WHO news
This channel provides the five most recent WHO news articles.



Unparalleled global progress in HIV response but sustained investment vital (Nov 30)
30 November 2011 -- The Report on the global HIV/AIDS response shows that increased access to HIV services resulted in a 15% reduction of new infections over the past decade and a 22% decline in AIDS-related deaths in the last five years. While there is still much to be done, 2011 was a game changing year, in terms of current progress and innovations creating hope for substantial future advances.


Election of the WHO Director-General (Nov 21)
21 November 2011 -- Only one candidate has been proposed for the election of WHO Director-General. The candidate is Dr Margaret Chan, the current Director-General, whose name has been submitted by China.


WHO's Executive Board supports reform proposals (Nov 4)
4 November 2011 -- The Executive Board of WHO ended a three-day special session with Member States expressing strong support for WHO's work. Agreement was reached on broad proposals for reform, which aim to better position WHO to improve health outcomes.


Global conference to tackle social conditions that drive health inequities (Oct 19)
19 October 2011 -- Life expectancy gap between countries is 36 years and there is ample evidence that a person's health status is largely determined by his/her socio-economic position. Governments will be discussing necessary steps to tackle the root causes of health inequities.


WHO warns of consequences of underfunding TB (Oct 11)
11 October 2011 -- For the first time the number of people falling ill with tuberculosis (TB) is declining. A new WHO report also shows that the number of people dying from the disease fell to its lowest level in a decade. Yet, current progress is at risk from underfunding, especially efforts to combat drug-resistant TB.


WHO highlights global underinvestment in mental health care (Oct 7)
7 October 2011 -- One in four people will require mental health care at some point in their lives but in many countries only two per cent of all health sector resources are invested in mental health services.


Tackling the global clean air challenge (Sep 26)
26 September 2011 -- Air pollution is reaching levels that threaten people's health according to air quality data released today by WHO. The information includes data from nearly 1100 cities across 91 countries, including capital cities and cities with more than 100 000 residents.


UN General Assembly announces historic commitment to fight noncommunicable diseases (Sep 19)
19 September 2011 -- WHO welcomes the UN General Assembly's adoption of a political declaration on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, chronic respiratory disease and cancer). For the first time, global leaders have reached consensus in the General Assembly on concrete actions to tackle these diseases.


New WHO study details low-cost solutions to help curb the tide on noncommunicable diseases (Sep 18)
18 September 2011 -- Noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, killing more people every year. Nearly 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. But a new WHO study reveals that low-income countries could introduce strategies to prevent and treat cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease for just US$ 1.20 per person per year.


12 000 fewer children perish daily in 2010 than in 1990 – UNICEF, WHO (Sep 15)
15 September 2011 -- The number of children under five years of age dying each year declined from more than 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2010, UNICEF and WHO said today, releasing the latest estimates on worldwide child mortality.