Over 90% Of The World’s Countries Report Disruptions Of Critical Mental Health Services – WHO Survey
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted mental health services in 93% of countries at a time when they are most needed, concludes a new WHO survey, released Monday. The survey is based on data from 130 WHO countries gathered between June and August 2020. Despite rising awareness of the enormous strain that the pandemic has placed […] Continue reading ->
Over fifty women in the Democratic Republic of Congo have accused aid workers from the World Health Organization and leading international NGOs of sexual abuse and exploitation, concluded a year-long investigation led by the New Humanitarian and the Thomson Reuter Foundation on Tuesday. The report highlights how “common” sexual exploitation and abuse are in humanitarian […] Continue reading ->
In the wake of widespread demonstrations in the United States against police brutality, catalyzed by the death of George Floyd while being pinned under an officer’s knee, the World Health Organization has urged protestors to protect themselves against COVID-19. “We have certainly seen a lot of passion this week, we’ve seen people who’ve felt the […] Continue reading ->
“I can’t breathe” could have been a slogan for those suffering the worst effects of COVID-19. But now it has become the battle cry of Americans angered over the police killing by strangulation of a Minneapolis man, George Floyd, last week. While this is the latest in a years-long series of violent events involving African […] Continue reading ->
Women’s and children’s health advocates have lauded a landmark move by Sudan to finally criminalize the practice of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) – punishing perpetrators for up to 3 years in prison to ward them off the crime. Last Thursday, Sudan’s National Council for Child Welfare endorsed a long-awaited amendment to Criminal Law […] Continue reading ->
Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a six-year US $240 million commitment to prevent road traffic injuries in low- and middle-income countries on Tuesday, just a day ahead of the Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Stockholm, Sweden. The new commitment aims to fund efforts to prevent 22 million injuries and save 600,000 lives from road traffic […] Continue reading ->
WHO member states were locked away in late-night negotiations over the shape of a proposed new WHO roadmap for reducing harmful alcohol consumption. A group of member states, led by Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Sri Lanka and Thailand, have been pressing the WHO Executive Board (EB) to support the rapid development of a tough new WHO […] Continue reading ->
A global campaign focusing on the issue of rape as a form of violence against women is being launched Monday on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The annual sixteen-day campaign, which is set to end on 10 December, Human Rights Day, will bring together activism against gender-based violence under this year’s […] Continue reading ->
Norway Launches First-Ever Strategy By Major International Donor To Combat Non-Communicable Diseases
Oslo – Norway has launched a milestone “Better Health, Better Life” strategy to combat deadly non-communicable (NCDs) diseases as part of its international development assistance. This makes Norway the first to develop a strategy for combating this large and growing global health threat, which currently receives only about 1% of international health assistance. NCDs are […] Continue reading ->
Millions of sanitation workers in the developing world are forced to work in toxic conditions, coming into direct contact with human waste and toxic chemicals, with little to no pay or legal protections. Sanitation workers provide essential public services, yet are often the most marginalized, poor, and discriminated against members of society. These are the […] Continue reading ->