Scroll down to download infographic12 November 2015 – In observance of World Diabetes Day, WHO is calling on: individuals and families to improve their diet and physical activity to prevent diabetes and ensure it is being effectively managed by people living with the disease; governments to effect policies that promote healthy eating and active...

5 November 2015 -- Every year, 40 million people need palliative care worldwide and, 86% do not receive it. Palliative care is the care given to patients and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychosocial or spiritual. It is an approach that improves the quality of life through...

26 October 2015 -- The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization, has reviewed more than 800 articles on the carcinogenicity of red and processed meats to humans. A Working Group of 22 Experts convened by the IARC Monograph Programme classified consumption of red meat as probably...

Watching Manchester United score goals has long set Garo Hagop’s pulse racing – in a good way. But recently, he has banished more unhealthy sources of high blood pressure thanks to joint efforts by Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health and WHO to target cardiovascular diseases. The 64-year-old Beirut public school concierge, who had been a smoker...

29 September 2015 – Today, on World Heart Day, WHO is calling on individuals to become more physically active. It is encouraging countries to promote physical activity and support decision-makers in promoting more active lives from early childhood and throughout life to reduce the number of premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases. Physical activity...

Amman, Jordan, 13 September 2015 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean organized in Jordan a forum on unopposed marketing of unhealthy food and beverages targeting children on 13–14 September 2015. This event is part of WHO’s initiative to fight overweight and obesity, a condition that affects more...

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, together with the NCD Alliance, held the first ever meeting with civil society organizations from 1 to 2 September to discuss and agree on a way forward for strengthening the civil society movement to prevent and control the escalating epidemic of noncommunicable diseases...

Consume less salt to avoid high blood pressure and heart disease High salt intake is one of the factors leading to the increase in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide. NCDs are the leading cause of premature death in the 21st century. Cardiovascular disease and stroke are two of the main NCDs often related to salt. In low- and middle-income...

Stop illicit trade of tobacco products Cigarettes, shisha and smokeless tobacco are being smuggled across borders. These illicit products are untaxed and unregulated, with no health warnings, packaging or labeling requirements; which makes them cheaper, more readily available and accessible, especially to young and poor people.  Affordability and...

Accelerating action on cancer control can save lives Cancer is ranked among the top four leading causes of death in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, following cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases and injuries. The incidence is expected to almost double in the next 2 decades, from an estimated 555 318 new cases in 2012 to nearly 961 098...