Tag: Health News

The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Global solidarity, resilient services”. At the 2016 UN High-level Meeting on ending AIDS, member states committed to a 75% reduction of TB deaths among people living with HIV by 2020, compared with 2010. Estimates for 2019 suggest that there has been some notable progress with a 63% reduction; however, the target for 2020… Read More

In this Q&A, Dr Collins Tabu, head of Kenya’s National Vaccines and Immunization Program, reflects on the country’s malaria vaccine pilot experience on the recent 1st anniversary of RTS,S/AS01 introduction, particularly in the context of COVID-19. 1. Kenya recently marked the first anniversary of the introduction of the malaria vaccine in Kenya. Why is that milestone important? Malaria is a… Read More

Birth defects or congenital anomalies are an invisible tragedy around the world. Every year an estimated 295 000 newborns die due to congenital anomalies during the first 28 days of life. The most common, severe congenital anomalies are heart defects, neural tube defects and Down’s syndrome. Congenital anomalies can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and for those who survive, lifelong physical and… Read More

Many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) result from diverse types of interactions and often complex cycles of transmission between humans and animals, both vertebrates and invertebrates, and changing social and environmental conditions. Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 was endorsed by the Seventy-third World Health Assembly last week. The road… Read More

Thailand’s key population-led health services (KPLHS) are a hallmark of the success of the country’s HIV response. In Thailand, KPLHS refer to a defined set of HIV-related health services for key populations designed and delivered by trained and qualified lay providers, who are often members of key populations. These services are needs-based, demand driven and client-centered, and include HIV testing,… Read More

The COVID-19 pandemic was predicted to and has had a major impact on the essential HIV health services in the South East Asia Region (SEAR), putting at risk the benefits accrued over the last two decades. Apart from the risks posed by the virus to the individual health of people living with HIV (PLHIV), COVID-19 has disrupted essential services causing… Read More

Many countries in resource-limited settings have high HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and/or sexually transmitted infection (STI) burdens. In 2010, WHO first recommended the use of the Xpert MTB/RIF nucleic acid assay. In 2013, the WHO recommended HIV viral load testing through nucleic acid testing for all people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in order to monitor their treatment. Over… Read More

On 1 December WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to rally for “global solidarity” to maintain essential HIV services during COVID 19 and beyond – and to ensure continued provision of HIV services for children, adolescents and populations most at risk for the disease. The Organization also calls on countries to provide health workers with greater protection and support… Read More

On World Diabetes Day, WHO announced the development of the Global Diabetes Compact, a comprehensive and inclusive approach to support countries in implementing effective programmes for the prevention and management of diabetes. The goals of the Compact, the development of which will be led by WHO, are:   increased capacity of health systems to detect, diagnose and manage diabetes; integration… Read More

The early childhood period is considered to be the most important developmental phase throughout the lifespan. What happens to the child in the first few years of life is critical for the child’s developmental trajectory and lifecourse influencing their mental and physical health, education and future economic participation. In order to track global progress on early childhood development (ECD), WHO,… Read More