Select your language
High levels of antibiotic resistance found worldwide, new data show
BANGKOK / 29 January 2018 – The World Health Organization’s first release of surveillance data on antibiotic resistance reveals high levels of resistance to a number of serious bacterial infections in both high- and low-income countries. WHO’s new Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (known as GLASS) reveals widespread occurrence of...
A new tool developed by WHO and academic partners supports systematic use of research evidence from qualitative studies for public health decision-making and guideline development
Cairo, 25 January 2018 - As a result of collaborative work between the World Health Organization (WHO) and several academic institutions, an important tool has been developed to streamline use of qualitative research evidence in public health decision-making. A series of academic papers published in the Implementation Science journal this week...
Universal Health Coverage Day: ensuring the right to health, leaving no one behind
13 December 2017, Cairo ‒ At least 3.5 billion people, or half of the world’s population, cannot obtain essential health services and each year, larger numbers of households are being pushed into poverty because they have to pay for health care out of their own pockets a new report from the World Health Organization and World Bank has revealed....
World AIDS Day 2017: HIV is treatable, test for HIV
HIV testing in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region is available mostly through public health facilities and nongovernmental organizations. Encouragingly, community-based testing programmes are operating in an increasing number in some countries.30 November 2017 – The focus of World AIDS Day 2017 is to advocate for HIV testing with the aim...
Islamic Advisory Group launches training manual on polio eradication, mother and child health and immunization
Muslim leaders urge parents to vaccinate their children The Islamic Advisory Group convened the fourth annual IAG meeting on polio eradication in Al Azhar Al Sharif on 22 November 2017Credit: WHO Mona YassinCairo, 22 November – The Islamic Advisory Group for Polio Eradication (IAG) today launched a new training manual for students of religious...
WHO gravely concerned by deteriorating situation in eastern Ghouta, Syrian Arab Republic
22 November 2017, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – Seven people have been killed and 42 people injured in Damascus city and surrounding areas in recent days. In eastern Ghouta, Rural Damascus, local health authorities report that during a 4-day period alone from 14 to 17 November, 84 people were killed, including 17 children and 6 women; and 659...
World Diabetes Day 2017 supports women’s rights to a healthy future
Today, 14 November, is World Diabetes Day. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Women and diabetes ‒ our right to a healthy future”. The campaign aims to promote the importance of affordable and equitable access for all women at risk of or living with diabetes to the essential diabetes medicines and technologies, self-management education and information...
World Antibiotics Awareness Week 2017
November 2017 – World Antibiotics Awareness Week will be observed from 13 to 19 November 2017, with the year of this year’s campaign “Seek advice from a qualified health care professional before taking antibiotics”. The aim is to advocate for the proper and responsible use of antibiotics to prevent their misuse. It is important to seek the...
WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean mourns the death of Dr Mahmoud Fikri
18 October 2017 - It is with grieving hearts that we announce the death of Dr Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. He passed away on 17 October on his way to participate in the Global High Level summit on Non Communicable Diseases, taking place in Montevideo, Uruguay. Dr Fikri took office as Regional Director on 1...
64th session of the Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean concludes in Pakistan
12 October 2017, Islamabad, Pakistan – Members of WHO’s Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean today concluded their 64th Session, endorsing a number of resolutions that will have a positive impact on the health of populations in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Among the topics discussed were cancer, climate change, the...
