As representatives of 130 countries meet in Geneva this week to discuss how to counteract the tactics of baby formula manufacturers, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged member states to update their laws to prevent the marketing of baby formula in the wake of increasing industry sophistication.   The meeting is aimed at beefing up […] Continue reading ->
After almost 20 years of negotiations, the United Nations has adopted a legally binding treaty to protect the marine biodiversity of sea outside national borders known as the high seas, which cover two-thirds of the world’s oceans. The High Seas Treaty was adopted by consensus at the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond […] Continue reading ->
Thirty countries signed a political declaration at an international meeting in Morocco last week calling for the health of refugees and migrants to be included in national health systems and universal health coverage. A total of 50 UN member and observer states attended the talks. The Rabat Declaration, signed on Friday, is the first official […] Continue reading ->
At the end of this week’s negotiation on the pandemic accord, Roland Driece, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) charged with drafting a pandemic accord, told the final plenary on Friday that “it’s not easy” – a phrase that he repeated four times in the space of minutes. To ease difficulties, the INB piloted […] Continue reading ->
Eight social media influencers were selected earlier this week as winners of the UniteHealth Social Media Awards, showcasing individuals and organisations who used social media to strengthen collective understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic and evidence-based responses. The winners represent eight countries – nominees were recommended from more than 60 countries – and cover six categories […] Continue reading ->
Overburdened by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and threatened by climate change, health ministers of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) met in Barbados over the past few days and adopted the  Bridgetown Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health.  The declaration commits the SIDS to a number of actions including implementing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended “Best […] Continue reading ->
For years, malaria has ruled mercilessly in certain regions of the world. Especially in Africa. Yet over the past decade, despite the absence of a malaria vaccine, one anti-malarial strategy sought to make a difference: more than 700 million doses of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) were distributed to young children, globally.  The evidence is now […] Continue reading ->