Development Health Advice 

Global immunisation rates show sign of post-pandemic rebound

Global immunisation services reached four million more children in 2022, compared with the previous year as countries increase efforts meant to combat the historic backsliding in immunisation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions missing out Data published by the UN agencies on Monday reveal that, in 2022, 20.5 million children failed to receive one or more diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis… Read More
Health Advice Lifestyle 

Ongoing avian influenza outbreaks in animals pose risk to humans

The current outbreaks of avian influenza (also called “bird flu”) have caused devastation in animal populations, including poultry, wild birds, and some mammals, and harmed farmers’ livelihoods and the food trade. Although largely affecting animals, these outbreaks pose ongoing risks to humans.  The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World… Read More
Health Advice Lifestyle 

Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released

Assessments of the health impacts of the non-sugar sweetener aspartame are released today by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Citing “limited evidence” for carcinogenicity in humans, IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2B)… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Aspartame sweetener ‘possibly’ cancer-causing, WHO agency reports

The joint assessment from WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which is part of WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization, represents the first public intervention by the UN health agency on the widely used sweetener. Aspartame has been used in multiple food and beverage products since the 1980s,… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Ending AIDS by 2030 a ‘political and financial choice’

That’s the message from UNAIDS, the UN agency dedicated to ending the epidemic, which said on Thursday that truly eradicating it boils down to a “political and financial choice”.  The agency’s Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, said that today’s leaders have the opportunity to save millions of lives and be “remembered by future generations” as those who put a stop to… Read More
Health Advice Lifestyle 

Women and girls bear brunt of water and sanitation crisis – new UNICEF-WHO report

Women and girls responsible for fetching water in 7 out of 10 households without supplies on premises, according to first in-depth analysis of gender inequalities in drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in households Globally, women are most likely to be responsible for fetching water for households, while girls are nearly twice as likely as boys to bear the responsibility,… Read More
Health Advice Lifestyle 

Sudan: top UN officials sound alarm at spike in violence against women and girls

Senior United Nations officials today voiced shock and condemnation at increasing reports of gender-based violence in Sudan – including conflict-related sexual violence against internally displaced and refugee women and girls – since fighting erupted in the country more than 11 weeks ago. They called for an immediate end to gender-based violence, including sexual violence as a tactic of war to… Read More
Health Advice Lifestyle 

18 million doses of first-ever malaria vaccine allocated to 12 African countries for 2023–2025: Gavi, WHO and UNICEF

In response to high demand for the first-ever malaria vaccine, 12 countries in Africa will be allocated a total of 18 million doses of RTS,S/AS01 for the 2023–2025 period Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme countries Ghana, Kenya and Malawi will receive doses to continue vaccinations in pilot areas Allocations were also made for new introductions in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon,… Read More
Development Health Advice 

More African countries to receive lifesaving malaria vaccine

The RTS,S vaccine has been administered to more than 1.6 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi since 2019 and has been shown to be safe and effective. It has resulted in a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a fall in child deaths. A top killer WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said malaria remains one of Africa’s deadliest diseases,… Read More
Development Health Advice 

New guidance to protect children from ‘aggressive’ food marketing

“Aggressive and pervasive marketing of foods and beverages high in fats, sugars, and salt to children is responsible for unhealthy dietary choices,” said Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of the UN health agency’s Department of Nutrition and Food Safety. “Calls to responsible marketing practices have not had a meaningful impact.” As such, he said governments should establish strong and comprehensive regulations.… Read More
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