Malak, 22, was pregnant when the war in Gaza started. Forced to flee the bombs and tanks, she spent months being repeatedly displaced and searching desperately for prenatal care. See the terrible reality for pregnant women like Malak of giving birth in Gaza.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
UNEP's report "" calls for global attention and proactive measures to address emerging challenges impacting planetary health and human wellbeing, emphasizing the need for foresight and adaptive governance.
Autism is a lifelong neurological condition that usually manifests during early childhood. It affects people irrespective of gender, race or socio-economic status. Appropriate support, accommodation and acceptance of this neurological variation allow those on the Autism Spectrum to enjoy equal opportunity, and full and effective participation in society. The 2024 observance marks a significant milestone, as it endeavors to offer a comprehensive global perspective on the state of affairs concerning autism, uniquely centered on the voices and experiences of autistic individuals themselves.
Fadimata, a 4-year-old advocate for promoting good nutrition and hygiene practices, through initiatives by , is spreading awareness in her local community.
Today, half of the world鈥檚 population does not have access to essential health services. Out-of-pocket health expenses leave an estimated 2 billion people facing financial hardship, including 344 million people living in extreme poverty. It is time to get progress towards health for all back on track. On 12 December, International Universal Health Coverage Day, join us to demand action on universal health coverage and call on leaders to invest in health systems and primary healthcare for all that leave no one behind. Our lives, livelihoods and futures depend on it.
The (WHO) and the global health community are urging negotiators to prioritize the on in the upcoming negotiations. Climate change is already affecting our health and contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. Extreme weather events will also strain healthcare infrastructure. Urgent mitigation measures, including transitioning to clean energy sources, are necessary to protect human health and create sustainable outcomes. To reduce the negative impact on health, the health community stresses the importance of reducing and stopping emissions. According to WHO, 7 million premature deaths annually are attributed to air pollution.
The world can end AIDS, with communities leading the way. They connect people with person-centered public health services, build trust, innovate, monitor policies and services, and hold providers accountable. This World AIDS Day (1 December) is more than a celebration of community achievements; it is a call to action to enable and support communities in their leadership roles. In the report Let Communities Lead, reveals that the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, but only if communities are fully included and are sufficiently funded to lead the way.
The , a multilateral environmental treaty, addresses the production of mercury. Mining the element will become illegal in Mexico and the rest of the world in 2032. That leaves many miners worried about how they will support their families, even as they deal with the often-direct health risks of their profession. With unemployment over 70 percent, Mexican miners are at a crossroads. In response, the Mexican government has launched a project to help 19 communities in the Sierra Gorda transition to alternative, mercury-free livelihoods. The project is led by the .
: LOVOT 鈥 the new companion to overcome loneliness.
It is estimated that there are currently per year worldwide. Each suicide profoundly affects many more people. Suicide prevention is a public health priority and urgent action is required. Marked on 10 September, 鈥淐reating Hope Through Action鈥 is the triennial theme for the (2021-2023). There is an alternative to suicide. Through our actions, big or small, we can encourage hope and strengthen prevention. #WorldSuicidePreventionDay
鈥淵ou see, we're not doing this work to make ourselves feel better. That sort of conventional notion of what a do-gooder is. We're doing this work because we are totally convinced that it's not necessary in today's wealthy world for so many people to be experiencing discomfort, for so many people to be experiencing hardship, for so many people to have their lives and their livelihoods imperiled.鈥
Dr. David Nabarro has dedicated his life to global health. After a long career that鈥檚 taken him from the horrors of war torn Iraq, to the devastating aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, he is still spurred to action by the tremendous inequalities in global access to medical care. 鈥淭he thing that keeps me awake most at night is the rampant inequities in our world鈥e see an awful lot of needless suffering.鈥
A passionate advocate for sustainable development, David Nabarro has seen in his own family how medicine can transform lives. In this episode, he reflects on his lifelong struggle against inequality, the lessons of misfortune, and why communication is always at the heart of healing.
Photo credit: 漏4SD Foundation
Opening up about your struggles with someone you trust can help you feel better. switches it up, it starts with one moment, one conversation, one question: What鈥檚 on your mind?
Latest data shared by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that one in two frontline health workers suffered burnout during COVID-19.
To help protect these key staff in the event of another pandemic, the has convened its , in Geneva.
Participants include Dr Emma O鈥橞rien from The Royal Melbourne Hospital, whose celebrated music therapy ensemble known as the Scrub Choir, most recently provided comfort to 1,000 under-pressure health workers, as 鈥檚 Daniel Johnson.
First, though, we鈥檒l hear from the WHO鈥檚 Workforce Director Jim Campbell, who explains why an action plan is needed so urgently to strengthen the global health workforce.
Photo: 漏 J. Campbell
![Smiling is contagious Smiling is contagious](/sites/un2.un.org/files/something_to_smile_about.jpg)
Something to smile about
Smiling is contagious and these happy children from around the world are sure to put a smile on your face! procures and distributes vaccines and other essential supplies, including solar-powered refrigerators, and helps train health workers to prevent future outbreaks of diseases. Babies are also screened for malnourishment and mothers taught about nutrition at their funded health centres. In addition, UNICEF has established more than 200 temporary learning centres, to look after the protection and psychosocial well-being of children caught up in the climate change-related crisis.
An estimated 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to depression and anxiety costing the global economy nearly US$ 1 trillion. and have called for concrete actions in 2 new publications:, and with practical strategies for governments. The guidelines recommend actions to tackle risks to mental health such as heavy workloads, negative behaviours, and other factors creating distress at work. For the first time, WHO recommends manager training to build their capacity to prevent stressful work environments and respond to workers in distress.