WHO is releasing new guidelines on abortion care, in a bid to protect the health of women and girls and help prevent over 25 million unsafe abortions that currently occur each year.

Although pandemics are a fact of life, the world was blindsided by the impact and devastation of COVID-19. As the pandemic played out in real time, it showed that we were woefully unprepared. Experts underscore the importance of truly understanding how the health of people, animals, and the planet interconnect. Health security plans cannot be piecemeal. Responses must be bolstered with social protection, especially during lockdowns. We need to act more quickly, and with greater fairness. UNDP explains that what we do now could make this pandemic the last of its kind.

World Hearing Day, 3 March, with the theme “To hear for life, listen with care,” focuses on the importance and means of hearing loss prevention through safe listening.

The formula milk industry - worth a colossal US$ 55 billion annually - spends billions every year on marketing their products. This is despite an international agreement to restrict marketing, on the basis that formula promotion can have profound and lifelong impacts on children’s health and development. WHO informs how marketing targets women and families during vulnerable moments, including with misleading tactics like industry-sponsored chats and helplines.

A significant amount of the world’s population has not yet received a single vaccine, while other parts of the world believe the pandemic is almost over. To gain support from Member States, civil society and UN agencies, the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid has convened a high-level event, ‘Galvanizing Momentum for Universal Vaccination’, where over 100 speakers are scheduled to participate. In parallel, round table discussions are being held on existing challenges in vaccine production and distribution, innovations, and solutions to overcome current challenges.

Despite rising global wealth, most people today feel anxious about the future, according to a new report from the UNDP. Dianne Penn from UN News spoke to Heriberto Tapia, the Research and Strategic Partnership Advisor in the Human Development Report Office at UNDP.  

Cancer kills far too many people — particularly in Africa. The IAEA’s new initiative ‘Rays of Hope’ sets out to change that, by supporting the establishment and expansion of radiotherapy services, with a particular focus on the more than 20 IAEA Member States that completely lack facilities for radiation treatment.

9 February 2022 - The COVID-19 pandemic could be defeated this year but only if vaccines, tests and treatments are made available to all people, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday. 

In 2021, a deadly second wave of COVID-19 hit India hard, throwing medical facilities into turmoil as they struggled to meet the unprecedented spike in new cases. UNOPS worked with the government of Japan to bring life-saving equipment to vulnerable people in several parts of the country. 

Telling the Truth, a live broadcast devoted to the use of condoms and the link to the HIV epidemic, airs in eastern Europe and central Asia through a UNAIDS-UNESCO education project.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continues to pose a major threat to human development and to the fight against infectious diseases. A holistic approach must be used to mitigate AMR risks in Africa.

We are witnessing the impact of climate change. The consequences of burning fossil fuels and deforestation have altered the global climate and the impact can already be felt. We see hurricanes, heat waves, fires, floods, droughts, and the sea level rising.

Cervical cancer is preventable and curable, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. Yet it is the fourth most common form of cancer among women worldwide. The burden of cervical cancer is greatest in low- and middle-income countries, because access to public health services is limited and screening and treatment for the disease have not been widely implemented. An ambitious, concerted and inclusive strategy has been developed by the WHO to guide the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem.

It has been a year of colossal efforts in global health. Countries battled COVID-19, while struggling to keep other health services running. Health care workers have borne the lion’s share of these efforts but often received little recognition. COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments were rolled out, but overwhelmingly in the richest countries, leaving many populations unprotected, especially in lower-income countries. Across other health areas, from diabetes to dementia, there have been both setbacks and hard-won successes. WHO presents the 10 global highlights from 2021.

Despite the almost miraculous development of effective vaccines against COVID-19 in 2020, the virus continued to spread and mutate throughout the last year, with much of the blame placed on a lack of effective global collaboration as a key reason for the prolonged pandemic.  UN News highlights the Organization’s work in 2021 to address COVID-19, including the UN-backed programme to help developing countries protect their populations against the virus, and the steps taken to prepare for future global health crises.