25/08/2022 Paul Adepoju

Ministers and government officials took on noncommunicable diseases, sickle cell disease, health system reforms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and measures to fight tuberculosis among children in Africa during their meeting of the 72nd WHO Regional Committee for Africa this week. In an effort to curb Africa’s chronic disease crisis, African health ministers adopted […] Continue reading ->

WHO Launches Appeal To Respond to Food Crisis in Horn of Africa

03/08/2022 Raisa Santos

In light of an unprecedented food crisis in the Horn of Africa, the World Health Organization has launched a $123.7 million funding appeal for urgently needed supplies to treat severe malnutrition and related health conditions. Driven by conflict, changes in climate and the COVID-19 pandemic, this largely arid Eastern African region of some 2 million […] Continue reading ->

WHO: COVID-19 Global Health Emergency Continuing; Monkeypox Cases Increase by 50%

12/07/2022 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

With a surge in cases and the rapid rise of new subvariants, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a global health emergency posing significant risks to public health, a WHO committee of public health experts has concluded. The statement by the COVID-19 Emergency Committee, was published Tuesday, four days after experts gathered for their 12th […] Continue reading ->

WTO Ministerial Conference Extended for Another Day as Pressure Builds for Results

15/06/2022 John Heilprin & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is extending its 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) for a fifth day, buying time for delegates to negotiate some tough deals in five main areas: the pandemic response, COVID-19 vaccines, fishing subsidies, food shortages and agriculture. The long-delayed ministerial conference, which opened on Sunday and was originally planned to close on […] Continue reading ->

Noma Survivors Demand that WHO Lists Disease as NTD

25/05/2022 Maayan Hoffman

A team of health professionals and Noma survivors called on the World Health Organization on Tuesday to list the deadly infection of the mouth and face as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) so that it can receive the attention it needs to be eradicated. “We hope that we can bring global attention to this disease […] Continue reading ->

“Modern” Pollution Sources Kill More People than Ever; Overall Death Toll 9 Million

18/05/2022 Ochieng’ Ogodo

[NAIROBI] While deaths from some traditional pollution sources, like domestic cookstoves and unsafe water and sanitation are declining, increased exposures to “modern” sources of pollution, such as chemicals and outdoor air pollution, mean that pollution-related mortality remains steady at about 9 million a year. This is a key finding of a new report on “Pollution […] Continue reading ->

Microplastics Found in Human Blood for the First Time, and May Also Be Transported to Organs

31/03/2022 Raisa Santos

Microplastics have been discovered in human blood for the first time, with scientists warning that these mostly invisible pieces of plastic could also make their way into organs, in a new study examining blood samples of 22 anonymous, healthy adult volunteers. The study, published in the Environment International journal Thursday, found that 17 of 22 […] Continue reading ->

UN Environment Programme Joins WHO Alliance to Advance One Health Approach

18/03/2022 Editorial team

UN Environment has joined a three-way alliance with the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE), and WHO to advance “One-Health” solutions to both ecosystem degradation and pandemic threats, leaders of the four agencies said on Friday. The statement followed a meeting this week of the Tripartite FAO, WHO and OIE partnership […] Continue reading ->

Healthy Mouths, Healthy Planet

18/03/2022 Ihsane Ben Yahya, Nicolas Martin & Steven Mulligan

In honour of World Oral Health Day, 20 March, three leading voices from the World Dental Federation highlight the unexpected linkages between the health of your mouth and that of the planet. It will come as a surprise to most people that the healthcare sector has a significant environmental impact. Healthcare systems are responsible for […] Continue reading ->

First Polio Case in Over 30 Years is Diagnosed in Jerusalem

07/03/2022 Maayan Hoffman

A four-year-old girl from Jerusalem has been diagnosed with polio, Israel’s Health Ministry said Sunday – the first case in the country since 1989. The source of the girl’s infection is vaccine-derived polio virus, according to Israel’s head of Public Services Dr Sharon Alroy-Preis, speaking to reporters on Monday evening. “We are not talking about […] Continue reading ->