World AIDS Day 2016: “Dignity above all”
1 December 2016, Cairo – “Dignity above all” is the regional slogan of this year’s World AIDS Day, celebrated every year on 1 December. This year’s campaign in the Eastern Mediterranean Region calls on all stakeholders to work together to end stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV in health care settings. The campaign is...
WHO denounces false reporting regarding Iraq
20 November 2016 – On Friday 18 November 2016 WHO issued a press release strongly denouncing a claim recently published on the "Aswat Hurrah" (Free voices) website on so called illegitimate marriages during religious ceremonies. The claim that this information was released by a WHO headquarter’s communications officer is completely erroneous. WHO...
WHO denies false claims recently published
18 November 2016 – WHO denounces the false information published on the "Free voices" website on 17 November 2016 claiming that one media official in the Organization made a statement regarding marriage during religious ceremonies in Iraq. The statement was completely fabricated and entirely against the role of WHO in protecting public health. WHO...
Morocco eliminates trachoma – the leading infectious cause of blindness
15 November 2016 ¦ Geneva ¦ Marrakech – Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem1 in Morocco. Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Transmitted through contact with eye and nose discharge of infected people, particularly young children, it affects...
Second World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 14–20 November 2016
Awareness is key to reducing antibiotic resistance 10 November 2016 – The second World Antibiotic Awareness Week will take place from 14 to 20 November 2016, with "Antibiotics: handle with care" as the slogan of this year’s campaign. The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning that humanity is heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which common...
Survey reveals extent of damage to Yemen's health system
Sana'a, 6 November 2016 — More than half of all health facilities in Yemen are closed or partially functioning, and there are critical shortages in medical doctors in more than 40% of all districts, according to a new WHO health system survey. Final findings from WHO’s Health Resources Availability Mapping System (HeRAMS*) in 16 out of Yemen's 22...
WHO releases emergency funds to support cholera response in Yemen
27 October 2016 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has released approximately US$ 1 million from its internal emergency funds to support the ongoing response to the cholera outbreak in Yemen. Since the outbreak was announced by the Ministry of Public Health and Population on 6 October, a total of 1184 suspected cases of cholera, including 6...
WHO and partners gear up to safeguard lives of displaced persons fleeing Mosul
26 October 2016 – The World Health Organization, together with national health authorities and health cluster partners, have accelerated preparedness and response measures for internally displaced persons from Mosul by prepositioning 46 mobile medical clinics, 45 mobile health teams and 26 ambulances in a number of prioritized areas around the...
Attack targets health facility in Hama, Syria
17 October 2016 – At least 5 people, including 2 children and 2 women, were reportedly killed when a primary health care centre in Kafr Zita, northern Hama governorate, Syria, was hit on 15 October. At least 10 others were injured, including 2 health staff. The centre sustained major damages and is temporarily out of service. Hundreds of people are now...
The Ministry of Public Health and Population announces cholera cases in Yemen
Sana'a, 7 October 2016— Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population has officially announced the occurrence of 8 cholera cases among population in one of the areas of Sana'a city. The stool samples of these cases were tested positive for Vibrio cholerae. The cases were admitted to Al-Sabeen Hospital in Sana'a in the first week of October and...
