WHO news releases

Dr Margaret Chan nominated for a second term to be WHO Director-General

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:00 GMT

18 January 2012 -- Dr Margaret Chan was nominated today by the WHOs Executive Board for a second term as Director-General of the Organization. If confirmed by the World Health Assembly, Dr Chan's new term will begin on 1 July 2012 and continue until 30 June 2017.

India records one year without polio cases

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:59:00 GMT

12 January 2012 -- India appears to have completed one year without polio since its last case on 13 January 2011. This is a momentous achievement because India was once recognized as the world’s epicentre of polio. However, there remains no room for complacency. India must maintain surveillance and high childhood immunity against wild poliovirus until eradication is achieved globally.

Three-year study identifies key interventions to reduce maternal, newborn and child deaths

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:59:00 GMT

15 December 2011 -- About 358 000 women still die each year during pregnancy and childbirth; 7.6 million children die before the age of 5 annually. A new global consensus has agreed on the key evidence-based interventions that will sharply reduce these numbers. The study, Essential interventions, commodities and guidelines for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, is designed to facilitate decision-making in low- and middle-income countries about how to allocate limited resources for maximum impact on the health of women and children.

Malaria deaths are down but progress remains fragile

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:59:00 GMT

13 December 2011 -- Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25% globally since 2000 according to the World malaria report 2011, issued today. This is the result of a significant scaling-up of malaria prevention and control measures in the last decade, including the widespread use of bed nets, better diagnostics and a wider availability of effective medicines to treat malaria.

Unparalleled global progress in HIV response but sustained investment vital

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:59:00 GMT

30 November 2011 -- The Report on the global HIV/AIDS response shows that increased access to HIV services resulted in a 15% reduction of new infections over the past decade and a 22% decline in AIDS-related deaths in the last five years. While there is still much to be done, 2011 was a game changing year, in terms of current progress and innovations creating hope for substantial future advances.

WHO warns of consequences of underfunding TB

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:59:00 GMT

11 October 2011 -- For the first time the number of people falling ill with tuberculosis (TB) is declining. A new WHO report also shows that the number of people dying from the disease fell to its lowest level in a decade. Yet, current progress is at risk from underfunding, especially efforts to combat drug-resistant TB.

Tackling the global clean air challenge

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:59:00 GMT

26 September 2011 -- Air pollution is reaching levels that threaten people's health according to air quality data released today by WHO. The information includes data from nearly 1100 cities across 91 countries, including capital cities and cities with more than 100 000 residents.

New WHO study details low-cost solutions to help curb the tide on noncommunicable diseases

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:59:00 GMT

18 September 2011 -- Noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, killing more people every year. Nearly 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. But a new WHO study reveals that low-income countries could introduce strategies to prevent and treat cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease for just US$ 1.20 per person per year.

12 000 fewer children perish daily in 2010 than in 1990 – UNICEF, WHO

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:59:00 GMT

15 September 2011 -- The number of children under five years of age dying each year declined from more than 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2010, UNICEF and WHO said today, releasing the latest estimates on worldwide child mortality.

WHO maps noncommunicable disease trends in all countries

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:01:00 GMT

14 September 2011 -- More than nine million of all deaths attributed to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) occur before the age of 60; 90% of these "premature" deaths occurred in low and middle income countries. A new WHO report features information on the NCDs situation in 193 countries, as global leaders prepare to meet at the United Nations high-level meeting on noncommunicable diseases in New York, 19-20 September 2011.

Newborn deaths decrease but account for higher share of global child deaths

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:00:00 GMT

30 August 2011 -- Newborn deaths decreased from 4.6 million in 1990 to 3.3 million in 2009, shows a new study published in the medical journal PLoS Medicine today. Most of these newborns are dying of three causes - preterm delivery, asphyxia and infections - for which well-documented cost-effective interventions exist.

New psychological first aid guide to strengthen humanitarian relief

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:00:00 GMT

16 August 2011 -- Humanitarian emergencies - like earthquakes, extreme drought, or war - not only affect people’s physical health but also their psychological and social health and well-being. A new guide makes sure that best practices are consistently applied in humanitarian settings to improve the mental health of disaster affected populations.

New online nutrition initiative can help protect lives and health of millions of children

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:00:00 GMT

10 August 2011 -- A new e-library for nutrition provides guidance on life-saving nutrition interventions, and assists governments and health-care providers to scale up action against malnutrition.

WHO Director-General names Sir Liam Donaldson envoy for patient safety

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:00:00 GMT

21 July 2011 -- Sir Liam Donaldson has been named WHO Envoy for Patient Safety. Sir Liam will mobilize political support for WHO Patient Safety with health leaders around the world and with major donors, philanthropic organizations and governments for priority activities addressing patient safety issues at national and international levels.

WHO warns against the use of inaccurate blood tests for active tuberculosis

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:00:00 GMT

20 July 2011 -- A 12 month of rigorous analysis reveals that a blood test for diagnosing active TB disease is a bad practice. The inaccurate test can result in some people unknowing transmitting the disease to others or even death from untreated tuberculosis while other people can undergo unnecessary treatment.

WHO urges more countries to require large, graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:00:00 GMT

7 July 2011 -- Over one billion people in 19 countries are covered by laws requiring large, graphic health warnings on packages of tobacco. Requiring such health warnings is among the six tobacco demand-reduction measures recommended by WHO.

Scaling-up HIV services for men who have sex with men and transgender people

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:00:00 GMT

21 June 2011 -- Men who have sex with men and transgender people everywhere face huge difficulties in accessing HIV services. New guidelines from WHO present evidence for effective prevention interventions for these populations and provide recommendations to help ensure that pervasive barriers like stigma and criminalization no longer stand in the way of accessing services.

More skilled midwives needed to save women's and newborns' lives

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:00:00 GMT

20 June 2011 -- The first State of the World's Midwifery report released today confirms the critical role midwives play in improving maternal and newborn health and survival. It highlights the shortage of skilled midwives in many low-income countries, stressing the need to train and deploy more midwives in all parts of a country - especially remote and rural areas.

WHO-based research programme wins 2011 Gates Award for global health

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:00:00 GMT

17 June 2011 -- WHO's the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases has been given the 2011 Gates Award for Global Health.

Voluntary unpaid blood donations increase, saving more lives

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 09:00:00 GMT

14 June 2011 -- The number of countries collecting all their blood supplies from voluntary unpaid donors increased by more than 50% between 2002 and 2008, according to new global data from WHO, released on World Blood Donor Day, 14 June.