Report shows major progress in fight against malaria

11 December 2013 -- Global efforts to control and eliminate malaria have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives since 2000, reducing malaria mortality rates by 45% globally and by 49% in Africa, according to the "World malaria report 2013". The large majority of the lives saved were in the 10 countries with the highest malaria burden, and among children aged less than 5 years – the group most affected by the disease. The report calls for sustained financing to maintain progress and reduce deaths.

• Read more on the World malaria report 2013
• Read about malaria treatment by community volunteers

10 December 2013 -- Using a train-the-trainer approach, Filipino health professionals took part in a one-day workshop to learn how to teach others in their communities to provide psychological first aid to typhoon survivors. They learned how to recognize the signs of distress in survivors and how to apply proven methods that ease suffering – such as listening to people without pressuring them to talk, assessing their needs and concerns, helping them to meet basic needs.

• Read the feature story on psychological first aid

10 December 2013 -- People with mental disabilities around the world face discrimination, violence and abuse in all aspects of their lives. Today, as part of its “QualityRights” initiative, WHO is launching MiNDbank. It is full of a wealth of information about mental health, substance abuse, disability, human rights and the different policies, strategies, laws and service standards being implemented in different countries. Launched on Human Rights Day, it also contains key international documents and information.

• Find out more about the MiNDbank
• Read the note for media on the MiNDbank

6 December 2013 -- The push to immunize all children against polio has been hampered by the ongoing crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic. WHO and UNICEF have appealed to all parties to cooperate, including through temporary pauses in hostilities where needed, to allow vaccination campaigns to take place and for all children to be protected.

• Read the feature on vaccination against polio in the Syrian Arab Republic