Latest news

World Immunization Week

WHO

23 April 2018 – World Immunization Week – celebrated from 24-30 April 2018 – aims to highlight the collective action needed to ensure that every person is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. This year’s theme: “Protected Together, #VaccinesWork”, encourages people at every level – from donors to the general public – to go further in their efforts to increase immunization coverage for the greater good.

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

• 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.