WHO

November 18, 2024 12:07 PM

Developing countries more vulnerable to antimicrobial resistance: WHO

Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global health concern that undermines the effectiveness of life-saving medicines and complicates the treatment of infectious diseases, said Saima Wazed, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia, on Monday. World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), celebrated every year from November 18-24, aims to increase awareness of global AMR and to encourage best practices. This year's theme,...

November 14, 2024 1:24 PM

World Diabetes Day: Closing treatment gap crucial to curbing diabetes’ rapid spread

Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood sugar, is one of the most prevalent health issues today. A new study published in The Lancet has found that more than 800 million adults across the globe have diabetes, almost double the number previously estimated. The Global Prevalence of Diabetes In 2022, about 828 million people aged 18 and older were found to be diabetic, the Lancet study found. Among those above the age of 30, 59%, or 445 million, did not receive any t...

November 9, 2024 11:08 AM

Pakistan enforces emergency lockdowns in Punjab as AQI soars above 2000 in Multan

Pakistan’s Punjab province is grappling with a severe pollution crisis as air quality hits unprecedented levels. Multan’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached an alarming 2,135, casting the city in a thick, hazardous smog that disrupted daily life and prompted emergency measures. In response to the worsening smog, the Punjab government has implemented strict measures, including the closure of parks, museums, and other public spaces until at least November 17. According to IQAir, a Swiss-based ai...

October 29, 2024 7:59 PM

Lahore becomes most polluted city in the world again

Lahore has once again secured the grim title of the most polluted city globally, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to a staggering 708. The PM2.5 levels reached a dangerous 431 µg/m³, an alarming 86 times above the World Health Organization's recommended annual limit. The city's pollution crisis, attributed to unchecked vehicular emissions, outdated industrial practices, and ineffective environmental policies, has led to a dangerous smog that persists year-round, signaling systemic env...

October 18, 2024 3:50 PM

Food packaging should have labels on front about health impact, says WHO

Packaged food and drinks should have easy-to-read nutritional information on the front of the products to help consumers make healthier choices, according to the first-ever World Health Organization draft guidelines that stopped short of recommending harsher warning labels. Increased consumption of processed foods high in salt, sugar and fat is a key driver of a global obesity crisis, with more than a billion people living with the condition and an estimated eight million early deaths every yea...

October 17, 2024 12:06 PM

WHO says Western Pacific to miss UN goal to cut early deaths from lifestyle diseases

Western Pacific nations are unlikely to meet the United Nations target of reducing premature deaths from lifestyle-related diseases including cancer and diabetes, due to the slow decline in alcohol and tobacco consumption, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday. Chronic lifestyle diseases, such as heart attacks, stroke, asthma and lung diseases, have been blamed for more than 80% of deaths among the 1.9 billion people in the Western Pacific. The U.N. goal is to reduce early deaths by a...

October 13, 2024 5:59 PM

WHO confirms India’s elimination of trachoma

In a significant achievement for public health, India has been officially declared free from trachoma, a contagious bacterial infection and a leading cause of preventable blindness, by the World Health Organization (WHO). This declaration follows years of dedicated efforts to safeguard the vision of millions. Trachoma, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, has historically posed serious threats, especially to children. Globally, it affects approximately 150 million people, with 6 milli...

October 10, 2024 3:19 PM

Countries donate mpox vaccines to combat outbreak in Africa

Some countries have pledged to donate doses of mpox vaccines to combat an outbreak of the disease in Africa after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a global public health emergency in August for the second time in two years. Such donations are meant to address the huge inequity that left African nations with no access to the shots used during the global outbreak in 2022. The Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of the current outbreak, launched its first mpox vaccination c...

October 10, 2024 11:42 AM

WHO South East Asia Region sets new target to eliminate measles, rubella

The 77th Regional Committee Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region concluded in New Delhi, where member states adopted resolutions and established new targets for the elimination of measles and rubella. In a statement, WHO SEARO highlighted plans to enhance the regional health emergency fund to support the elimination of these diseases, along with a commitment to developing adolescent-responsive health systems. Member countries have agreed to extend the target for...

October 9, 2024 11:44 AM

WHO declares India Trachoma-free

India has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, becoming the third country in the South-East Asia region to reach this milestone, the World Health Organization said. The announcement was made during the WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee meeting in New Delhi, where Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, presented the certification to Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Tracho...