Development Health Advice 

Step up investment to deliver safe drinking water to all

Providing water and sanitation for everyone on the planet is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed by all 193 UN Member States in 2015.  The report revealed that although more than two billion people gained access to safe drinking water over the past two decades, a quarter of the world’s population is still being left behind.  A basic… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Time to get off the couch, WHO warns, as 500 million risk developing chronic illness

And the price of inaction and staying on the couch, will be severe, WHO said – around $27 billion in extra healthcare costs. The Global status report on physical activity 2022, measures the extent to which governments are implementing recommendations to increase physical activity across all ages and abilities.  Data from 194 countries show that overall, progress is slow and… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Cholera vaccine shortage forces shift to one-dose regimen

The International Coordinating Group (ICG), is made up of members from the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children’s Fund UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Unprecedented outbreaks The switch to a single-dose approach will help conserve stocks, allowing the oral vaccine to combat the potentially fatal waterborne disease in more countries,… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Tigray conflict is a health crisis for 6 million people, and ‘the world is not paying attention’: Tedros

Highlighting that there is no other situation globally in which six million had been kept under siege for almost two years, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that there is a very narrow window to prevent genocide in Tigray. “Yes, I’m from Tigray, and yes, this affects me personally. I don’t pretend it doesn’t. Most of my relatives are in the most… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Global health: Women and children pay heaviest price for ‘gaping inequities’

Data presented in the report show a clear and critical regression across virtually every major measure of childhood wellbeing, and many key indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since the last Every Woman Every Child Progress Report published in 2020, food insecurity, hunger, child marriage, risks from intimate partner violence, and adolescent depression and anxiety have all increased. ‘Protect… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Guterres calls for ‘sustained political commitment’ for a healthier world

To accomplish this, “wealthier countries and international financial institutions need to support developing countries to make these crucial investments”, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.  In an address to the opening of the World Health Summit in Berlin, via a video message, he began by noting how poorly prepared most of the world is, for crises. The annual gathering is being hosted by… Read More
Development Health Advice 

WHO supports Uganda Ebola response, faces challenges fighting Haiti cholera outbreak

So far, 39 people have died, he reported.  Overall, there have been 64 confirmed cases, and 20 probable cases, while 14 people have recovered from the disease.  Authorities are conducting active follow-up of more than 660 contacts. “Our primary focus now is to support the Government of Uganda to rapidly control and contain this outbreak, to stop it spreading to… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Time to make neglected area of mental health ‘a global priority’, urges Guterres

In his message marking World Mental Health Day, the UN chief said there were “profound” social and economic repercussions stemming from that neglect, explaining that some countries have only two mental health workers for every 100,000 people. Anxiety and depression also take a heavy financial toll, costing the global economy an estimated $1 trillion per year. Step up support “We… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Make suicide prevention in Africa a priority, UN health agency urges governments

“Every death by suicide is a tragedy,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, who maintained the suicide prevention was “rarely a priority” in national health programmes. Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, she called for “significant investment…to tackle Africa’s growing burden of chronic diseases and non-infectious conditions – such as mental disorders – that… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Haiti: Fuel crisis prompts appeal for humanitarian corridor amid cholera outbreak

The Varreux Terminal, located in the capital, Port-au-Prince, is the main entry point for fuel in the country but gangs have been blocking the entrance since mid-September.  The situation has led to a fuel shortage that has forced many hospitals and health centres to close, and affected water distribution, said Ulrika Richardson, UN Deputy Special Representative in the country and… Read More