marks 20 years of celebrating and thanking voluntary donors worldwide while advocating for universal access to safe blood transfusion.
Health
Physical activity is linked to better mental health, improved quality of life, and overall well-being. Yoga, a 5000-year-old tradition, is a valuable practice for individuals of all ages to incorporate physical activity into their lives and achieve the level necessary to support good health. In 2024, the UN commemorates the 10th International Day of Yoga (21 June) under the theme “Yoga for Self and Society”. The global celebration aims to foster unity and harmony, transcending borders and cultures, and guiding us toward a peaceful and healthy world.
Menstrual health and hygiene are vital to the well-being and empowerment of women and adolescent girls. However, hundreds of millions of individuals lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual health. Under the theme "Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld," this year's (28 May) urges the international community to prioritize menstrual health in both global and national health and development policies with investment reflecting the important role it plays in human rights, public health, gender equality and sustainable development.
See how UNFPA—the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency—is taking action to make motherhood safer at the International Medical Corps (IMC) field hospital in Gaza as the military assault on Rafah leads to more trauma and death:
Vaccines have saved six lives a minute. Every minute, for five decades. Speak up and tell leaders it’s time for immunization for all.
The (13 May) urges collective efforts to preserve plant health and ensure food safety and safe trade for sustainable economies. Each year, millions of containers carry plant products and wood packaging materials between countries, facilitating pest transmission. Invasive pests cause global economic losses of around USD 220 billion annually. To protect global plant health, adherence to the , and innovations like , improve trade efficiency and security.
Students at Senkadagala School in Sri Lanka cultivate fruits and vegetables in their school garden to prepare meals. The garden also yields plants that are sold to promote an entrepreneurial mindset. The programme is part of the Entrepreneurial School Garden initiative implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations () to promote healthy eating habits and nutrition. The students learn about their ecosystem and use modern agricultural methods to control weed growth and insect infestation and maximize productivity.
Humanity is all the wrong records on global warming. Fragile ecosystems face enormous pressure. More than plants, animals and other living things are at risk of being wiped out. Dirty air and chemical pollution threaten our lands, oceans and health. However, there is a lot we can do as individuals to tackle these issues. Every action, no matter how small, matters to the planet. Ϲ Environment Programme () has developed toolkits for taking environmental action on a range of issues, including reviving ecosystems, fighting climate change, reducing plastic waste, improving air quality, and planting trees.
As climate change intensifies, workers around the globe find themselves at an increased risk of exposure to various hazards such as excessive heat, ultraviolet radiation, extreme weather events, air pollution, vector-borne diseases and agrochemicals. In conjunction with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work (28 April), the International Labour Organization () has launched a new report "Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate," which reveals alarming new data on the impact of climate change on workers’ safety and health.
Minova, a cholera-endemic area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is experiencing a resurgence of the disease due to the unexpected arrival of more than 120,000 people since February. The number of cases has increased significantly, and the area is now isolated and difficult to access due to flooding, landslides, and armed groups. NGOs and UN agencies are deploying teams to support the emergency response, including setting up safe water distribution points, cholera treatment centers, and awareness-raising activities. Thanks to the efforts of humanitarians and local health workers, the number of cases in the area decreased at the end of March. But given the scale of the task, how long can humanitarian organizations continue to help people in need?
The Gaza conflict has been going on for over six months with devastating consequences. Thousands of Palestinian women have been killed, leaving children orphaned. Over a million women and girls face dire living conditions with limited access to necessities like food and medical care. Destruction of infrastructure has exacerbated the crisis, leaving many injured individuals without treatment. Urgent calls for humanitarian aid and a ceasefire are needed to prevent further suffering. Escalating violence in the West Bank and a potential regional conflict between Israel and Iran are also of concern.
Today in Geneva, the United Nations Population Fund () unveils its flagship report "". The report calls for global action to dismantle unjust and discriminatory structures that hinder millions from realizing their full rights and potential. Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, along with a panel of experts, will delve into the report's compelling evidence on the systemic and intersectional discrimination impacting women's health and well-being.
The war in Gaza has led to a dire humanitarian crisis, affecting the lives of 2.2 million people. More than 1.7 million Palestinians are living in makeshift tents or temporary shelters amidst heaps of waste, aggravating a looming environmental and public health crisis. Solid waste management has become an urgent need in Gaza that requires immediate support and solutions. Ϲ Development Programme () in collaboration with , has launched an initiative to support solid waste management in the southern governorates of Rafah, Khan Yunis, and the Middle Area, helping to mitigate environmental hazards and address public health concerns in southern Gaza communities.
Chioma Uzoma, a 26-year-old Nigerian, is leading a team of six women to empower young women to take charge of their health. The team is one of the 14 winners of the female-led , an initiative of the United Nations Population Fund () to support innovations in sexual and reproductive health for young people worldwide. Gender inequality in health research, data collection, and investment results in women spending 25% more of their lives in debilitating illness than men do, costing the global economy an estimated $1 trillion. However, women innovators are stepping up to bridge the gap and save lives. Despite this, UNFPA estimates that $222 billion would need to be invested in the health and rights of women and girls by 2030, a goal that funding is not currently on track to meet.
Over the past 13 years, conflict has ravaged Northwest Syria, leaving scars on both the land and its people. In February 2023, after earthquakes dealt a further blow, crippling vital water infrastructure, residents of camps in the northwest faced prolonged water shortages due to damage sustained by a crucial elevated water tank. However, the International Organization for Migration () managed to reconstruct three elevated water tanks, restoring access to safe and clean water for over 67,500 earthquake-affected communities.