Global levels for routine immunisations are still lagging behind pre-pandemic rates, with uneven progress in different countries, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said at a session of the Executive Board on Friday. In its report to the EB, the WHO has documented that the current progress is not enough to meet the WHO’s Immunization Agenda […] Continue reading ->
Universal Health Coverage Has Wide Support But is Undermined by Lack of Financing and Health Workers
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) executive board discussed ways to deliver Universal Health Coverage (UHC) on Wednesday, and while most member states expressed support for UHC, they highlighted bottlenecks of lack of finance and trained healthcare workers for being off track with its implementation. In its report to the board, the WHO estimated that over […] Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) executive board confirmed the appointment of three new regional directors on Tuesday, which are both controversial and historic. The election of Saima Wazed, the daughter of Bangladesh’s prime minister, to lead the South-East Asia region has already been mired in allegations of nepotism. Tonga’s Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala steps into his […] Continue reading ->
The US government will commit $4 million to tackle lead poisoning, supporting developing countries to curtail lead in consumer goods like paints and toys in which the use of lead is still widespread, USAID administrator Samantha Power announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Power also called for more resources and action towards the […] Continue reading ->
The final hours of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday saw the launch of a new Global Alliance for Women’s Health which has the broad ambition of, “re-shaping the future of women’s health and the global economy.” So far 42 organizations have expressed interest in joining the alliance, including government leaders and representatives from […] Continue reading ->
Improving disease surveillance, strengthening primary healthcare, and being able to expand quickly during a crisis are some of the important lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic that can be applied to ‘Disease X’, according to health experts speaking on a panel at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday. “Disease X is a placeholder for unknown diseases,” […] Continue reading ->
Progress made towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is being reversed by climate change and, despite the promises made at the recent COP28, there are gaps in funding to address the crisis, Vanessa Kerry, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos. […] Continue reading ->
There is overwhelming support for immediate government action on climate change, according to a global report from 23 countries. Over three-quarters (77%) of people agree with the statement, “It is essential that our government does whatever it takes to limit the effects of climate change,” and just over 10% disagree, according to the report produced […] Continue reading ->
PUNE, India – India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched five years ago and has provided budgets to 131 Indian cities to respond to air pollution. But over half of this money had not been used by the end of 2023, according to the latest figures released by the government, while the programme’s impact […] Continue reading ->
The outsized effect of climate change on young children represents an “intergenerational injustice”, according to experts speaking at a side event on maternal and child health at COP28 in Dubai. “Nearly 90% of the global burden of disease associated with climate change is borne by children under the age of five,” according to UNICEF. “Climate change […] Continue reading ->