The Islands and Small States Institute (ISSI) of the University of Malta, has been re-assigned as the WHO Collaborating Centre on Health Systems and Policies in Small States. The Institute was first designated as a WHO collaborating centre in 2017.ISSI will work on 3 main topics: (i) the development of policy recommendations on building health-system…
Vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) have been in use for 15 years. Clinical trials demonstrated early on that these vaccines are safe and effective. Those countries that have achieved high rates of HPV vaccination coverage have already demonstrated the real-world impact of vaccination: significant reductions in HPV infections, precancerous cervical lesions (CIN) and genital warts,…
An outbreak response assessment led by WHO on 11 to 15 April 2022 concluded that poliovirus is no longer circulating in Tajikistan, and thereby recommended official closure of the outbreak that started in January 2021.Infectious diseases like poliomyelitis (polio) know no borders. Importation and subsequent spread of the virus led to the paralysis of 34…
For further information, contact: Bhanu Bhatnagar (he/him) Spokesperson / Media Relations on deployment in Ukraine WHO Regional Office for Europe Mobile: +380 93 612 4170 Email: eupress@who.int; bbhatnagar@who.int Press office WHO Regional Office for Europe Email: eupress@who.int L’viv, 28 April 2022According to the latest data available, 85% of eligible children in Ukraine received their first…
The theme for World Health Day 2022 “Our Planet – Our Health” was an opportunity to showcase how individual choices and social behaviours impact our planet and environment, and the connection between those issues and our own personal health. Countries around the WHO European Region marked the day and took action for a #HealthierTomorrow! with…
Les, aged 72, has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for the last 25 years. It is a painful condition causing swelling and stiffness in joints, which over the years has limited Les’s mobility, including his ability to drive.“Even before COVID-19 struck, I was quite isolated. The arthritis affects my feet, fingers, wrists, shoulders and knees,…
Joint statement of Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe and Ms Afshan Khan, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director for Europe and Central AsiaGeneva and Copenhagen, 24 April 2022Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to live a long and healthy life, irrespective of their age, gender, or place of birth or…
Today marks the start of European Immunization Week (EIW), an opportune moment to celebrate the historic achievements in protecting lives and livelihoods made possible by vaccines, and to acknowledge their further potential to protect public health.The hundreds of thousands of lives saved through COVID-19 vaccination in the WHO European Region are also great cause for…
Outbreak at a glanceSince the WHO Disease Outbreak News on Acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was published on 15 April 2022, there have been continuing further reports of cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin among young children. It is not yet clear if there…
There is a strong link between sports and health. While sports clubs can often be seen as places for competition and athletic performance, there are many opportunities for sports clubs to contribute to overall health improvements in the community that have not yet fully been harnessed.WHO’s new Health-Promoting Sports Clubs – National Audit Tool will…