Measles outbreaks threaten progress towards elimination

A girl gets measles vaccine administrated by a health care professional in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as her father holds her
EPA/E. Oudenaarden

28 March 2017 – Over 500 measles cases were reported for January 2017 in the WHO European Region. Measles continues to spread within and among European countries, with the potential to cause large outbreaks wherever immunization coverage has dropped below the necessary threshold of 95%. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause potentially serious illness. As measles remains endemic in most parts of the world, it can spread to any country, including those that have eliminated the disease.

World TB Day: Unite to end TB

2017 World TB Day poster
WHO

22 March 2017 – Protecting human rights, ethics and equity are principles which underpin WHO’s End TB Strategy. Patients, communities, health workers, policy makers and other stakeholders frequently face conflicts and ethical dilemmas. New WHO tuberculosis (TB) ethics guidance, launched for World TB Day, 24 March, aims to help ensure that countries implementing the End TB Strategy adhere to sound ethical standards to protect the rights of all those affected.

Immunizing 116 million children against polio in Africa

A health worker drops oral vaccination against polio into a child's mouth, in Nigeria
WHO/R. Curtis

23 March 2017 – As part of one of the largest polio vaccination campaigns in Africa, 190 000 vaccinators in 13 countries will immunize 116 million children to tackle the last remaining stronghold of the disease on the continent. To stop the potentially dangerous spread of the disease as soon as possible, volunteers will deliver polio vaccine to every house across all cities, towns and villages in these countries.

Safe wastewater reuse important as fresh water supplies diminish

A man picking bushes in a field, irrigated by reused wastewater, in Kolkata, India
WHO

22 March 2017 – Worldwide, as water resources become scarce, urban centres expand and demand for food increases, wastewater reuse is becoming more attractive and viable. Today, it is estimated that more than 10% of the world’s population consumes food produced with wastewater and 40% live in water-stressed areas. However, wastewater treatment is low in most developing countries, posing various risks to human health.

Ambulances airlifted into Iraq to serve trauma needs in Mosul

Ambulances being offloaded from airplane in Mosul, Iraq
WHO/P. Ajello

21 March 2017 – WHO with logistics support from the World Food Programme, airlifted 15 fully equipped ambulances to Iraq in order to better respond to the increasing trauma and medical related emergencies in west Mosul. The ambulances will enhance trauma care at the frontlines and ensure timely transfers to field hospitals.

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Outbreaks and emergencies

Emergencies » Nigeria crisis » South Sudan crisis » Syrian Arab Republic » Zika virus and complications »

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable development goals poster

From MDGs to SDGs

Highlights

  • France to recommend colour-coded nutrition labelling system
    March 2017 – France has decided to recommend an easy to read labelling system that uses colour codes to guide consumers on the nutritional value of food products. The Nutri-Score system can help limit the consumption of foods high in energy, saturated fats, sugar or salt.
  • Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis
    March 2017 – Worldwide, approximately 240 million people have chronic hepatitis B infection and 80 million people have chronic hepatitis C infection. A dedicated portal has been developed for the first ever Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis 2016–2021.
  • Ad-hoc Interagency Coordination Group on antimicrobial resistance
    March 2017 – At the UN General Assembly's high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance in September 2016, Member States requested the Secretary-General to establish, in consultation with WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organisation for Animal Health, an ad-hoc interagency coordination group on antimicrobial resistance.

What we do

Dr Chan, WHO Director-General, visits Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, three of the four countries where indigenous transmission of wild poliovirus has not yet been interrupted.
WHO

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Election of Director-General

A close-up of the Director-General's seat in the WHO Executive Boardroom.
WHO/N. Bojgaard

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Environmental health - children

Children and environment

Infographics on how environmental exposures start in the womb, and can have effects throughout life.

World TB Day, 24 March

World TB Day 2017 poster

Leave no one behind. Unite to end TB

WHO places a special focus on uniting efforts to leave no one behind: address stigma, discrimination, marginalization and overcome barriers to access care.

International Women's Day

Dr Flavia Bustreo at IPU, 20 October 2015

"On International Women’s Day, we must all unequivocally reaffirm our commitment to gender equality and women's and girls' fundamental rights."