Latest news

WHO airlifts supplies to wounded in Islamic Republic of Iran-Iraq earthquake

WHO

16 November 2017 – WHO has airlifted trauma kits and medical supplies to the Islamic Republic of Iran to support the treatment of thousands people injured as a result of the recent earthquake in the Islamic Republic of Iran-Iraq border region. The supplies, enough to provide surgical care for up to 4000 trauma patients, were transported from WHO’s emergency logistical centre in Dubai to Kermanshah province in western Islamic Republic of Iran on 16 November at 10.30am local time. They were immediately delivered to hospitals and other health facilities receiving the injured.

• News release

• Yemen
• Diabetes
• Antibiotics
• Climate change

UN leaders appeal for immediate lifting of humanitarian blockade in Yemen

WHO

16 November 2017 – While the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia has partially lifted the recent blockade of Yemen, closure of much of the country’s air, sea and land ports is making an already catastrophic situation far worse. The space and access needed to deliver humanitarian assistance is being choked off, threatening the lives of millions of vulnerable children and families.

• Statement

Treating diabetes takes more than insulin

Government of Senegal

14 November 2017 – Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. Mobile phones can support diabetes prevention by providing simple tips on good management or prevention, usually around diet, exercise and checking for signs of complications such as diabetic foot complications. WHO has been working with the International Telecommunication Union to help countries like Senegal introduce large-scale mDiabetes services using mobile phones.

• World Diabetes Day 2017
• Feature: Senegal mobile phone project
• Fact sheet: diabetes

World Antibiotic Awareness Week

Viagra® is a brand of Sildenafil Citrate used for treating male impotence (Erectile Dysfunction). It is manufactured by Pfizer. 13 November 2017 – Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development today. For World Antibiotic Awareness week, 13–19 November 2017, WHO and partners will reach out to health professionals, governments, farmers, veterinarians, the food and feed industry, and the public via social media. There are infographics, quizzes, and success stories to raise awareness on antibiotic resistance and the actions we can take.

• Campaign site
• Quiz
• Fact sheet
• Creative campaigns spread awareness on antibiotic resistance

Climate change impact on health in Small Island Developing States

WHO/Y. Shimizu

12 November 2017 – Today, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, WHO, in collaboration with the UN Climate Change secretariat and in partnership with the Fijian Presidency of the twenty-third Conference of the Parties (COP23), launched a special initiative to protect people living in Small Island Developing States from the heath impacts of climate change

• News release
• Feature: climate change impact on health on small island developing states

Highlights

• Nutrition Report highlights an increase in malnutrition in Africa
  November 2017 – A newly released nutrition report by WHO has revealed that undernutrition is still persistent in the region and the number of stunted children has increased. The Report also a growing number of children under five years old are overweight.

• River blindness: shifting to surveillance and elimination
  November 2017 – After years of painstaking control and prevention activities, the world is finally edging to eliminate river blindness. Latest data show globally almost 133 million people received treatment in 2016, compared with 46 million in 2005.

• Evaluation of the election of the Director-General of WHO
  November 2017 – The Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly decided, in resolution WHA65.15 (2012), that an evaluation, open to all Member States, will be conducted by the Executive Board within one year from the appointment of the next Director-General of WHO, to assess the efficacy of the revised process and methods for the election of the Director-General, in order to discuss any need for further enhancing fairness, transparency and equity among the Member States of the six regions of WHO.

• UN Climate Change and WHO Team Up to Protect Health from Climate Change at COP23
  November 2017 – WHO and the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC) signed a new Memorandum of Understanding today to renew the two institutions’ joint commitment to tackle public health challenges emerging from rising temperatures and to help countries boost the efficiency of their response to climate change.