today launched to improve survival and health outcomes for babies born early (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or small (under 2.5kg at birth). The guidelines advise that skin to skin contact with a caregiver – known as kangaroo mother care – should start immediately after birth, without any initial period in an incubator. This marks a significant change from earlier guidance and common clinical practice, reflecting the immense health benefits of ensuring caregivers and their preterm babies can stay close, without being separated, after birth.
WHO
Our health depends on the health of the ecosystems that surround us, and these ecosystems remain under threat from deforestation, agriculture, changes in land use and rapid urban development. issues a grim reminder that the climate crisis continues to make people sick and jeopardizes lives. Health must be at the core of climate change negotiations. COP27 is a crucial opportunity for the world to re-commit to keeping the 1.5 °C Paris Agreement goal alive. Tacking the climate crisis requires progress on mitigation, adaptation, financing and collaboration.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. Researchers estimated that AMR in bacteria caused an estimated 1.27 million deaths in 2019. (13 – 19 November) is a global campaign that is observed annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public.
calls for short films for the 4th edition of the , recruiting year after year a new generation of film and video innovators to champion and promote health issues.
The (16-18 October) is the international strategic forum for global health. Held annually in Berlin, it brings together stakeholders from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society to set the agenda for a healthier future by inspiring innovative solutions for better health and well-being for all. The World Health Summit strengthens collaboration and open dialogue guided by science, fosters global health as a key political issue and promotes the global health debate in the spirit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 17 “Partnership for the Goals.â€
The overall objective of on 10 October is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for people working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide. and partners are launching a campaign for all stakeholders to come together to recognize progress in this field and to be vocal about what we need to do to make mental health & well-being for all a global priority.
An estimated 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to depression and anxiety costing the global economy nearly US$ 1 trillion. and have called for concrete actions in 2 new publications:, and with practical strategies for governments. The guidelines recommend actions to tackle risks to mental health such as heavy workloads, negative behaviours, and other factors creating distress at work. For the first time, WHO recommends manager training to build their capacity to prevent stressful work environments and respond to workers in distress.
Medications are the most widely utilized interventions in health care, and medication-related harm constitutes the greatest proportion of the total preventable harm due to unsafe care. For this year’s World Patient Safety Day, highlights the theme "Medication Safety" to recognize the complexity of medication-related harm prevention and reduction. Along with the campaign, the Day emphasizes the need to adopt a systems approach and promote safe medication practices to prevent medication errors and reduce medication-related harm.
is committed to supporting meaningful engagement of people living with noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions around the world. People with lived experience often can offer valuable expertise on how to manage and improve their individual health as well as the health of fellow community members. Their first-hand insights can help shape policies, create better health programmes, and inspire others to contribute. sheds light on their experiences.
's online has over 100 UN tools and guidance documents that can be used to develop and implement air quality management strategies.
On September 7, the UN marked the third International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. However, the skies are far from clear of air pollution. Only a month ago, the World Health Organization () warned that practically all the air we breathe is polluted, and that it’s killing around seven million people every year.
Conor Lennon from UN News spoke to Martina Otto and Nathan Borgford-Parnell from the , which is hosted by the UN Environment Programme (). They discussed the evolving science surrounding the issue, the extent to which air pollution is improving – if at all – and why international collaboration is essential, if the number of annual deaths is to be addressed.
Music: Ketsa, Within the Earth
Audio Credit: UN News/ Conor Lennon
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Malcolm Lightbody
Cycling is an increasingly popular means of transportation in cities like Bogota, but currently only 24% of bicycle trips there are made by women. There are risks that prevent more women from choosing the bicycle for transportation. Find out more about to achieve parity of trips, which is part of the Global Project on Urban Governance for Health.
In 2022 the world is experiencing one of the largest backslides of global immunization rates in history. Now is the only chance we have to work together, to pull resources and invest in vaccinating humanity against all diseases and illnesses. And we must do it together! .
Sexual health is relevant throughout a person’s life, from into – not only during one's reproductive years. It is determined by the quality and safety of people’s relationships: with oneself and other individuals, with family and friends, and the society in which we live, including the gender norms that shape our experiences. These relationships are themselves dependent on whether everyone’s human rights related to their sexuality are realised and protected. On (4 September), celebrates every person’s right to sexual wellbeing.
Globally, only half (52%) of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment, far behind adults where three quarters (76%) are receiving antiretrovirals, according to the data that has just been released in the . Concerned by the stalling of progress for children, and the widening gap between children and adults, , , and partners have brought together a global alliance to ensure that no child living with HIV is denied treatment by the end of the decade and to prevent new infant HIV infections.