Roadmap to end childhood TB deaths

1 October 2013 -- The deaths of more than 74 000 children from tuberculosis (TB) could be prevented each year through measures outlined in the first ever action plan developed specifically on TB and children. The "Roadmap for childhood TB: towards zero deaths" estimates that US$ 120 million per year could have a major impact on saving children’s lives from TB, including among children infected with both TB and HIV.

• Read about ending childhood TB

1 October 2013 -- Globally, the population is ageing rapidly. It is projected that the number of persons aged 60 or over is expected to more than triple by 2100. On the occasion of International Day of Older Persons, 1 October, this feature story explains how Ghana is planning to improve care for its older people.

• Read about the implementation of Ghana's national policy on ageing

27 September 2013 -- More than 60 000 people die from rabies every year, almost half of them are children aged less than 15 years. Dog bites are the source of most human rabies deaths. Mass vaccination of dogs is key to preventing rabies. WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are working together to support countries to eliminate human rabies and World Rabies Day – 28 September – is an occasion to mark that commitment.

• Read more about rabies
• Read the fact sheet about rabies

23 September 2013 -- WHO established the country’s first specialized burns unit at al-Mouwassat hospital in July 2013. It has six intensive care unit (ICU) beds and two ICU ventilators and WHO has provided specialized burn kits, life-saving medicines, equipment and medical supplies to meet the needs of 15 000 people suffering from burns. Al-Mouwassat hospital receives between 15 and 17 burns cases each week.

• Read the feature story about the new burns unit in Syria