Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July, the World Health Organization (WHO) is launching a new technical package to help governments and communities implement seven proven measures to reduce drowning deaths. Nearly 300 000 people die from drowning each year worldwide, and drowning remains among the ten leading causes of death among children aged 5–14 years. Many of… Read More

Countries support development of a post-2030 strategy to end tuberculosis The Assembly, today, endorsed a decision requesting the Director-General to develop a post-2030 tuberculosis (TB) strategy, in consultation with Member States and relevant stakeholders, to be submitted to the Eighty-first World Health Assembly in 2028.  The new strategy will help guide the future global TB response, considering emerging scientific advances and current epidemiological trends. The strategy will reinforce strong alignment… Read More

Member States establish joint process to support reforms of global health architecture The World Health Assembly today decided to establish a joint process led by Member States, hosted by WHO and with global health partners to support reforms of the global health architecture. The Assembly agreed that the process should develop options and recommendations for reforms of the global health… Read More

At the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in Geneva this week, Member States adopted more than 20 decisions and 13 resolutions on health issues including stroke, liver disease, tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostic imaging, emergency care, haemophilia, precision medicine and radiation. The Assembly also covered a range of political and administrative issues, including the agreement to reform the global health architecture through… Read More

To the people of DRC, especially to the people of Ituri  Jambo kwenu wakahaji wa Ituri  Mbote na bino, bato ya Ituri  My name is Tedros, and I am the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). But today, I am not writing to you as an official. I am writing to you as someone who knows your region, who… Read More

In response to the current outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with cases also reported in Uganda, WHO convened several of its expert and advisory groups. These groups assessed potential vaccines and therapeutics for both prevention and treatment of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). The WHO advisory groups recommended that all… Read More

Worldwide, at least 40 million children aged 13–15 use tobacco products, and young people’s use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches continues to rise. In advance of World No Tobacco Day – 31 May – the World Health Organization (WHO) urges governments around the world to protect a new generation from becoming addicted to tobacco and nicotine products. WHO warns that… Read More