Category: Development

In a new technical brief on healthy and safe teleworking launched on Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) outline the health benefits and risks of remote work arrangements along with the measures needed to accommodate both the shift, and the ongoing digital transformation. As telework is likely to become more common than in the period… Read More

In his message for the day, WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the COVID-19 pandemic has thrust millions of people deeper into poverty and affected those who already have limited access to health services. It’s World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day!Chagas diseaseChikungunyaDengueDracunculiasisLeishmaniasisLeprosyElephantiasisMycetomaRiver blindnessRabiesSleeping sicknessTrachoma…& other neglected tropical diseases affect 1 BILLION people 🌍!https://t.co/3m4c8TUR4U pic.twitter.com/IsuFXMOQvI — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January… Read More

“It is time for all States concerned to make a choice: whether to keep such discriminatory laws against persons affected by leprosy in violation of international human rights standards, or to eliminate such discrimination in law without delay”, said the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Alice Cruz.  According to… Read More

Although too many girls and women continue to die and face both the short and long-term repercussions of unsafe abortions, potentially life-saving information on receiving quality care for abortion-related complications, remains in short supply. To address this gap, the UN system for human reproduction research, HRP, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, published new data on the issue, in… Read More

Cases increased by 32 per cent over the previous week, while 18,000 new deaths occurred across the region, representing a 37 per cent relative increase during this period.  In the last week, more than 8️⃣ million new COVID-19 cases were reported in our region 🌎 This is the highest number of weekly cases 🦠 since the pandemic started and is… Read More

Speaking in Geneva, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros noted that on average last week, 100 cases were reported every three seconds, and somebody lost their life to the coronavirus every 12 seconds. It is still “dangerous to assume that Omicron will be the last variant, or that we are in the endgame” of the pandemic, he said. “On the… Read More

Newly reported cases fell by 20 per cent in the week that ended on 16 January, while deaths dropped by 8 per cent. South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first sequenced, and which has accounted for the bulk of cases and deaths, has now recorded a downward trend for the past four weeks. Cases also fell across the rest… Read More

Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), highlighted the critical need for countries to scale-up testing and, in particular, to leverage “smart” use of rapid antigen tests.  📢 “Although omicron 🦠 infections appear to be milder, we continue to urge caution because the virus is spreading more actively than ever before. Vaccines 💉 shield us from… Read More

Briefing journalists in Geneva, Tedros Ghebreyesus said that more than 18 million cases were reported last week, and the pandemic itself is far from over, so no country is out of the woods yet. The number of deaths remains stable, but the agency is concerned about the impact the variant is having on already exhausted health workers and overburdened health systems. “I remain particularly concerned about many… Read More

Along with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Vaccine Alliance GAVI, and partners, WHO has led the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history with deliveries to 144 countries to date. According to a press release published on Sunday, as of 13 January 2022, out of 194 countries members of WHO, 36 have vaccinated less than 10%… Read More