WHO | DD News

June 6, 2024 10:48 AM

Person with bird flu died in Mexico, WHO says

A person with prior health complications who had contracted bird flu died in Mexico in April and the source of exposure to the virus was unknown, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. WHO said the current risk of bird flu virus to the general population is low. The 59-year-old resident of the State of Mexico had been hospitalized in Mexico City and died on April 24 after developing a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and general discomfort, WHO said. "Although the source...

June 2, 2024 10:55 AM

Global pandemic treaty to be concluded by 2025, WHO says

Talks aimed at reaching a global agreement on how to better fight pandemics will be concluded by 2025 or earlier if possible, the World Health Organization said on Saturday. The WHO's 194 member states have been negotiating for two years on an agreement that could increase collaboration before and during pandemics after the acknowledged failures during COVID-19. The UN-agency had initially aimed for an agreement this week, but talks have been extended amid deep divisions between rich and poore...

May 31, 2024 7:09 PM

World unprepared for another pandemic as WHO treaty talks push on

The world is unprepared for another health crisis like COVID-19, a leading global health expert has warned, as countries make a last push to agree a way forward for a pandemic treaty amid fears the political climate for agreement could sour. World Health Organization member states gathered in Geneva on Friday to work out how to continue negotiations about an accord after missing this month’s deadline. A major sticking point in the treaty has been provisions for low and middle-income countrie...

May 31, 2024 6:08 PM

NIMHANS Bengaluru receives Nelson Mandela Award for health promotion

The National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru has been honored with the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion for 2024 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Established by WHO in 2019, the Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion acknowledges individuals, institutions, and organizations that have made significant contributions to health promotion. This year, NIMHANS was recognized for its exceptional work in mental health. Union Health Minister Dr. ...

May 30, 2024 5:25 PM

WHO emergencies team faces funding crunch as health crises multiply

The World Health Organization's emergencies department is facing “existential threats” as multiplying health crises have left it so short of cash that it needed emergency funds to pay staff salaries at the end of last year, an independent report said. It will likely have to ask for funding again to cover salaries up to June, the document, released ahead of the WHO’s annual meeting in Geneva this week, said. In 2023, the department responded to 72 emergencies. They included earthquakes in...

September 16, 2024 6:42 PM

WHO chief mentions Global Traditional Medicine Centre in India addressing World Health Assembly

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday mentioned the Global Traditional Medicine Centre established in India, and the first global summit on traditional medicine, organised by the WHO and co-hosted by the Ministry of Ayush, India, in his address at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva. While presenting his report to the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Ghebreyesus said, "With WHO leadership, opportunities for technology transfer and geogra...

May 27, 2024 10:47 PM

Union Health Secretary Chairs High-Level WHO South-East Asia Meeting

Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary, chaired a high-level meeting on "Advancing Health and Well-Being of Billions in WHO South-East Asia Region" at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The meeting was co-hosted by WHO SEARO and the Government of India, focused on strategizing actions to address key public health issues in the region. The meeting opened with a video on India’s Health Journey, highlighting the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Mission's four pillars promoting universal hea...

May 27, 2024 9:49 PM

WHO chief Tedros ‘confident’ of eventual pandemic treaty deal

The head of the World Health Organization on Monday voiced confidence that countries would one day reach a deal on a pandemic accord after failing to produce an agreement last week, although health officials warned it could take years. Health officials have voiced frustration with the negotiations that have been dogged by lengthy discussions past midnight, last-minute shifts in position and growing criticism from right-wing commentators that the treaty would undermine sovereignty, which the WHO...

May 27, 2024 4:55 PM

WHO launches new fundraising effort to raise $7 billion for global health challenges

The World Health Organization has launched a new 'Investment Round' to raise $7 billion in funds. This coincides with the start of the 77th World Health Assembly on Monday at the headquarters of the 194-member UN agency. At a media briefing last week, WHO chief General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the 'Investment Round' is designed to ensure that voluntary contributions, comprising the majority of the WHO funding, will be more predictable, flexible, and sustainable. "Our new Investment...

April 24, 2024 4:42 PM

EU Parliament adopts new rules to improve air quality by 2030

The European Parliament adopted stricter legally-binding air pollution limits on Wednesday that must be complied with by 2030. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The World Health Organization (WHO) tightened its air quality guidelines last year, hoping to push countries toward clean energy and prevent deaths caused by dirty air. Air pollution causes 300,000 premature deaths in Europe each year. EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said the tougher EU rules could reduce that number by 70% over t...