The World Health Organization (WHO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr José Luis Castro as WHO Director-General Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases. Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD), including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affect nearly half a billion people worldwide. These diseases are major causes of death and disability, with COPD being the third leading cause… Read More

In an historic development, the World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of its 194 member countries, today agreed a package of critical amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), and made concrete commitments to completing negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within a year, at the latest. These critical actions have been taken in order to ensure comprehensive, robust… Read More

World Health Assembly agreement reached on wide-ranging, decisive package of amendments to improve the International Health Regulations, and sets date for finalizing negotiations on a proposed Pandemic Agreement In a historic development, the World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of the World Health Organization’s 194 member countries, today agreed on a package of critical amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005)… Read More

Time is running out for millions of people in Sudan who are at imminent risk of famine, displaced from their lands, living under bombardments, and cut off from humanitarian assistance. With the conflict now in its second year, 18 million people are acutely hungry, including 3.6 million children who are acutely malnourished, and famine is quickly closing in on millions… Read More

During a special ceremony at the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly in Geneva on Friday, 31 May 2024, awards were presented to persons and institutions from around the world for their outstanding contributions to public health. Eight winners were awarded by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly President, Dr Edwin Dikoloti of Botswana, together with high-level representatives of the foundations providing the… Read More

Landmark resolution passed on health and climate change In a resounding call to action, the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly has recognized climate change as an imminent threat to global health, passing a resolution which underscores the urgent need for decisive measures to confront the profound health risks posed by climate change. The resolution, supported overwhelmingly by Member States, presents an… Read More

Three United Nations agencies today issued a stark warning that all indications point to a significant deterioration of the nutrition situation for children and mothers in war-torn Sudan. The lives of Sudan’s children are at stake and urgent action is needed to protect an entire generation from malnutrition, disease and death. A recent analysis conducted by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF),… Read More

Delegates approve groundbreaking new agreement on transplantation On 29 May 2024, Member States (with the initiation of Spain) approved a new resolution on increasing availability, ethical access and oversight of transplantation of human cells, tissues and organs. Transplantation is a life-saving treatment. The latest data of 2022 from the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation indicate that more than 150 000… Read More