The World Health Organization () has declared the current outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. How is this outbreak different from previous ones, and why has it been declared a public health emergency? What does this mean for countries and for you? Who is at risk? And what about vaccines? Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, from WHO Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, gives you all the keys to what you need to know about this disease.
Photo: WHO
Sexual health is not just about being free of disease. Positive relationships grounded in mutual respect, empathy and understanding are a keystone of sexual health and well-being. This applies not only to relationships with partners but also to relationships with educators and providers of sexual health services. When these relationships are safe and respectful, people are more able to fulfill their rights and choices. As we celebrate , here’s a look at some of the relationships and initiatives from around the world that contribute to empowering and protecting women and girls.
Climate change, conflict, political instability, disease and economic shocks are driving humanitarian needs in the Southern and Eastern Africa region. At least 74 million people in the region need humanitarian assistance - that's the highest number of people in need in the world. This number is expected to increase by the end of the year due to climate change and conflict. Displacement and food crises, a high incidence of cholera and a growing number of violent sexual assaults are among the most serious challenges facing this area of the African continent.
Meet Reena Mistry a 23-year-old woman from Surat, India, who aspires to a career in the civil service. She also holds an orange belt in Karate, writes content and lives with HIV. She has managed to become financially independent, thanks to a skills development and livelihood project of the International Labour Organization () implemented by the Gujarat State Network of Positive People, with support from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (). Reena has faced stigma from society because of her status. But she wants people to understand that this is a manageable condition, and that we can lead the same lives as everyone else.
Positive relationships grounded in mutual respect, empathy and understanding are a cornerstone of sexual health and well-being. As we celebrate World Sexual Health Day (4 September) this year, positive relationships take the spotlight. Indeed, when partners prioritize each other’s sexual health – and understand that it is a shared responsibility – communication, trust and reproductive health outcomes improve. empowers everyone, especially women and girls, to form good relationships and protect their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a rare progressive disorder affecting every muscle in the human body. This year’s World Duchenne Awareness Day theme emphasizes the importance of amplifying voices to advocate for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people living with DMD and other dystrophinopathies. We invite everyone, irrespective of their personal connection to Duchenne, to join in creating a more inclusive world where people living with disabilities are empowered to thrive.
In tropical and subtropical countries, the virus causing dengue is spiking. Close to an historic high of over 6 million cases and more than 7,000 dengue-related deaths were reported in over 80 countries and territories in 2023. Most places in Europe remain too cool to favour the mosquito or the virus, but imported dengue cases have been rising in the European region and the impact of climate change appears to be shifting the picture.
To find out more about dengue and the family of viruses it belongs to, called arboviruses, , high threat pathogens technical lead at the WHO Regional Office for Europe and medical entomologist Luca Facchinelli.
The war in Ukraine continues to take a heavy toll on millions of women and girls, as well as on those providing essential services on the front line and beyond. Find out what motivates the women in the health force – people who dedicate their lives to helping others survive, recover and find moments of joy – and hear their personal reflections on life and work during war.
Is dementia a normal part of ageing? Someone suffers from dementia every three seconds. What are the causes? Can we prevent it? Is there a cure?
Dr Katrin Seeher explains in this of .
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Learn about some of the most important newborn health warning signs. For more expert tips visit .
In rural Cambodia, two scientists navigate to the bottom of a cliff face. Above them is a canopy of teak trees. Filip Claes and Erik Karlsson, the scientists leading this expedition, walk for 20 minutes before they enter a barely noticeable cave entrance perhaps a meter and a half in diameter. It is shrouded in shrubs and vines. This venture into one of Cambodia’s lost caves is part of an innovative mission for disease surveillance conducted as part of a joint project between the (FAO) and the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC).
The interconnectedness of healthcare waste management, climate change, and environmental degradation highlights the need for sustainable practices and technologies to protect both human health and the environment.
is held in the first week of August every year, supported by , , institutions and civil society partners. The theme for 2024 is “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all”. The campaign celebrates breastfeeding mothers in all their diversity, while showcasing the ways families, societies, communities and health workers can support breastfeeding activities. Women everywhere have the right to respectful breastfeeding counselling from trained health care providers, as well as laws and policies like maternity leave and provisions like paid time off when they go back to work.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, caused by either a viral infection or non-infectious agents (such as drugs, toxins, alcohol). Deaths from viral hepatitis-related causes are increasing. , observed on 28 July, raises awareness of viral hepatitis, which causes severe liver disease and cancer. With a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness, we must accelerate action on better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to save lives and improve health outcomes, so we can meet our 2030 targets to achieve a hepatitis-free world.
Claudelina Ortellado Portillo gave birth for the first time at age 39 in the Katuete Public Health Centre in Paraguay. Ms. Ortellado told , she credits the psychological support she received during the pre and postnatal periods in helping her navigate the emotional tides of pregnancy. Childbirth can take a heavy emotional and physical toll and requires respectful, responsive care – an approach that emphasizes women's dignity, their emotional state, beliefs, consent and autonomy. Respectful maternity care also means discouraging over-medicalization and protecting women from obstetric abuse and violence. Women must be assured the right to their chosen birth plan and able to access all available information in order to participate fully in decision making over their own labour process – including choices, such as the position to give birth in.
