Latest news

Egypt eliminates lymphatic filariasis

WHO

13 March 2018 – Egypt has become the first country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. This success comes after almost twenty years of sustained control and prevention measures (including mass treatment of populations) and surveillance in affected/at-risk localities.

• News release

• Tobacco regulation
• Women's day
• Surgery
• Hearing

WHO issues new guidance on tobacco product regulation

WHO/P. Garwood

9 March 2018 – Many countries have developed advanced policies to reduce the demand for tobacco, which kills over 7 million people annually, but governments can do much more to implement regulations to control tobacco use, especially by exploiting tobacco product regulation. WHO has launched new guidance on the role tobacco product regulation can play to reduce tobacco demand, save lives and raise revenues for health services to treat tobacco-related disease, in the context of comprehensive tobacco control.

• New guidance on tobacco product regulation

Gender equality must be at the core of 'Health for All'

8 March 2018 – Today, for International Women's Day, we imagine a world where every woman and girl has access to quality and affordable health care, a world in which women and girls can freely exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights, and one where all women and girls are treated and respected as equals. At WHO, we’re speaking up for women and girls’ right to health.

• Statement by Director-General
• Videos: Women in health

Reducing the risk of surgical site infections

6 March 2018 – Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most frequent type of infection acquired during health care delivery in developing countries. In Africa, infections are the most frequent complication following surgery. Empowering teams to implement interventions on surgical infection prevention measures and promotion of a wider patient safety culture is a key strategy to reducing such infections. Tools to help implement the strategy, have been proven to work limited resources settings.

• Surgery safety in Africa

Restoring hearing helps a child in the Syrian Arab Republic

2 March 2018 – Some 900 million people could suffer from disabling hearing loss by 2050, according to new estimates released by WHO on the occasion of World Hearing Day, 3 March. To mark the day this feature tells of a young boy who lost his hearing when he was an infant, but his family were unable to get him assistance until recently. The story describes the difference a hearing aid has made in his life.

• Feature story
• Note for media

Highlights

• Saving lives by sharing knowledge online
  March 2018 – In June 2017, WHO publicly launched its own Massive Open Online Courses platform – OpenWHO – offering online courses specially tailored for health emergency responders.

• Pacific leadership in new WHO global commission on noncommunicable diseases
  March 2018 – Globally, communities are struggling to cope with the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancers. In another step forward in combatting this epidemic, WHO has established an Independent Global High-level Commission on Noncommunicable Diseases, where the Tongan Minister of Health and Public Enterprises, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, has been appointed as one of the commissioners who will help raise awareness of the issues and experiences of NCDs in the Pacific.

• Kenya meets Guinea Worm Free Certification Criteria
  March 2018 – Kenya has met the criteria for Guinea worm free certification status, following a comprehensive evaluation in the country in the last two weeks by the International Certification Team (ICT). The team for evaluating the status of Guinea Worm Disease found no evidence of Guinea Worm transmission in the last three years, in the presence of adequate surveillance and follow- up of rumours of the disease, putting the country on track to the Guinea Worm-free certification status.

• Global Commission for Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (GCC) reviewed criteria for certification
  March 2018 – With fewer cases of WPV reported from fewer countries than ever before, the GCC is accelerating its work to prepare for the eventual certification that WPVs have been eradicated from the world.