|
Message from the Regional Director |
 |
 |
|
WHO, since its establishment more than six decades ago, has celebrated World Health Day every year. This period has witnessed key improvements in the control of diseases by antimicrobials. The scientific success achieved in the control of communicable and chronic diseases through optimal therapeutic management is considered a victory for health promotion initiatives, and the realization of WHO’s vision of assuring effective drugs for those who need – them for all diseases – in order to reduce the risk of microorganisms to individual and community health.
However, we are seeing now a decline in the cure rates of diseases due to the development by all kinds of microorganisms – bacteria, viruses and parasites – of resistance against drugs, which results in a weakening of the response of antimicrobials and, consequently, reduction in their effect. This threatens to return the world to the era before the discovery of the medicines that are so essential in controlling infectious diseases, the heavy burden of which needs to be addressed urgently. The importance of this issue has led WHO to mark World Health Day 2011 with the theme: “Combat drug resistance”.
WHO and its partners from the countries of the Region have a responsibility to support the scientific progress made in medicines manufacturing technology through adopting best practices to minimize the risk of antimicrobial resistance. The effective use of medicines is promoted by following a sound scientific process that ensures that medicines are manufactured according to quality standards, are rationally prescribed through accurate diagnosis and are only dispensed based on a confirmed medical prescription. The correct application of scientific standards must be accompanied by awareness and support from local communities in all countries, besides the role of scientific and civil institutions and the individual’s responsibility in the cautious and careful use of medicines.
This year, celebration of World Health Day comes at a time when some countries in the Region have witnessed and are witnessing great changes represented in the national movements calling for freedoms. The violent confrontations and victims on all sides that have accompanied these events make it necessary for us, besides continuing our efforts to combat drug resistance, to mobilize capacities to address the current challenges, meet the health needs of the countries affected by the violence exerted against civilians and continue to work to ensure the right to health for all without discrimination based on religion, race or political affiliation.
In this regard, WHO is supporting the relief efforts with its partner agencies in the United Nations and the national authorities in the affected countries, and has provided supplies of medicines and equipment as well as technical support to medical and first-aid teams in the field. These efforts have been carried out despite the great challenges hindering the work of medical teams in some countries and threatening the safety and lives of their members, together with the lives of other civilians. These challenges also threaten the health gains achieved in these countries, including the health facilities and systems which are exposed to damage and which may cease to function and to provide health services to those who are most in need.
WHO is rising to its responsibility in fulfilment of its mandate, provided for in the WHO Constitution, and supported by other international laws, conventions and agreements.
Humanity has made great strides through history towards health improvement and health development and it is unacceptable for any group or person to endanger these achievements or misuse them, or to undermine the right to health and life.
Let us use the celebration of World Health Day 2011 to ensure that we deserve these achievements and are capable of protecting them for humanity always.
May God bless the people and our countries.
Peace be upon you!
Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean |
|
Overview |
|
|
|
In 2004, for the first time in the WHO history, World Health Day was focused on the theme of road safety. Although road traffic collisions kill more than 1.2 million people a year around the world, they are largely neglected as a health issue, perhaps because they are still viewed by many as events which are beyond our control. Yet the risks are known: speeding, alcohol, non-use of helmets, seat belts and other restraints, poor road design, poor enforcement of road safety regulations, unsafe vehicle design, and poor emergency health services.
World Health Day 2004 tried to advocate a "systems approach" to road safety, which takes into consideration the key aspects of the system: the road user, the vehicle and the infrastructure. |
|
|
Overview |
|
|
|
World Health Day is an annual celebration that marks the establishment of the World Health Organization on 7 April 1948. Every year, a health issue of public health importance is highlighted in order to raise public awareness about it.
International Health Security is the theme selected this year for World Health Day. The aim is to raise awareness and unify efforts to confront the various threats to health in the world today. Among the health challenges for the Eastern Mediterranean Region are avian influenza, malaria and HIV/AIDS, environmental degradation, conflict and the aftermath of natural disasters.
Governments, international organizations, civil society and the business community are invited to “Invest in health to build a safer future”. Everyone is encouraged to seize the opportunity of World Health Day 2007 and join hands to achieve collective security from disease, protect global health and make the world a more secure environment for humanity. |
|
Launch of World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2017 in the Region |
|
|
|
16 November 2017, Cairo, Egypt ‒ The launch of World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2017 in the Region was marked with an event on 13 November held at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, Egypt. The event was attended by the media, representatives of embassies and other United Nations agencies the Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt, academia and WHO staff.
World Antibiotic Awareness Week is an important annual global campaign led by WHO to increase the public’s awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance and the measures that even individuals can take to combat this threat to global health. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Seek advice from a health care professsional before taking antibiotics” to advocate for the proper use of antibiotics among the general public.
The opening ceremony was followed by a minute’s silence to commemorate the late Dr Mahmoud Fikri, who was WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
The opening message of the acting WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean highlighted the importance of combating antimicrobial resistance in the Region, noting that malpractices regarding inappropriate antibiotic consumption were common. Antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world putting modern medicine at risk, as well as substantially increasing the costs of health care. Tackling antibiotic resistance is a high priority for WHO and a global action plan on antimicrobial resistance was endorsed by Member States at the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly in 2015. Most recently the Region had shown real commitment to support the response to antimicrobial resistance by endorsing resolution EM/RC64.R.5 on antimicrobial resistance at the Sixty-fourth Session of WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean in Pakistan in 2017.
A presentation highlighted the urgent need to take action to address the problem of antimicrobial resistance by showing some alarming data from the Region showing high inappropriate consumption of antibiotics in several countries. The global framework of the WHO strategy on antimicrobial resistance was presented, including communication, surveillance, infection prevention and control in the healthcare settings, optimization antibiotic use, and research development, as well as resource mobilization.
The event was attended by Dr Frederike Mayen, a Senior Livestock Officer with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations who gave a presentation about antibiotic use in the animal sector. Animals consume approximately 80% of total annual consumption of antibiotics. Only half of the antibiotics in the animal sector are consumed appropriately. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in livestock affects human health in multiple ways. The consumption of antimicrobials is expected to rise with the increase in demand for food. A multisectoral, global and coordinated response is needed to respond to this threat.
World Antibiotic Awareness Week campaign materials included posters, infographics, social media postings and the production of radio spots broadcast in not only five languages but in five dialects of Arabic, in addition to a short film about a local family’s experience of antimicrobial resistance which highlighted the consequences of infections caused by resistant bacteria on the health and well-being of families. An online application was also developed for use by the public to pledge their commitment to fight antibiotics resistance and become a WHO “hero”. The event ended with the launch of a media competition to select the best media coverage of the issue of antibiotic resistance in the Region.
Although the Region has moved forward in its response to antimicrobial resistance and has shown serious commitment to addressing the problem, a tremendous amount of work and effort is still needed. |
|
15 February 2018 – In line with the Global Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance, endorsed by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 in resolution WHA67.25, the WHO Regional Office is providing support to the Governments of Libya and Tunisia in developing national action plans for antimicrobial resistance. 
On February 8–9, 2018 in Tunis, Tunisia, a national consultation took place to review and finalize Tunisia's national plan, drafted by a group of multisectoral stakeholders in 2017. The consultation gathered 45 representing the health, agricultural and animal sectors to achieve consensus among partners and finalize the plan for further submission to WHO.