Latest news

Vaccine hesitancy in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

UNICEF/Zmey

18 April 2018 – Immunization rates in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are as low as 40% in some areas and continuing to decline, increasing the risk of large disease outbreaks. But, no one knows precisely why.

Growing vaccine hesitancy, misinformation in social media, lack of trust in the health system, a shortage of health workers and supply issues are all suspected reasons for low coverage rates. However, these are mostly assumptions with little evidence.

• Feature story
• World Immunization Week, 24-30 April 2018

• Afghanistan
• Rabies
• Adolescent health
• Breastfeeding

Addressing Emergency Care in Afghanistan

WHO/T. Hongisto

17 April 2018 – After fighting broke out in the rural district of Chark-Logar, Salim and his family were forced to flee their home. During the firefight, Salim was shot in the stomach. It took Salim two hours until he reached a first aid post.

Salim's story is not unusual in today's Afghanistan, where the already overwhelmed health facilities are often unable to absorb the burden. The Ministry of Health, with support from the Health Cluster, led by WHO, is struggling to rebuild a health system badly damaged after years of conflict.

• Feature story

New rabies guidelines and recommendations on lifesaving immunization

© Daniel Stewart

20 April 2018 – WHO has published the third report of its Expert Consultation on Rabies, which incorporates the latest recommendations on rabies immunization made by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. Some of the key updates include surveillance strategies, recommendations on human and immunization and palliative care in low-resource settings.

• Rabies guidelines

Belize prioritizes health challenges faced by its youth

UNICEF Belize

16 April 2018 – Violence, particularly homicide, sexual violence and bullying, is a significant adolescent health issue in Belize. Teenage boys are more likely to drop out of school and become involved with violent gangs or other illegal activities. To improve the situation, WHO is working with the Belize Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to develop a national adolescent health strategy that targets all health challenges holistically, rather than focusing on one or two.

• Feature story

Guidance to promote breastfeeding in health facilities

11 April 2018 – Breastfeeding all babies for the first 2 years would save the lives of more than 820 000 children under age 5 annually.

WHO and UNICEF today issued new 10-step guidance to increase support for breastfeeding in health facilities that provide maternity and newborn services.

• News release
• Implementation guidance
• Infographics

Highlights

• Revised SAGE recommendation on use of dengue vaccine
  April 2018 – Dengue is the most frequent and rapidly spreading mosquito-borne virus. The first dengue vaccine, CYD-TDV (Dengvaxia®) is currently licensed in 20 countries. The key findings from 2 large Phase 3 trials involving over 30,000 participants.

• Urgent action needed to tackle the double burden of malnutrition
  April 2018 – Under nutrition, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases are leading to catastrophic costs to individuals, to communities and to national healthcare systems in Africa. According to experts nutritional status, a critical component of a person’s health and wellbeing, must be recognized as a key building block towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

• WHO continues to serve communities affected by PNG quake
  April 2018 – Fifty days after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit Papua New Guinea (PNG), limited delivery of essential health services has resumed in earthquake-affected provinces. However, thousands remain vulnerable to health threats as they continue to live in crowded temporary settlements with inadequate access to clean water and medical services.

• New hepatitis data highlight need for urgent global response
  April 2017 - New WHO data reveal that an estimated 325 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The WHO Global hepatitis report, 2017 shows the majority of these people lack access to life-saving testing and treatment.