The World Health Assembly designated 30 January as World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day to raise awareness of the devastating impact of these diseases on populations with lower incomes and those in situation of vulnerability, and to promote efforts for their control, elimination, and eradication.
WHO
On (30 January), the World Health Organization () is calling on everybody to unite and act to address the inequalities that drive (NTDs) and to make bold, sustainable investments to free the estimated 1.62 billion people, in the world’s most vulnerable communities, from a vicious cycle of disease and poverty. The Day seeks to garner support towards the control, elimination and eradication of NTDs, in line with the programmatic targets set out in the and the commitments of the .
Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease, which still occurs in more than 120 countries, with more than 200,000 new cases reported every year. The disease affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. Leprosy is curable and treatment during the early stages can prevent disability. The to end stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy will be launched by on 31 January 2024. The aim is to create awareness in the general community that leprosy is a disease spread by a type of bacteria and it can be easily cured.
The WHO for malaria urges all malaria-endemic countries to accelerate progress towards the goal of elimination.
Despite multiple health crises, there were many reasons for hope in 2023. The notes that it was a record year for disease elimination, with several countries eliminating infectious diseases thanks to dedicated national efforts and collaboration between countries and health partners. At the same time, 72% of people worldwide had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, preventing severe illness and hospitalizations for millions of people. The year began with WHO responding to a major earthquake in and ended with the horrific war in . In between, the world faced many other crises and conflicts, as well as the continuing threat of disease outbreaks and climate change.
is raising awareness of the Guinea-worm disease through community sensitization and prevention methods to stop any further spread.
Although COVID-19 is no longer the international public health emergency it once was, it is still circulating, and its devastating effects are still with us. Major infectious diseases and epidemics have disastrous impacts on human lives, wreaking havoc on long-term social and economic development. When the next pandemic arrives, the world must do better. On this International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (27 December), let’s act on the lessons of COVID-19, to prepare, and build a fairer, healthier world for all.
The details the scale of global road traffic deaths, and progress in advancing laws, strategies and actions to reduce them around the world.
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.
World Health Organization has updated its guidelines for Covid-19 therapeutics, with revised recommendations for patients with non-severe COVID-19.
The , which seeks to put an end to malaria and other communicable diseases, is working with the indigenous communities in Panama, making them an integral part of diagnosis and response.
and provide to inspire a shift in the field of mental health
WHO asserts that must be protected from deadly second-hand smoke and toxic e-cigarette emissions as well as ads promoting these products.
is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme "Mental health is a universal human right," to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s as a universal human right. continues to work with its partners to ensure mental health is valued, promoted, and protected, and that urgent action is taken, so that everyone can access the quality mental health care they need. Join the World Mental Health Day 2023 campaign to learn more about your basic right to mental health.
Universal health coverage is a choice–a political choice- and at the recently concluded , a new Political Declaration on Universal health coverage was approved. For health care to be truly universal, an approach to strengthening health systems centred on people’s needs, is one of the most effective areas for investment to accelerate progress. Staggering statistics reveal that 4.5 billion people—more than half of the world’s population—were not fully covered by essential health services in 2021. is fully committed to working with Member States and partners to ramp up policy actions to expand service coverage, ensure financial protection and shape the financing architecture to invest more and better in health.