Geneva, 15 December 2015 – The World Health Organization and health partners are appealing for US$ 31 million to ensure the continuity of health services for nearly 15 million people in Yemen affected by the ongoing conflict.  Funding is urgently needed as the Yemeni health system has collapsed, leaving millions of vulnerable people without the...

5 December 2015 -- As people and communities around the world celebrate Patient Solidarity Day, on 5 December, under the theme ‘health care as a human right’, countries are being reminded that health care is a fundamental human right and that everyone should have fair and equitable access to good quality health services, wherever they are and...

3 December 2015 – The findings World Health Organization’s (WHO) estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases — the most comprehensive report to date on the impact of contaminated food on health and well-being are announced today in Geneva. The report, which estimates the burden of foodborne diseases caused by 31 agents — bacteria,...

30 November 2015 – The World Health Organization (WHO) calls upon decision-makers in health to “put commitment into action” in bringing treatment to all people living with HIV. HIV treatment with antiretroviral medicines is life-saving. Early start of treatment improves the quality of life and longevity of people living with HIV. In addition,...

On the occasion of the first World Antibiotics Awareness Week, from 16 to 22 November 2015, the findings of a new WHO multi-country survey on antibiotic resistance are released showing that most people are confused about this major threat to public health and do not understand how to stop it from growing. Almost two thirds (64%) of some 10 000...

Baghdad, 12 November 2015 – This week, the Government of Iraq, with the support of WHO and UNICEF, completed the first round of the oral cholera vaccination campaign. The campaign has vaccinated 91% of the targeted population of 255 000 Syrian refugees and internally displaced Iraqis across 62 refugee and internally displaced persons camps in 13...

27 October 2015, Kabul, Afghanistan – Following the major 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck northern Afghanistan and Pakistan on 26 October, WHO is working closely with national health authorities in both countries to support emergency health services and rapidly assess the full extent of the health impact on affected populations. To support...

On World Polio Day, our Region and the world is closer than ever to eradicating polio. 25 October 2015 – There has been real progress in eradicating polio from the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2015. The 2013–2014 polio outbreak in Somalia, which affected nearly 200 people, most of them children, has been officially declared over, 14 months...

25 October, 2015 | Beirut – Despite continuing conflict, declining immunization rates in conflict-affected areas and mass population displacement, no new polio cases have been reported in the Middle East for over 18 months, and experts believe the extensive multi-country outbreak response has been effective in stopping the outbreak. The outbreak, which...

WHO urgently needs US$ 60 million to continue its life-saving response operations across the country until the end of 201520 October 2015, Sana’a, Yemen – Ongoing violence and insecurity continue to limit the delivery of aid in Taiz governorate in Yemen, where more than 3.3 million people, including 300 585 internally displaced persons, are in...