WHO Executive Board Greenlights $648 Million Resolution on WHO Emergency Response to Gaza 07/02/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher The WHO Executive Board voted to advance a resolution on aid to war-torn Gaza to May’s World Health Assembly, the first to be greenlighted while several dozen other initiatives remain on hold due to budget constraints. Meanwhile, WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed to Israel to allow thousands of desperately sick and injured […] Continue reading -> Crucial WHO Health Emergency Response Faces Budget Cut of 25% 06/02/2025 Kerry Cullinan Responding to health emergencies is at the heart of the work of the World Health Organization (WHO), which assisted almost 90 million people with humanitarian health support in the first nine months of 2024. But the loss of United States funding, which has included the immediate freezing of funds already committed, means that this essential […] Continue reading -> WHO Calls on ‘All Parties’ to Honor Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal 20/01/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO welcomed Sunday’s Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal as the first Israeli hostages – three young women – were released to the Red Cross amidst throngs of masked Hamas operatives, who brandished guns atop the Red Cross vehicles and fired shots at times into the air to ward off the crowds of people that […] Continue reading -> Sierra Leone Reports First Mpox Cases as DRC Accelerates Vaccine Drive 16/01/2025 Paul Adepoju A new mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone and a rising case toll across Africa are fueling urgent calls for stronger containment efforts, even as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) finally speeds up its mpox vaccine drive and Rwanda’s swift response to Marburg suggests a model for epidemic control. Health authorities in Sierra Leone have […] Continue reading -> One Half of Sudan’s Population Face Extreme Food Insecurity as Famine Belt Widens 26/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher More than 24.6 million people – one half of Sudan’s population – are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the latest report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which tracks hunger risks and extreme hunger spots globally. And famine (IPC phase 5) is present in at least five Sudanese areas […] Continue reading -> Public Health Spending in Low Income Countries Stagnates – Out of Pocket Costs Soar 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher After an early surge of spending during the COVID pandemic, public health layouts by countries at all income levels declined in 2022, on average, as compared to 2021. Meanwhile, there was a 60% increase overall in per-capita health expenditures between 2000 and 2022 – but in low income countries this was largely driven by a […] Continue reading -> ‘Give Them Some Space’: WHO Director General on Trump Nomination of RFK Jr as US Health Secretary 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebryesus urged a ‘wait and see’ attitude Tuesday in his first public comments on US President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services – despite a flurry of fresh criticism by 77 Nobel Laureates over the controversial appointment. “It’s a transition […] Continue reading -> Drinking Pasteurized Milk is ‘Always’ Recommended, Says WHO; Calls for Better Tracking of Avian Flu in Animals 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher “Much stronger surveillance” of deadly H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in both domestic and wild animals is needed both in The United States as well as globally so as to head off pandemic risks from variants that could mutate to infect humans more directly. A senior World Health Organization official, Dr Maria Van Kerkkove, […] Continue reading -> WHO Welcomes Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire – But Onset of Winter Increasing Desperation in Gaza 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains. While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading -> Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Crucial WHO Health Emergency Response Faces Budget Cut of 25% 06/02/2025 Kerry Cullinan Responding to health emergencies is at the heart of the work of the World Health Organization (WHO), which assisted almost 90 million people with humanitarian health support in the first nine months of 2024. But the loss of United States funding, which has included the immediate freezing of funds already committed, means that this essential […] Continue reading -> WHO Calls on ‘All Parties’ to Honor Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal 20/01/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO welcomed Sunday’s Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal as the first Israeli hostages – three young women – were released to the Red Cross amidst throngs of masked Hamas operatives, who brandished guns atop the Red Cross vehicles and fired shots at times into the air to ward off the crowds of people that […] Continue reading -> Sierra Leone Reports First Mpox Cases as DRC Accelerates Vaccine Drive 16/01/2025 Paul Adepoju A new mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone and a rising case toll across Africa are fueling urgent calls for stronger containment efforts, even as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) finally speeds up its mpox vaccine drive and Rwanda’s swift response to Marburg suggests a model for epidemic control. Health authorities in Sierra Leone have […] Continue reading -> One Half of Sudan’s Population Face Extreme Food Insecurity as Famine Belt Widens 26/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher More than 24.6 million people – one half of Sudan’s population – are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the latest report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which tracks hunger risks and extreme hunger spots globally. And famine (IPC phase 5) is present in at least five Sudanese areas […] Continue reading -> Public Health Spending in Low Income Countries Stagnates – Out of Pocket Costs Soar 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher After an early surge of spending during the COVID pandemic, public health layouts by countries at all income levels declined in 2022, on average, as compared to 2021. Meanwhile, there was a 60% increase overall in per-capita health expenditures between 2000 and 2022 – but in low income countries this was largely driven by a […] Continue reading -> ‘Give Them Some Space’: WHO Director General on Trump Nomination of RFK Jr as US Health Secretary 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebryesus urged a ‘wait and see’ attitude Tuesday in his first public comments on US President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services – despite a flurry of fresh criticism by 77 Nobel Laureates over the controversial appointment. “It’s a transition […] Continue reading -> Drinking Pasteurized Milk is ‘Always’ Recommended, Says WHO; Calls for Better Tracking of Avian Flu in Animals 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher “Much stronger surveillance” of deadly H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in both domestic and wild animals is needed both in The United States as well as globally so as to head off pandemic risks from variants that could mutate to infect humans more directly. A senior World Health Organization official, Dr Maria Van Kerkkove, […] Continue reading -> WHO Welcomes Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire – But Onset of Winter Increasing Desperation in Gaza 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains. While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading -> Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
WHO Calls on ‘All Parties’ to Honor Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal 20/01/2025 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO welcomed Sunday’s Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal as the first Israeli hostages – three young women – were released to the Red Cross amidst throngs of masked Hamas operatives, who brandished guns atop the Red Cross vehicles and fired shots at times into the air to ward off the crowds of people that […] Continue reading -> Sierra Leone Reports First Mpox Cases as DRC Accelerates Vaccine Drive 16/01/2025 Paul Adepoju A new mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone and a rising case toll across Africa are fueling urgent calls for stronger containment efforts, even as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) finally speeds up its mpox vaccine drive and Rwanda’s swift response to Marburg suggests a model for epidemic control. Health authorities in Sierra Leone have […] Continue reading -> One Half of Sudan’s Population Face Extreme Food Insecurity as Famine Belt Widens 26/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher More than 24.6 million people – one half of Sudan’s population – are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the latest report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which tracks hunger risks and extreme hunger spots globally. And famine (IPC phase 5) is present in at least five Sudanese areas […] Continue reading -> Public Health Spending in Low Income Countries Stagnates – Out of Pocket Costs Soar 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher After an early surge of spending during the COVID pandemic, public health layouts by countries at all income levels declined in 2022, on average, as compared to 2021. Meanwhile, there was a 60% increase overall in per-capita health expenditures between 2000 and 2022 – but in low income countries this was largely driven by a […] Continue reading -> ‘Give Them Some Space’: WHO Director General on Trump Nomination of RFK Jr as US Health Secretary 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebryesus urged a ‘wait and see’ attitude Tuesday in his first public comments on US President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services – despite a flurry of fresh criticism by 77 Nobel Laureates over the controversial appointment. “It’s a transition […] Continue reading -> Drinking Pasteurized Milk is ‘Always’ Recommended, Says WHO; Calls for Better Tracking of Avian Flu in Animals 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher “Much stronger surveillance” of deadly H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in both domestic and wild animals is needed both in The United States as well as globally so as to head off pandemic risks from variants that could mutate to infect humans more directly. A senior World Health Organization official, Dr Maria Van Kerkkove, […] Continue reading -> WHO Welcomes Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire – But Onset of Winter Increasing Desperation in Gaza 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains. While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading -> Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Sierra Leone Reports First Mpox Cases as DRC Accelerates Vaccine Drive 16/01/2025 Paul Adepoju A new mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone and a rising case toll across Africa are fueling urgent calls for stronger containment efforts, even as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) finally speeds up its mpox vaccine drive and Rwanda’s swift response to Marburg suggests a model for epidemic control. Health authorities in Sierra Leone have […] Continue reading -> One Half of Sudan’s Population Face Extreme Food Insecurity as Famine Belt Widens 26/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher More than 24.6 million people – one half of Sudan’s population – are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the latest report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which tracks hunger risks and extreme hunger spots globally. And famine (IPC phase 5) is present in at least five Sudanese areas […] Continue reading -> Public Health Spending in Low Income Countries Stagnates – Out of Pocket Costs Soar 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher After an early surge of spending during the COVID pandemic, public health layouts by countries at all income levels declined in 2022, on average, as compared to 2021. Meanwhile, there was a 60% increase overall in per-capita health expenditures between 2000 and 2022 – but in low income countries this was largely driven by a […] Continue reading -> ‘Give Them Some Space’: WHO Director General on Trump Nomination of RFK Jr as US Health Secretary 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebryesus urged a ‘wait and see’ attitude Tuesday in his first public comments on US President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services – despite a flurry of fresh criticism by 77 Nobel Laureates over the controversial appointment. “It’s a transition […] Continue reading -> Drinking Pasteurized Milk is ‘Always’ Recommended, Says WHO; Calls for Better Tracking of Avian Flu in Animals 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher “Much stronger surveillance” of deadly H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in both domestic and wild animals is needed both in The United States as well as globally so as to head off pandemic risks from variants that could mutate to infect humans more directly. A senior World Health Organization official, Dr Maria Van Kerkkove, […] Continue reading -> WHO Welcomes Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire – But Onset of Winter Increasing Desperation in Gaza 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains. While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading -> Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
One Half of Sudan’s Population Face Extreme Food Insecurity as Famine Belt Widens 26/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher More than 24.6 million people – one half of Sudan’s population – are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the latest report of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which tracks hunger risks and extreme hunger spots globally. And famine (IPC phase 5) is present in at least five Sudanese areas […] Continue reading -> Public Health Spending in Low Income Countries Stagnates – Out of Pocket Costs Soar 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher After an early surge of spending during the COVID pandemic, public health layouts by countries at all income levels declined in 2022, on average, as compared to 2021. Meanwhile, there was a 60% increase overall in per-capita health expenditures between 2000 and 2022 – but in low income countries this was largely driven by a […] Continue reading -> ‘Give Them Some Space’: WHO Director General on Trump Nomination of RFK Jr as US Health Secretary 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebryesus urged a ‘wait and see’ attitude Tuesday in his first public comments on US President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services – despite a flurry of fresh criticism by 77 Nobel Laureates over the controversial appointment. “It’s a transition […] Continue reading -> Drinking Pasteurized Milk is ‘Always’ Recommended, Says WHO; Calls for Better Tracking of Avian Flu in Animals 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher “Much stronger surveillance” of deadly H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in both domestic and wild animals is needed both in The United States as well as globally so as to head off pandemic risks from variants that could mutate to infect humans more directly. A senior World Health Organization official, Dr Maria Van Kerkkove, […] Continue reading -> WHO Welcomes Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire – But Onset of Winter Increasing Desperation in Gaza 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains. While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading -> Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Public Health Spending in Low Income Countries Stagnates – Out of Pocket Costs Soar 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher After an early surge of spending during the COVID pandemic, public health layouts by countries at all income levels declined in 2022, on average, as compared to 2021. Meanwhile, there was a 60% increase overall in per-capita health expenditures between 2000 and 2022 – but in low income countries this was largely driven by a […] Continue reading -> ‘Give Them Some Space’: WHO Director General on Trump Nomination of RFK Jr as US Health Secretary 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebryesus urged a ‘wait and see’ attitude Tuesday in his first public comments on US President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services – despite a flurry of fresh criticism by 77 Nobel Laureates over the controversial appointment. “It’s a transition […] Continue reading -> Drinking Pasteurized Milk is ‘Always’ Recommended, Says WHO; Calls for Better Tracking of Avian Flu in Animals 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher “Much stronger surveillance” of deadly H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in both domestic and wild animals is needed both in The United States as well as globally so as to head off pandemic risks from variants that could mutate to infect humans more directly. A senior World Health Organization official, Dr Maria Van Kerkkove, […] Continue reading -> WHO Welcomes Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire – But Onset of Winter Increasing Desperation in Gaza 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains. While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading -> Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
‘Give Them Some Space’: WHO Director General on Trump Nomination of RFK Jr as US Health Secretary 11/12/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebryesus urged a ‘wait and see’ attitude Tuesday in his first public comments on US President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services – despite a flurry of fresh criticism by 77 Nobel Laureates over the controversial appointment. “It’s a transition […] Continue reading -> Drinking Pasteurized Milk is ‘Always’ Recommended, Says WHO; Calls for Better Tracking of Avian Flu in Animals 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher “Much stronger surveillance” of deadly H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in both domestic and wild animals is needed both in The United States as well as globally so as to head off pandemic risks from variants that could mutate to infect humans more directly. A senior World Health Organization official, Dr Maria Van Kerkkove, […] Continue reading -> WHO Welcomes Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire – But Onset of Winter Increasing Desperation in Gaza 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains. While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading -> Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Drinking Pasteurized Milk is ‘Always’ Recommended, Says WHO; Calls for Better Tracking of Avian Flu in Animals 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher “Much stronger surveillance” of deadly H5N1 and other avian influenza strains in both domestic and wild animals is needed both in The United States as well as globally so as to head off pandemic risks from variants that could mutate to infect humans more directly. A senior World Health Organization official, Dr Maria Van Kerkkove, […] Continue reading -> WHO Welcomes Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire – But Onset of Winter Increasing Desperation in Gaza 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains. While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading -> Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
WHO Welcomes Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire – But Onset of Winter Increasing Desperation in Gaza 28/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher WHO’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the new ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon, which took effect Wednesday, but he noted that health needs in Gaza remain huge and “will only increase” with the onset of winter cold and rains. While there is an opportunity now to rebuild southern Lebanon’s shattered health infrastructure, […] Continue reading -> Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Post Pandemic: Wastewater-based Surveillance of Diseases Comes of Age 22/11/2024 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A method that first developed around polio elimination and matured during the COVID pandemic, is now being tested and used to track a much wider array of emerging disease threats. A unique symposium of scientists and public health experts at the Paris Sorbonne University last week looked at its promise and potential. In April 2020, […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts