Special event: Towards a Cervical Cancer Free World
On World Cancer Day, join us to shed light on cervical cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in low- and middle-income countries, which kills over 250,000 women annually.
WHO convenes emergency meeting to address Zika virus
The United Nations health agency called an emergency meeting for next Monday to counter the “dramatic” rise in Zika virus infection, warning that it could spread even further afield amid an “extremely high” level of alarm.
Report: Governments must act to reverse rise in childhood obesity
With the number of overweight children under five on track to jump from 42 million to 70 million over the next decade, a UN report called on governments to reverse the trend by promoting healthy foods and physical activity.
WHO: El Nino threatens at least 60 million people in developing countries
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners announced today they predict a major global increase in health consequences of emergencies this year due to El Niño.
Secretary-General announces High-Level Advisory Group for Every Woman Every Child
Secretary-General announces High-Level Advisory Group for Every Woman Every Child. The Group includes leaders from governments, business community, philanthropists, young people’s network and civil society to champion women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health.
UN declares end to Ebola virus transmission in Guinea
The WHO declared the end of Ebola virus transmission in Guinea, where the epidemic began two years ago before spreading to neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone and, ultimately by land and air travel to seven other countries, killing over 11,300 people.
‘We can consign rabies to the history books’ – UN health agency
The United Nations announced today a new framework to eliminate human rabies and save tens of thousands of lives each year by ensuring ready availability of vaccines and treatment, and emphasizing mass dog vaccinations to tackle the disease at its source.
New report signals ‘significant progress’ toward malaria elimination
The world is making “significant progress” toward malaria elimination with prevention and treatment efforts saving more than 660 million lives and $900 million in case management costs since 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported.
UN health agency outlines global trends, looks ahead to 2030 targets
The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued a comprehensive analysis [...]
New UN ‘bedside tool’ will help prevent and reduce maternal and newborn deaths worldwide
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today a new checklist for healthcare workers that will help reduce maternal and newborn deaths with “a single and practical bedside tool” designed to make a difference for women and infants in various settings around the world.
Children under five account for one third of deaths from foodborne diseases – new UN report
Diarrhoeal diseases are responsible for more than half of all foodborne diseases globally and of all those who fall ill after consuming contaminated food, 420,000 people die – almost third of them children under the age of five, the World Health Organization said today in its first ever report on the issue.
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, UN urges inclusion, access for people of all abilities
The United Nations is marking this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities today with the theme “inclusion matters” to raise awareness and mobilize support for some one billion people living with disabilities who remain one of the most marginalized groups in the world.
UN marks World AIDS Day with ‘new hope’ as momentum builds to break epidemic by 2030
The first World AIDS Day since political leaders committed to ending the epidemic by 2030 as part of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has generated “new hope” to break the epidemic and keep it from rebounding in “an unparalleled opportunity to change the course of history for ever.”
UN Millennium Development Goal target to reduce malaria burden achieved
With roughly six weeks left under the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), global leaders, diplomats and health experts are gathering at the UN today in New York to celebrate the progress made against one of the world’s leading killers: malaria.
Widespread misunderstanding about antibiotic resistance threatens public health, WHO says
A recent multi-country survey revealed that people are confused about the rising threat of antibiotic resistance to public health and are unclear about how to prevent it from growing, World Health Organization (WHO) said today at the launch of a global campaign at the initiation of the first World Antibiotic Awareness Week.
Everyone is entitled to a life of dignity, Ban says on World Mental Health Day
Everyone has the right to respect and dignity, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has declared in his message on World Mental Health Day, highlighting that people who have mental health and psychosocial disabilities deserve to live with the dignity that is integral to a healthy and fulfilling life.
New Report outlines vision for ending malaria
Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Ray Chambers, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Financing the Health Millennium Development Goals and for Malaria, today released an in-depth report on what it will take to eradicate malaria. It declares that eradication can be achieved by 2040 if world leaders commit to making it a reality, and they call on leaders to launch a global debate on the issue.
Polio is no longer endemic in Nigeria – UN health agency
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that polio is no longer endemic in Nigeria, leaving the devastating disease endemic in only two countries and bringing the world one major step closer to achieving this goal of ending polio for good.
Despite gains, 2.4 billion people worldwide still lack basic sanitation – UN report
United Nations agencies tracking access to water and sanitation targets against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) warned today that the lack of progress on sanitation threatens to undermine the child survival and health benefits from gains in access to safe drinking water.
An age-old model of healthy living, the Mediterranean diet is now under threat – UN
The Mediterranean region is undergoing a “nutrition transition” away from its traditional diet, long revered as a model for healthy living and sustainable food systems and known for preserving the environment and empowering local producers, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned.