contact tracing, including environmental surveillance and water sampling, strengthen laboratory testing capacity, preposition cholera supplies and support infection prevention and control measures in designated treatment centre facilities.

On 4 and 5 October, a WHO shipment of essential health supplies arrived in Beirut to support the response to the ongoing emergency. The shipment of over 116 metric tons included cholera supplies as part of the preparedness and response plan. WHO will continue to procure and preposition essential cholera supplies, including laboratory supplies.

As part of the efforts to contain the outbreak, WHO and the Ministry of Public Health will explore whether to introduce oral cholera vaccines in high-risk areas to interrupt the transmission as early as possible

WHO is also supporting the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at the Ministry of Public Health to coordinate response activities at national and subnational level in coordination with the health sector. These response activities include maintaining essential health services to ensure no interruption of health delivery while supporting case identification and management at health facilities, as well as strengthening risk communication and community engagement activities so that people are aware of symptoms, risk factors and preventive measures.

By implementing the comprehensive cholera preparedness and response plan, WHO together with MoPH and partners aims to limit transmission, reduce the burden of the disease, and improve overall health outcomes.

 

10/17/2024   WHO News

Geneva 17 October 2024 – This afternoon, His Excellency Mr Jérôme Bonnafont, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in Geneva, and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met in the WHO headquarters for the signing of seven contribution agreements.

The contribution totalling €24 million comes through the Ministry of Europe & Foreign Affairs. It fits in the France–WHO Framework Agreement for 2020 to 2025, which provides both a strategic framework for engagement, aligned with WHO priorities, while providing legal, administrative and financial instruments for operationalizing collaboration.

This latest contribution includes a generous €4.5 million in fully flexible voluntary funds for the Core Voluntary Contributions Account (CVCA).

Additionally, France will support key areas of WHO’s work, addressing some of the most pressing health challenges, including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), urban health labs, One Health, funding for the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE), and several emergencies, such as the WHO response in Gaza, response to cholera outbreaks and mental health support in Ukraine.

France will also continue to support the WHO emergencies centre in Lyon which is playing a crucial role in preparedness and response to epidemics.

Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont underscored the importance of this collaboration: “France remains deeply committed to supporting the World Health Organization in its efforts to tackle critical global health challenges. These agreements reflect our shared priorities of promoting health equity, responding to emergencies, and strengthening healthcare systems worldwide.”

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, expressed his gratitude, stating, “We are immensely grateful to the French Government for its steadfast support to WHO, continued partnership and leadership in global health. This contribution will enable us to address key health threats, from non-communicable diseases to emergency response, helping to save lives and protect the most vulnerable populations.”

France is a strong supporter of a fully and flexibly financed WHO, providing leadership and support to the increase of assessed contributions to the Organization. France is also one of the co-hosts to WHO’s first Investment Round towards the mobilization of predictable and flexible resources for WHO’s core work on the Fourteenth General Programme of Work (2025–2028), approved by the World Health Assembly in 2024.

This signing ceremony marks another milestone in the strong and longstanding partnership between WHO and France, reinforcing their joint commitment to a healthier, safer world.

10/16/2024   WHO News

Parliamentarians from across the globe gathered at the UNITE Global Summit in Berlin to sign a statement in support of the World Health Organization Pandemic Agreement. The statement, signed by the President of UNITE, members of its board, and parliamentarians around the world, marks a significant commitment from parliamentarians to strengthen pandemic preparedness, response, and equitable access to health. 

“Parliamentarians are the voice of the people and have a crucial responsibility in safeguarding public health,” said Ricardo Baptista Leite, President of UNITE. “The WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a historic opportunity to prevent pandemics and strengthen our global preparedness and response capabilities. By signing this statement, we are not only showing our support for the agreement but also pledging to ensure that its principles of equity, solidarity, and global cooperation are fully realized in every nation.”

The UNITE Global Summit, this year held in collaboration with the World Health Summit (WHS), is a high level gathering with a unique convergence of global parliamentarians, civil society leaders, and health experts. The summit aims to translate discussions into actionable policy priorities. It focuses on critical health challenges under four main pillars: Human Rights & Equitable Access to Health, Global Health Architecture & Security, Strengthening of Healthcare Systems, and Sustainable Financing for Health. The signing of the Global Parliamentary Statement in Support of the Pandemic Agreement is one of the summit’s key highlights, demonstrating the critical role of parliamentarians in ensuring global health security and safeguarding populations against future pandemics.

The Pandemic Agreement, currently under negotiation by WHO Member States, aims to address gaps exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the threats posed by mpox and other disease outbreaks. It seeks to strengthen global collaboration on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. This statement represents Parliamentarians’ commitment to protect their fellow citizens by ensuring that all countries, regardless of resources, have equitable access to the tools, capacities, resources, and healthcare required during pandemics, including to vaccines, treatments, medical supplies, and vital healthcare information.

WHO Director-General welcomed this strong show of parliamentary support. “The WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a stronger, fairer, and more prepared global health system,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “By signing this statement, parliamentarians from around the world are showing their commitment to protecting lives from future pandemics and ensuring equitable access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and other health tools for every country, particularly those with fewer resources.”

As representatives of their citizens, parliamentarians worldwide are uniquely positioned to advocate for the conclusion of a meaningful Pandemic Agreement and for its ratification and implementation afterwards. The Global Parliamentary Statement emphasizes four key commitments: 

  1. Equity at the Core: Ensuring equitable access to pandemic-related health tools based on public health need for everyone, especially countries with fewer resources.
  2. Global Solidarity: Strengthening international cooperation to build resilient health systems that can prevent and respond to pandemics.
  3. Legislative Action: Advocating for the ratification and implementation of the Pandemic Agreement within national legislatures, as appropriate.
  4. Combating Misinformation: Providing communities with evidence-based health information to counter the spread of harmful misinformation.

Baptista Leite further emphasized the importance of collective action: “The challenges we face today demand a global response. No single country can prevent or combat pandemics alone. The WHO Pandemic Agreement is an essential step forward in ensuring that every nation has the tools, resources, and capabilities to respond to future health threats.” 

The WHO Pandemic Agreement needs to continue to garner broad international support from governments, global health organizations, and civil society. It reflects a shared understanding that pandemics know no borders and that global solidarity is essential for safeguarding the health and well-being of all people. The agreement also underscores the importance of sustainable financing, research and development, and capacity-building efforts to ensure that countries can respond swiftly and effectively to health emergencies.

As part of their commitment, parliamentarians will work closely with WHO and other international organizations to ensure that the Pandemic Agreement is implemented in a way that benefits all countries, particularly those with limited resources. The statement signed in Berlin is expected to act as a catalyst for global parliamentary action, fostering collaboration and solidarity among nations.

 

10/15/2024   WHO News

Since the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon on 17 September 2024, WHO has verified 23 attacks on health care in Lebanon that have led to 72 deaths and 43 injuries among health workers and patients. Fifteen incidents impacted health facilities, while 13 impacted health transport. Hospitals in Lebanon are already under massive strain as they strive to sustain essential health services while dealing with an unprecedented influx of injured people. Understaffed and under-resourced, the health system has been struggling to maintain uninterrupted services to all those in need with supplies being depleted and health workers exhausted.

Increasing conflict, intense bombardment and insecurity are forcing a growing number of health facilities to shut down, particularly in the south. Out of 207 primary health care centres and dispensaries in conflict-affected areas, 100 are now closed. Hospitals have had to close or evacuate due to structural damage or their proximity to areas of intense bombardment. As of today, 5 hospitals have been evacuated and another 5 partially evacuated, with critical cancer and dialysis patients referred to other hospitals also overwhelmed by increasing health needs. Dialysis centres are having to operate an extra three shifts to accommodate the referred patients while being under-resourced for essential blood testing supplies and personnel.

“The situation in Lebanon is alarming. Attacks on health care debilitate health systems and impede their ability to continue to perform. They also prevent entire communities from accessing health services when they need them the most,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “WHO is working tirelessly with the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon to address critical gaps and support the continuity of essential health services, but what people of Lebanon need most is an immediate ceasefire.”

In response to growing needs, WHO is supporting with delivery of essential supplies. On 4 and 5 October, four flights containing medical supplies for trauma care, cholera prevention and mental health treatment arrived from WHO’s logistics hub in Dubai to Beirut. The supplies, currently being distributed to priority hospitals in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, are enough to treat around 100 000 patients. WHO is working to bring in additional supplies.

WHO continues to coordinate with the Lebanese Red Cross and hospitals to equip blood banks with adequate supplies, including testing supplies to support safe blood donation. Surgical trauma capacities, including life-limb saving skills are also being strengthened through war trauma surgery trainings for surgeons of various disciplines. WHO is also working with Ministry of Public Health of Lebanon to establish trauma centers within the existing referral hospitals and to plan for the deployment of Emergency Medical Teams.

WHO support is ongoing to the ministry’s Epidemiological Surveillance Unit to expand community-based surveillance on priority diseases in shelters hosting displaced people, especially for acute watery diarrhoea, respiratory infections, and other communicable diseases. WHO is also working to ensure that shelters are linked with primary health centres to support continuation of health services and dispensing essential medications.

WHO calls for attacks on health care to stop. Health care should be protected at all times. Peace is the only solution.

 

10/14/2024   CDC Travel Notices
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2-5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Burkina Faso, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, including the Galápagos Islands, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mali, Mexico, Panama, Sudan, Afghanistan, Cape Verde, Cuba, Ghana, El Salvador, French Polynesia, including the island groups of Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora-Bora), Marquesas Islands (Hiva Oa and Ua Huka), and Austral Islands (Tubuai and Rurutu), Iran, Dominican Republic, Grenada, India, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Philippines, Ethiopia, Saint Lucia, Pakistan, Central African Republic
10/14/2024   WHO News

In a powerful demonstration of high-level support, the World Health Organization (WHO) today received nearly US$ 700 million in new funding commitments from European countries, foundations and others, and another US$ 300 million in reaffirmed commitments.

Announced at the WHO Investment Round Signature Event at the World Health Summit in Berlin hosted by Germany, France, and Norway, the commitments highlighted the urgent need for investments in the Organization’s mission to improve health outcomes worldwide.

The world’s global health strategy, WHO's Fourteenth General Programme of Work 2025-2028, was approved by WHO’s 194 Member States at the World Health Assembly in May. The Organization’s first ever Investment Round, also launched at the Assembly, aims to ensure that WHO has the predictable, flexible, and resilient funding it needs to effectively partner with countries to implement the strategy.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz; the Prime Ministers of Estonia (Kristen Michal), Montenegro (Milojko Spajić), and Norway (Jonas Gahr Støre); government Ministers and representatives of Germany, France, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK); Wellcome CEO John-Arne Røttingen; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates; and Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar were among leaders making commitments or speaking in support of WHO during the high-level event.

Federal Chancellor Scholz said Germany was committing nearly US$ 400 million of funding to WHO over the next four years, including more than US$ 260 million in new voluntary funding. In his address, the Chancellor said: “The WHO’s work benefits us all. What it needs for this work is sustainable financing that gives it the certainty to plan ahead and the flexibility to react."

Global health foundation partners and CEOs made pledges including Wellcome, with a US$ 50 million commitment, and the Institute for Philanthropy, Resolve to Save Lives, and the World Diabetes Foundation each committing or recommitting US$ 10 million.

The WHO Foundation’s CEO Anil Soni announced a US$ 50 million commitment to the Investment Round, which includes part of a US$ 57 million pledge from Foundation S and Sanofi to support WHO’s global health agenda, and at least US$ 30 million in contributions from other philanthropic and private sector partners, including new commitments from Boehringer Ingelheim and Novo Nordisk.

Governments and partners have already been making significant pledges to the Investment Round, including 16 African governments so far, and in Berlin the Minister of Health for Mauritania, speaking on behalf of the African Union, reconfirmed support for a successful outcome to the Investment Round. Announcing plans to pledge or continue funding WHO were France, Spain, the UK, and the Gates Foundation. 

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, concluded the event by thanking donors and partners: "We know that we are making this ask at a time of competing priorities and limited resources. That’s why I have asked every Member State and every partner to step up. Every contribution counts. Once again, my deep thanks to Chancellor Scholz, co-hosts France and Norway, and the World Health Summit for the event tonight, and to all countries and partners who have announced pledges."

The event marked a milestone in the Investment Round engagement process which will culminate at next month’s G20 leaders’ Summit, chaired by Brazilian President Lula da Silva. The Summit will be a moment for leaders to pledge additional resources for WHO, further advancing global health equity.

The event in Berlin, moderated by Isabelle Kumar, former news anchor, ended with a musical finale by Quire, symbolizing the unity and determination of all participants to work towards a fully funded WHO, capable of addressing the world’s most pressing health challenges.

 

About WHO

Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance at a safe and healthy life. We are the UN agency for health that connects nations, partners and people on the front lines in 150+ locations – leading the world’s response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. 

10/14/2024   WHO News
Capturing and building on the experiences of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the State of Qatar and World Health Organization today launched a new report providing lessons learned and recommendations for staging healthy and safe mega and grassroots sporting events around the world.
10/14/2024   WHO News

The WHO Youth Council has launched its first Youth Declaration on Creating Healthy Societies, with a range of calls to action informed and developed by young people from around the world and geared towards empowering youth to play a central role in creating healthier and safer societies for all.

"The WHO Youth Council is proud to be issuing its first Youth Declaration on Creating Healthy Societies," said Kate Ndocko, WHO Youth Council member. "This Declaration represents our collective commitment and priorities to help communities, especially youth, at local, regional and global levels, to be healthier and more resilient in the face of the many health challenges the world faces today as well as the ones ahead."

The Declaration was launched today during the World Health Summit taking place in Berlin. It outlines 10 calls for action that place youth at the centre of co-creating healthier societies globally, and explaining what is needed for this to succeed. The calls to action ensure:

  • Access, equity and inclusion for youth in education by removing barriers and designed to reflect diverse healthcare needs for individuals and communities.
  • Comprehensive national curricula on health, climate change and digital literacy.
  • Quality and adaptive education through flexible and responsive learning environments.
  • Youth engagement and leadership in the design and implementation of health policies and programmes.
  • Inclusive, accessible and prevention-focused healthcare, including for young people from marginalized and vulnerable groups.
  • Investment in young people to empower them to become leaders and drive solutions in the areas of health, climate change and education.
  • Brave spaces for healthy environments are created that protect young people from social and institutional barriers, and keep them safe from violence, harassment and other harmful practices.
  • Inclusion of young people by governments, international and civil society organizations to co-create policies on priority health needs.
  • Valuing the experiences of young people, including their diversity and views, in the development and implementation of health polices.
  • Greater support for grassroots youth organizations as a means to investing in future generations.

“WHO is committed to amplifying the voices of young people to realise our shared vision of health for all,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The Youth Declaration on Creating Healthy Societies, issued by the WHO Youth Council, does just that, channelling the ideas, advice and action of youth into a powerful call for change, and showing what can be achieved when youth are actively engaged in shaping their health and futures.”

Rehman Hassan, a WHO Youth Council Member from the Act4Food campaign of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), said: “We can no longer afford to squander the advice, skills, and energy of young people in transforming our communities, policies and the planet at large. Pandemics and epidemics, conflicts, the spread of misinformation, and the health risk posed by climate change, amongst other issues, are threatening the health and well-being of billions of people. Young people are the most underrepresented group in governance, yet half of the world’s population is aged under 30. It is high time we engage them and incorporate their solutions for a healthier way forward. The Youth Council and its constituent organizations, working with WHO, is committed to charting this healthier course for the present and future.”

The WHO Youth Council was established in 2023 and is a dynamic network aimed at amplifying the voices and experiences of young people and leveraging their expertise, energy, and ideas to promote public health. The Youth Council’s members are youth representatives of health and non-health organizations and movements. They advise and actively engage with the WHO Director-General and WHO senior leadership on ensuring health policies and programmes reflect the expertise, innovation and needs of young people around the world. The WHO Youth Council also serves as a platform for designing and incubating new initiatives and for expanding existing youth engagement initiatives of WHO. 

Editor’s notes

The following organizations are represented on the WHO Youth Council: Act4Food, a campaign of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN); Africa Public Health Students Network Initiative (AfricaPHSN); Climate Cardinals; Commonwealth Youth Health Network (CYHN) - Commonwealth Secretariat; Digital Transformations for Health Lab (DTH-Lab); European Network of Medical Residents in Public Health (EuroNet MRPH); Grassroot Soccer; Healthy Caribbean Coalition/Healthy Caribbean Youth; Innovation for Health Equity in Africa; International Federation of Medical Students' Association (IFMSA); International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF); International Student One Health Alliance (ISOHA); International Student Surgical Network (InciSioN); International Youth Alliance for Family Planning; International Youth Health Organization; Orygen; The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation (IGLYO); UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY); Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM); World Medical Association Junior Doctors Network (WMA JDN); World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM); Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network; Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP); Youth Alliance (a branch from the Healthy Latin America Coalition -CLAS-); and Youth and Environment Europe.

While in Berlin, the WHO Youth Council held an intensive three-day event, facilitated and supported by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, to generate ideas for collaboration, action and future work. During the meetings, new members of the Council were announced from a range of bodies.

The Bertelsmann Stiftung is committed to ensuring that everyone can participate in society – politically, economically and culturally. Its topics are education, democracy, Europe, health, values and the economy. In doing so, it puts people at the center of its efforts. Because it is people who can move, change and make the world a better place. To this end, we tap knowledge, impart skills and develop solutions. The Bertelsmann Stiftung was founded in 1977 by Reinhard Mohn.

 

 

10/06/2024   CDC Travel Notices
Reconsider nonessential travel to the Republic of Rwanda, which is experiencing an outbreak of Marburg virus disease.