A first-of-its-kind World Health Organization (WHO) Global report on sodium intake reduction shows that the world is off-track to achieve its global target of reducing sodium intake by 30% by 2025.
International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) takes place every year during the third week of October. In its 10th edition, the Week is an initiative of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance), which is jointly led by the UN Environment Programme and the World Health Organization. New Delhi, 26 October 2022. ‘Say no to lead poisoning’ is the theme of the 10th International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) to raise awareness about lead poisoning and encourage all countries to take action to prevent lead exposure, particularly in children. It's International #LeadPoisoning Prevention Week. There is no safe level of exposure to lead. Its effects on the nervous system can last a lifetime. Watch out for these signs: ‼️ aggression‼️ irritability‼️ difficulty learning‼️ reduced IQ 👉https://t.co/2BzsMin9en pic.twitter.com/ZrtX1CDUPf — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 23, 2022 Each year, an estimated 1 million people, die from lead poisoning. Millions more, many of them children, are exposed to low levels of lead causing lifelong health problems, including anaemia, hypertension, immunotoxicity and toxicity to the reproductive organs. The neurological and behavioural effects of lead could be irreversible. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the source of lead exposure should be identified and action is taken to reduce and terminate exposure for all individuals with a blood lead level of more than 5ug/dl. There is no safe level of exposure to lead, which harms health, particularly children’s health. DID YOU KNOW? Lead is one of the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern. We can work together to prevent harm to health. Learn the risks and how you can support International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week at https://t.co/Mq8HKJq8LK #BanLeadPaint #LeadPoisoning pic.twitter.com/dRCaOkce39 — EPA All Nations (@EPAallnations) October 25, 2022 UNICEF estimates that 1 in 3 children – up to 800 million globally – have blood lead levels at or above 5 µg/dl – and immediate global action is needed to address this problem. #DYK children are especially vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of lead & even relatively low levels of exposure can cause…
Ministry of Public Health, Qatar and WHO collaborating to implement public health security measures as the FIFA World Cup approaches
World Patient Safety Day 2022. History of World Patient Safety Day. World Patient Safety Day 2022 has been dedicated to Medication Safety.
It’s more critical than ever to begin life as a newborn being breastfed, according to the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF. New Delhi, 02 August 2022. As global crises continue to threaten the health and nutrition of millions of babies and children, the vital importance of breastfeeding as the best possible start in life is more critical than ever. World Breastfeeding Week This World Breastfeeding Week, under its theme, Step up for breastfeeding: Educate and Support, UNICEF and WHO are calling on governments to allocate increased resources to protect, promote and support breastfeeding policies and programmes, especially for the most vulnerable families living in emergency settings. Many women do not 🤱🏻 for as long as they would like.Here’s how we can ALL step up for #breastfeeding mothers anytime, anywhere.#WorldBreastfeedingWeek pic.twitter.com/LDf3pG42t0 — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 1, 2022 During emergencies, including those in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Yemen, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel, breastfeeding guarantees a safe, nutritious and accessible food source for babies and young children. It offers a powerful line of defence against disease and all forms of child malnutrition, including waste. Breastfeeding: baby’s first vaccine Breastfeeding also acts as a baby’s first vaccine, protecting them from common childhood illnesses. Babies have tiny tummies and need to be 🤱🏾 very often. You can help mothers feel comfortable breastfeeding their babies whenever and wherever they get hungry.We can all help create #breastfeeding-friendly communities.#WorldBreastfeedingWeek pic.twitter.com/HqHl9PJ5MG — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) August 1, 2022 Yet the emotional distress, physical exhaustion, lack of space and privacy, and poor sanitation experienced by mothers in emergency settings mean that many babies are missing out on the benefits of breastfeeding to help them survive. Fewer than half of all newborn babies are breastfed in the first hour of life, leaving them more vulnerable to disease and death. And only 44% of infants are exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months of life, short of the World Health Assembly target of 50% by 2025. Protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding is more important…
WHO DG announces Global Health Leaders Awards GENEVA – 22 May 2022 – The WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has announced six awards today to recognize outstanding contributions to advancing global health, demonstrated leadership and commitment to regional health issues. Dr Tedros himself decides on the awardees for the World Health Organization Director-General’s Global Health Leaders Awards. The ceremony for the awards, which were established in 2019, was part of the live-streamed high-level opening session of the 75th World Health Assembly. “At a time when the world is facing an unprecedented convergence of inequity, conflict, food insecurity, the climate crisis and a pandemic, this award recognizes those who have made an outstanding contribution to protecting and promoting health around the world,” said Dr Tedros. “These awardees embody lifelong dedication, relentless advocacy, a commitment to equity, and selfless service of humanity”, added Dr Tedros. Opening of the 75th World Health Assembly – 22 May 2022 On 22 May 2022, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanmon Ghebreyesus during his opening address at the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. (PHOTO-WHO) HONOREES OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH LEADERS AWARDS (1) Dr Paul Farmer Dr Farmer, who passed away in his sleep in February 2022 in Rwanda, was Chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Partners in Health. He was co-founder and chief strategist of Partners In Health, an international non-governmental organization established in 1987 to provide direct health care services, research and advocacy for those who are sick and living in poverty. Dr Farmer has written extensively on health, human rights, and the consequences of social inequality. Wingdie “Didi” Bertrand, co-founder and President of Women and Girls Initiative, accepted the award on behalf of her late husband. (2) Dr Ahmed Hankir A British-Lebanese psychiatrist, Dr Ahmed Hankir is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Research in association with Cambridge University and Academic Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry at the King’s College London in the United Kingdom. He also works in frontline psychiatry for the NHS at South London and Maudsley…
WHO launches first-ever global report on infection prevention and control Reveals that good IPC programmes can reduce health care infections by 70% New Delhi, 15th May 2022. A new report from the World health organization (WHO) shows that where good hand hygiene and other cost-effective practices are followed in the health care settings, 70% of infections can be prevented. How can health care settings contribute to the spread of infections? The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent large disease outbreaks have highlighted the extent to which health care settings can contribute to the spread of infections, harming patients, health workers and visitors, if insufficient attention is paid to infection prevention and control (IPC). But a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that where good hand hygiene and other cost-effective practices are followed, 70% of those infections can be prevented. Today, out of every 100 patients in acute-care hospitals, seven patients in high-income countries and 15 patients in low- and middle-income countries will acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI) during their hospital stay. On average, 1 in every 10 affected patients will die from their HAI. People in intensive care and newborns are particularly at risk. And the report reveals that approximately one in four hospital-treated sepsis cases and almost half of all cases of sepsis with organ dysfunction treated in adult intensive-care units are healthcare-associated. On the eve of World Hand Hygiene Day, WHO previewed the first-ever Global Report on Infection Prevention and Control which brings together evidence from scientific literature and various reports, and new data from WHO studies. “The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many challenges and gaps in IPC in all regions and countries, including those which had the most advanced IPC programmes,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “It has also provided an unprecedented opportunity to take stock of the situation and rapidly scale up outbreak readiness and response through IPC practices, as well as strengthening IPC programmes across the health system. Our challenge now is to ensure that all countries are able to allocate the human resources, supplies and infrastructures this requires.”…
Joint Research Centre and World Health Organization join forces to use behavioural insights for public health JRC and WHO concluded a Collaborative Research Arrangement Geneva, 12 November 2021: The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded a Collaborative Research Arrangement that aims to mainstream behavioural insights into public health programmes and policies worldwide. What can behavioural insights do? Behavioural insights can help improve understanding on how and why people behave in ways that affect their health and help design policies and services that address behavioural factors for improved physical and mental well-being. The Commission, through the JRC, will assist WHO in expanding its behavioural insights for health programmes. According to a press release both organizations will agree on specific areas of focus, which would include issues like non-communicable diseases, anti-microbial resistance and the use of behavioural insights to increase the capacity of the health workforce. JRC DG expressed happiness JRC Director-General Stephen Quest said: “We are confident that including a strand of behavioural research in public health programmes will increase their efficiency in preventing and treating a series of health risks and diseases. We are very happy to share our experience and knowledge of integrating behavioural insights in the policy-making of an international public institution and to blend them with WHO’s experience and knowledge in applying science to public health. This agreement strengthens the tools available to tackle major public health issues worldwide.” WHO DG welcomed the partnership Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, welcomed the partnership, adding: “Harnessing the power of behavioural science is vital for helping WHO achieve its mission to advance the health of all people. WHO’s collaboration with the European Commission to scale up use of behavioural science and research reflects our commitment to transforming how we work to promote health. Our partnership could not come at a better time, as behavioural challenges are affecting people’s health in many ways, from the measures we take to protect ourselves from COVID-19 to the decisions we make on nutrition, antibiotics and information we use for our health.” This Collaborative Research Arrangement builds…
House-to-house polio vaccination set to recommence across Afghanistan in November KABUL/AMMAN/KATHMANDU, 18 October 2021 – WHO and UNICEF welcome the decision by the Taliban leadership supporting the resumption of house-to-house polio vaccination across Afghanistan. The vaccination campaign in Afghanistan The vaccination campaign, which begins on November 8, will be the first in over three years to reach all children in Afghanistan, including more than 3.3 million children in some parts of the country who have previously remained inaccessible to vaccination campaigns. A second nationwide polio vaccination campaign has also been agreed upon and will be synchronised with Pakistan’s own polio campaign planned in December. “This is an extremely important step in the right direction,” said Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Afghanistan. “We know that multiple doses of oral polio vaccine offer the best protection, so we are pleased to see that there is another campaign planned before the end of this year. Sustained access to all children is essential to end polio for good. This must remain a top priority,” he said. With only one case of wild poliovirus reported so far in 2021, Afghanistan has an extraordinary opportunity to eradicate polio. Restarting polio vaccination now is crucial for preventing any significant resurgence of polio within the country and mitigating the risk of cross-border and international transmission. “This decision will allow us to make a giant stride in the efforts to eradicate polio,” said Hervé Ludovic De Lys, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan. “To eliminate polio completely, every child in every household across Afghanistan must be vaccinated, and with our partners, this is what we are setting out to do,” he said. A supplementary dose of vitamin A will also be provided to children aged 6 to 59 months during the upcoming campaign. The polio programme has started preparations to rapidly implement the nationwide vaccination campaign, which is a result of ongoing high-level dialogue between the UN and the Taliban leadership to swiftly and urgently meet the health needs of the people in Afghanistan. “This is not only a win for Afghanistan but also a win for the region as it…
WHO welcomed the addition of another therapeutic to the world’s arsenal against COVID-19, but… Geneva, 24 September 2021 – The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the addition of another therapeutic to the world’s arsenal against COVID-19 but urges producing companies and governments to address the high price and limited production of the Regeneron antibody combination and ensure safe and appropriate handling of the medicine. Given the high cost and low availability of the combination therapy, UNITAID is negotiating with Roche Pharmaceutical, which is currently manufacturing the drug for lower prices and equitable distribution across all regions, especially in low- and middle-income countries. WHO is also in discussions with the company for a donation and distribution of the drug through UNICEF, following allocation criteria set by WHO. WHO launched a call to manufacturers In parallel, WHO has launched a call to manufacturers who may wish to submit their products for pre-qualification, which would allow for a ramping up of production and therefore greater availability of the treatment and expanded access. ACT-A partners are also working with WHO on an equitable access framework for recommended COVID-19 therapeutics. WHO also calls for the sharing of technology to allow for the manufacturing of biosimilar versions so all patients who may need this treatment have access to it. In addition, there are feasibility challenges linked to the antibodies, such as in intravenous administration; based on the trials with non-severe and severe/critical patients. In the outpatient setting, this may be a challenge; and thus subcutaneous administration may be an option at the lowest dose. Administration requires specialized clinics and will need adequate amounts of the antibodies, as well as trained staff to ensure safe and effective administration of the drug. WHO cautions that in order not to exacerbate health inequity and limited availability of the therapy, patients who are non-severe and at higher risk for hospitalization be treated and those that are severe or critical with seronegative status (those who have not developed natural antibodies against COVID-19 determined through accurate rapid tests) be treated; as these two patient groups are the patients that stand to benefit…
Why is Patient Safety important? World patient safety day theme 2021. World safety day 2021 date. Geneva, 16 September 2021 – The World Health Organization is calling on healthcare facility managers, leaders and health workers around the world to adopt a set of 5 World Patient Safety Day Goals 2021 to improve maternal and newborn safety at the points of care, particularly around childbirth. The goals will be launched at a Virtual Global Conference “Together for safe and respectful maternal and newborn care” on World Patient Safety Day on 17 September, with this year’s theme – Safe maternal and newborn care. Every day, approximately 800 women and 6 700 babies lose their lives around the time of childbirth. In addition, nearly 5 400 babies are stillborn daily, with 40% of these deaths occurring in relation to labour and childbirth. Most stillbirths, maternal and newborn deaths and harm are avoidable through the provision of safe, respectful and quality care during pregnancy, childbirth and in the first days of life. What are 5 World Patient Safety Day Goals 2021? The 5 World Patient Safety Day Goals 2021 aim to improve maternal and newborn safety at the point of care and to accelerate action towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of reducing maternal mortality and ending avoidable deaths of newborns by 2030. The goals are to: – Reduce unnecessary and harmful practices to women and newborns during childbirth – Strengthen the capacity of and support to health workers for safe maternal and newborn care – Promote respectful care for safe childbirth – Improve safe use of medication and blood transfusion during childbirth – Report and analyze safety incidents in childbirth. WHO is urging health care facility leaders, managers and health workers to sign up to these goals on an online platform recently created by WHO. History of World Patient Safety Day 2021 World Patient Safety Day, established by the World Health Assembly in 2019, aims to increase public awareness and engagement, enhance global understanding, and work towards global solidarity and action by countries and partners to promote safety in health care. This year’s…
New Delhi/Geneva. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for innovative health technologies that can help countries improve health outcomes by providing shortcuts to solutions despite a lack of infrastructure and resources. However, many of the new technologies that have come to market are unaffordable or unsuitable for low- and middle-income countries. To ensure that all countries benefit from health innovation, WHO has compiled a compendium of 24 new technologies that can be used in low-resource settings. WHO will continue to work to promote sustainable supplies “Innovative technologies are accelerating access to healthcare everywhere, but we must ensure that they are readily available in all health facilities, fairly priced and quality-assured,” said Dr Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Health Products. “WHO will continue to work with governments, funders and manufacturers to promote sustainable supplies of these tools during and beyond the COVID emergency.” The compendium’s main objective was to select and assess technologies that can have an immediate and future impact on COVID-19 preparedness and response, potentially improve health outcomes and quality of life, and/or offer a solution to an unmet medical need. 15 of these technologies are already commercially available in countries, while the rest are still at the prototype stage. The compendium includes simple items ranging from a colourized bleach additive, which allows the naked eye to identify non-sterilized surfaces and objects, to more complex though easy-to-use equipment such as a portable respiratory monitoring system and ventilators with an extended battery that can be used where electricity is not available or unstable. The list also includes a deployable health facility for emergencies decked out in a shipping container. Some of these technologies are already in use and have proven their value through pilot programmes. For example, the solar-powered oxygen concentrator has been highly effective in treating pneumonia, which kills 900,000 children a year, in a regional children’s hospital in Somalia’s Galmudug state. Studies have demonstrated that reliable access to oxygen can reduce child deaths due to pneumonia by 35%. Given the shortage of oxygen in numerous countries, a concentrator is a critical tool in the…
Kabul/Cairo, 30 August 2021 – A plane carrying WHO medicines and health supplies landed in Afghanistan today, 30 August, at 12:25 pm local time. The first shipment of medical supplies to Afghanistan since the country came under the control of the Taliban This is the first shipment of medical supplies to land in Afghanistan since the country came under the control of the Taliban authorities. “After days of non-stop work to find a solution, I am very pleased to say that we have now been able to partially replenish stocks of health facilities in Afghanistan and ensure that — for now – WHO-supported health services can continue,” said Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. The 12.5 metric tonnes supplies delivered consist of trauma kits and interagency emergency health kits, and are enough to cover the basic health needs of more than 200 000 people, as well as provide 3500 surgical procedures and treat 6500 trauma patients. They will be immediately delivered to 40 health facilities in 29 provinces across Afghanistan. The plane, which was provided by the Government of Pakistan, was loaded with the supplies earlier today by WHO’s logistics team at the International Humanitarian City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and flown directly to Mazar-i-Sharif airport in Afghanistan. This is the first of 3 flights planned with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to fill urgent shortages in medicines and medical supplies in Afghanistan. “I would like to thank the Government of Pakistan and PIA for their efforts to support WHO and the people of Afghanistan. Humanitarian agencies such as WHO have faced enormous challenges in sending life-saving supplies to Afghanistan in recent weeks due to security and logistics constraints. The support of the Pakistani people has been timely and life-saving,” added Dr Al-Mandhari. WHO is working with partners to ensure that this week’s shipment is the first of many to follow. A reliable humanitarian air bridge is urgently required to scale up the collective humanitarian effort. The world’s attention over the past 2 weeks has been focused on the air evacuation from Kabul airport. But…
KABUL/CAIRO/KATHMANDU,22 August 2021: “As humanitarian needs in Afghanistan increase, the abilities to respond to those needs are rapidly declining. WHO and UNICEF call for immediate and unimpeded access to deliver medicines and other lifesaving supplies to millions of people in need of aid, including 300 000 people displaced in the last two months alone. Afghanistan : over 18 million people requiring assistance According to a press release, “While the main focus over the past days has been major air operations for the evacuation of internationals and vulnerable Afghans, the massive humanitarian needs facing the majority of the population should not – and cannot – be neglected. Even prior to the events of the past weeks, Afghanistan represented the world’s third-largest humanitarian operation, with over 18 million people requiring assistance.” WHO and UNICEF are committed to stay and deliver for the people of Afghanistan. According to a press release, “However, with no commercial aircraft currently permitted to land in Kabul, we have no way to get supplies into the country and to those in need. Other humanitarian agencies are similarly constrained. “WHO and UNICEF call for the immediate establishment of a humanitarian air bridge for the sustained and unimpeded delivery of aid into Afghanistan. We are also closely following up with all UN and international partners to explore options for expediting aid shipments. “In the first few days of the recent hostilities, both WHO and UNICEF — like all other UN agencies — prioritized the safety and security of our staff. But our work continued even when the hostilities were at their worst. We remain committed to staying in Afghanistan and delivering, and we rapidly shifted gears to address the needs of millions of Afghans who remain in the country. Humanitarian agencies need to be supported According to a press release, “Conflict, displacement, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic are all contributing to a complex and desperate situation in Afghanistan. Humanitarian agencies need to be supported and facilitated to meet the enormous and growing needs in Afghanistan and make sure that no one dies unnecessarily due to lack of access to aid.
Call for experts to join Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens Issued on: 20 August – Deadline: 10 September: New Delhi, 21st August 2021: The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday issued an open call for experts to serve as members of the new WHO Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO). What is the work of SAGO? The SAGO will advise WHO on technical and scientific considerations regarding the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens of epidemic and pandemic potential, and will be composed of a wide range of experts acting in their personal capacity. SAGO will also guide WHO on next steps for understanding the SARS-CoV-2 origins. There have been an increasing number of high threat pathogens emerging and re-emerging in recent years with, for example, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Lassa, Marburg, Ebola, Nipah, avian influenza, the latest being SARS-CoV-2. According to WHO there is a clear need for robust surveillance and early actions for rapid detection and mitigation efforts, as well as systematic processes to study the emergence of these pathogens and routes of transmission from their natural reservoirs to humans. This is critical to helping WHO, Member States and partner institutions to prepare for future spillover threats and to minimize the risk of a disease outbreak growing into a pandemic. WHO press release states, “From SARS-CoV-2, which continues to wreak havoc around the world, to the next “Disease X”, this global framework to study the emergence of new and known high threat pathogens needs to be comprehensive and coordinated based on a One Health approach. It should also encompass biosafety and biosecurity. And it needs to be scientific, transparent, comprehensive, rapid and inclusive.” Functions of SAGO In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the SAGO will have the following functions: To advise WHO on the development of a WHO global framework to define and guide studies into the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens of epidemic and pandemic potential; To advise WHO on prioritizing studies and field investigations into the origins of emerging and re-emerging pathogens of epidemic and pandemic potential,…
The people of Afghanistan need support and solidarity today more than ever: Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari 18 August 2021, Cairo, Egypt — After the Taliban’s occupation of Afghanistan, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that it will not leave Afghanistan and will continue to serve as before. Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean said in a press statement issued here today that attacks on health care remain a major challenge, but The people of Afghanistan need support and solidarity today more than ever. The gains of the past 20 years cannot be turned back. Full text of Statement on Afghanistan by Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean is as follows The World Health Organization (WHO) is committed to staying in Afghanistan and delivering critical health services and calls on all parties to respect and protect civilians, health workers, patients and health facilities. During this difficult time, the well-being of all civilians — as well as the safety and security of our staff — in Afghanistan is paramount. [email protected] is committed to staying in #Afghanistan and delivering critical health services and calls on all parties to protect civilians, health workers, patients, health facilities, and UN staff during this difficult time. — Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari Read more➡️https://t.co/DQqyiTAOGs pic.twitter.com/GVA94ljtdN — WHO EMRO (@WHOEMRO) August 18, 2021 Sustained access to humanitarian assistance, including essential health services and medical supplies, is a critical lifeline for millions of Afghans, and must not be interrupted. Months of violence have taken a heavy toll on Afghanistan’s fragile health system, which had already been facing shortages in essential supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the recent conflict, trauma injuries have increased, requiring scaled up emergency medical and surgical services. In July 2021, some 13 897 conflict-related trauma cases were received at 70 WHO-supported health facilities, compared to 4057 cases in July 2020. Sustained access to humanitarian assistance, including essential health services & medical supplies, is a critical lifeline for millions of Afghans, & must not be interrupted – Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, @WHOEMRO Regional DirectorFull statement https://t.co/H4aRoUaEF4#StayAndDeliver pic.twitter.com/hIM9Qm7EG7 —…
Ebola vaccination in Cote d’Ivoire health workers and first responders in Abidjan Abidjan/Brazzaville, 17 August 2021 – Cote d’Ivoire has launched Ebola vaccination of high-risk populations, including health workers and first responders in Abidjan, where an Ebola outbreak was declared on 14 August. Vaccination with rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine manufactured by Merck The country was able to swiftly begin the vaccination on 16 August with the rVSV-ZEBOV Ebola vaccine manufactured by Merck as the vaccine doses that the World Health Organization (WHO) helped secure to fight a four-month-long outbreak in Guinea were sent quickly by Guinea to Cote d’Ivoire. The vaccine deployment from Guinea included 2000 doses from Merck that are being used under the “ring strategy” where people who have come into contact with a confirmed Ebola patient are given the vaccine, as well as first responders and health workers. In addition, Guinea sent around 3000 vaccine doses manufactured by Johnson & Johnson which are to be used to boost the vaccination in areas not experiencing active transmission. Guinea has also deployed five vaccination experts and provided monoclonal antibody treatments to Cote d’Ivoire, which declared an outbreak after confirming the Ebola virus in a patient who travelled to Abidjan by road from Guinea. The patient is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Abidjan. Effective early treatment, which currently exists, and supportive care can significantly improve the chances of surviving Ebola. “The Ebola vaccine is a critical tool in the fight against the virus and so it’s a top priority to move rapidly and start protecting people at high risk of the disease,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “The speed with which Cote d’Ivoire has ramped up vaccination is remarkable and shows that with effective sub-regional solidarity we can quickly take measures to extinguish lethal infections that can potentially flare up into large outbreaks.” In addition to the confirmed case, one suspected case and nine contacts have been identified and are being monitored. No deaths have been reported. There is no indication yet that the current outbreak in Cote d’Ivoire is linked with the one that…
West Africa’s first-ever case of Marburg virus disease confirmed in Guinea The WHO informed that Marburg, which is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola, was reported in Guinea’s Gueckedou. Is the Marburg virus still alive? Brazzaville/Conakry, 9 August 2021 – Health authorities in Guinea today confirmed a case of Marburg virus disease in the southern Gueckedou prefecture. This is the first time Marburg, a highly infectious disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, has been identified in the country, and in West Africa. Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. Marburg, which is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola, was detected less than two months after Guinea declared an end to an Ebola outbreak that erupted earlier this year. Samples taken from a now-deceased patient and tested by a field laboratory in Gueckedou as well as Guinea’s national haemorrhagic fever laboratory turned out positive for the Marburg virus. Further analysis by the Institut Pasteur in Senegal confirmed the result. The patient had sought treatment at a local clinic in Koundou area of Gueckedou, where a medical investigation team had been dispatched to probe his worsening symptoms. “We applaud the alertness and the quick investigative action by Guinea’s health workers. The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “We are working with the health authorities to implement a swift response that builds on Guinea’s past experience and expertise in managing Ebola, which is transmitted in a similar way.” Marburg has been confirmed in the Gueckedou region Gueckedou, where Marburg has been confirmed, is also the same region where cases of the 2021 Ebola outbreak in Guinea as well as the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak were initially detected. Efforts are underway to find the people who may have been in contact with the patient. As the disease is appearing for the first time in the country, health authorities are…
Ten steps to successful breastfeeding New Delhi, 02nd August 2021. World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) to help motivate facilities providing maternity and newborn services worldwide to implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. The Ten Steps summarize a package of policies and procedures that facilities providing maternity and newborn services should implement to support breastfeeding. WHO has called upon all facilities providing maternity and newborn services worldwide to implement the Ten Steps. The implementation guidance for BFHI emphasizes strategies to scale up to universal coverage and ensure sustainability over time. The guidance focuses on integrating the programme more fully in the healthcare system, to ensure that all facilities in a country implement the Ten Steps. Countries are called upon to fulfil nine key responsibilities through a national BFHI programme: Critical management procedures according to BFHI programme: 1a. Comply fully with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions. 1b. Have a written infant feeding policy that is routinely communicated to staff and parents. 1c. Establish ongoing monitoring and data-management systems. 2. Ensure that staff have sufficient knowledge, competence and skills to support breastfeeding. Key clinical practices: 3. Discuss the importance and management of breastfeeding with pregnant women and their families. 4. Facilitate immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and support mothers to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth. 5. Support mothers to initiate and maintain breastfeeding and manage common difficulties. 6. Do not provide breastfed newborns with any food or fluids other than breast milk, unless medically indicated. 7. Enable mothers and their infants to remain together and to practise rooming-in 24 hours a day. 8. Support mothers to recognize and respond to their infants’ cues for feeding. 9. Counsel mothers on the use and risks of feeding bottles, teats and pacifiers. 10. Coordinate discharge so that parents and their infants have timely access to ongoing support and care. There is substantial evidence that implementing the Ten Steps significantly improves breastfeeding rates. A systematic review of 58 studies on maternity and newborn…
The variant’s spread, along with increased social mobility and the inconsistent use of proven public health measures, is driving an increase in both case numbers and deaths, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. The Delta variant is now in more than 111 countries: WHO DG New Delhi, 15 July 2021: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the recent data in an address to the Emergency Committee on COVID-19, established under the International Health Regulations (IHR), a treaty that guides global response to public health risks. In opening remarks at the 8th meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee on COVID-19 – 14 July 2021 WHO DG said, “The Delta variant is now in more than 111 countries and we expect it to soon be the dominant COVID-19 strain circulating worldwide if it isn’t already. The Delta variant is one of the main drivers of the current increase in transmission, fuelled by increased social mixing and mobility, and inconsistent use of proven public health and social measures. At the same time, we continue to see a shocking disparity in the global distribution of vaccines, and unequal access to life-saving tools. This inequity has created a two-track pandemic: countries with the greatest access to vaccines are lifting restrictions and reopening their societies, although great risks remain for unvaccinated groups. Meanwhile, lack of access to vaccines leaves most of the world’s population susceptible to infection, and at the mercy of the virus. Many countries still have not received any vaccines, and most have not received enough. COVAX can work, but the scale is still far too small, with just over 100 million doses shipped.” WHO DG said, “I have called for a massive push to vaccinate at least 10% of the population of every country by September, at least 40% by the end of this year, and at least 70% by the middle of next year. To reach these targets, we need 11 billion doses. We’re grateful for the announcements made by the G7 countries that together they will donate 870 million doses, primarily through COVAX. But much more…
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