Despite multiple health crises, there were many reasons for hope in 2023. The notes that it was a record year for disease elimination, with several countries eliminating infectious diseases thanks to dedicated national efforts and collaboration between countries and health partners. At the same time, 72% of people worldwide had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, preventing severe illness and hospitalizations for millions of people. The year began with WHO responding to a major earthquake in and ended with the horrific war in . In between, the world faced many other crises and conflicts, as well as the continuing threat of disease outbreaks and climate change.
WHO
is raising awareness of the Guinea-worm disease through community sensitization and prevention methods to stop any further spread.
Although COVID-19 is no longer the international public health emergency it once was, it is still circulating, and its devastating effects are still with us. Major infectious diseases and epidemics have disastrous impacts on human lives, wreaking havoc on long-term social and economic development. When the next pandemic arrives, the world must do better. On this International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (27 December), lets act on the lessons of COVID-19, to prepare, and build a fairer, healthier world for all.
The details the scale of global road traffic deaths, and progress in advancing laws, strategies and actions to reduce them around the world.
The (WHO) and the global health community are urging negotiators to prioritize the on in the upcoming negotiations. Climate change is already affecting our health and contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. Extreme weather events will also strain healthcare infrastructure. Urgent mitigation measures, including transitioning to clean energy sources, are necessary to protect human health and create sustainable outcomes. To reduce the negative impact on health, the health community stresses the importance of reducing and stopping emissions. According to WHO, 7 million premature deaths annually are attributed to air pollution.
World Health Organization has updated its guidelines for Covid-19 therapeutics, with revised recommendations for patients with non-severe COVID-19.
The , which seeks to put an end to malaria and other communicable diseases, is working with the indigenous communities in Panama, making them an integral part of diagnosis and response.
and provide to inspire a shift in the field of mental health
WHO asserts that must be protected from deadly second-hand smoke and toxic e-cigarette emissions as well as ads promoting these products.
is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme "Mental health is a universal human right," to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyones as a universal human right. continues to work with its partners to ensure mental health is valued, promoted, and protected, and that urgent action is taken, so that everyone can access the quality mental health care they need. Join the World Mental Health Day 2023 campaign to learn more about your basic right to mental health.
Universal health coverage is a choicea political choice- and at the recently concluded , a new Political Declaration on Universal health coverage was approved. For health care to be truly universal, an approach to strengthening health systems centred on peoples needs, is one of the most effective areas for investment to accelerate progress. Staggering statistics reveal that 4.5 billion peoplemore than half of the worlds populationwere not fully covered by essential health services in 2021. is fully committed to working with Member States and partners to ramp up policy actions to expand service coverage, ensure financial protection and shape the financing architecture to invest more and better in health.
2023 is dedicated to the theme and the slogan Elevate the voice of patients!
An estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with (TB) in 2021, an increase of 4.5% from 2020, and 1.6 million people died from TB (including 187,000 HIV-positive people), according to the World Health Organizations . The UN General Assembly is holding the second on 22 September 2023. It aims to advance science, finance and innovation, and their benefits, to urgently end the global tuberculosis epidemic, in particular, by ensuring equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment and care.
Steven Solomon, Principal Legal Officer, unpacks the . The accord, being developed by countries, can be a game-changer in pandemic prevention and preparedness. Steven also clarifies the misinformation around the accord.
Youve only got one life, and youve only got one liver. Hepatitis can devastate both. Your liver silently performs over 500 vital functions to keep you alive. But viral hepatitis infection is also silent, with symptoms only appearing once the disease is advanced. And thats why liver health is fundamental to human health. So many hepatitis deaths could be prevented. Because there are vaccines and effective treatments for hepatitis B and even a cure for hepatitis C. This (28 July) speak to your local healthcare provider to find out how to protect yourself from hepatitis.