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Nov172024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Jeddah Conference Ends with Global Pledges on Antimicrobial Resistance

AMR

Immediately following the adoption of the commitments in the Saudi coastal city, the host country’s Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel said the conference outcome provides “critical building blocks” for member states and international bodies to significantly act against antimicrobial resistance, and that it builds on the Political Declaration on AMR adopted at a High-Level UN General Assembly meeting a few weeks ago in New York. The commitments highlight the role of the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR, which is comprised of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). They also call for the creation of a new ‘biotech bridge’ a...

Nov102024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

UN warns of malaria upsurge as South Sudan floods displace nearly 380,000

Communicable Diseases

Devastating flooding in South Sudan is affecting around 1.4 million people, with more than 379,000 displaced, according to a United Nations update that warned about an upsurge in malaria. Aid agencies have said that the world's youngest country, highly vulnerable to climate change, is in the grip of its worst flooding in decades, mainly in the north. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said about 1.4 million people were affected by floods in 43 counties and the disputed Abyei region, which is claimed by both South Sudan and Sudan. "Over 379,000 individuals are displaced in 22 counties and Abyei," it added in a statement issued late on Friday. A surge in malaria has been reported in several states, it said, "overwhelming the health syste...

Nov32024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Bill Gates: Boring Global Health Questions Are More Important Than GDP

Global Health

Bill Gates is constantly asked for his thoughts on big topics like artificial intelligence, climate change and pandemics. But there are other topics the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist finds just as interesting and important — and he’s “surprised” more people aren’t asking about them. “When I first said, ‘What do kids die of?’ I had a hard time finding out, and I would have thought, ‘Shouldn’t we all be asking that kind of thing?’” Gates, 69, told LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman during an episode of the “Possible” podcast that published on Wednesday. “It’s more important than GDP (Gross Domestic Product)." Similarly, Gates said, he often thinks about questions like “How does malnutrition work?” and “What’s the best way to understand diseases?” — even though th...

Oct262024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Egypt is certified malaria-free by WHO

Communicable Diseases

Egypt has been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) - an achievement hailed by the UN public health agency as "truly historic". “Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilization itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Egyptian authorities launched their first efforts to stamp out the deadly mosquito-borne infectious disease nearly 100 years. Certification is granted when a country proves that the transmission chain is interrupted for at least the previous three consecutive years. Malaria kills at least 600,000 people every year, nearly all of them in Africa. In a statement on Sunday, the WHO praised "the Egyptian government and people" for their efforts to "end a disease that has be...

Oct192024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

WHO Secures $1 Billion At The World Health Summit In Berlin

Global Health

In a powerful demonstration of high-level support, the World Health Organization (WHO) received nearly US$ 700 million in new funding commitments from European countries, foundations and others, and another US$ 300 million in reaffirmed commitments. Announced at the WHO Investment Round Signature Event at the World Health Summit in Berlin hosted by Germany, France, and Norway, the commitments highlighted the urgent need for investments in the Organization’s mission to improve health outcomes worldwide. The world’s global health strategy, WHO's Fourteenth General Programme of Work 2025-2028, was approved by WHO’s 194 Member States at the World Health Assembly in May. The Organization’s first ever Investment Round, also launched at the Assembly, aims to ensure that WHO has the predicta...

Oct152024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

(6 – 7 November 2024)-1st Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children

Global Health

Violence is a reality for half of the world’s children; 1 billion experience physical, emotional, and sexual abuse every year. Experiencing violence is not only a violation of children's rights, it also increases the risk of mental health conditions, noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and cancer, infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, and social problems such as criminal activity and substance abuse. Violence does more than harm individual children; it undermines the fabric of our society. It makes it harder for children to build happy, healthy lives and costs the global economy billions of dollars each year. To address this global tragedy, the Governments of Colombia and Sweden, in partnership with WHO, UNICEF and the UN Special Representative of the Secretar...

Oct152024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

(24 – 26 October 2024) – 73rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe

Global Health

The WHO Regional Committee for Europe is WHO's decision-making body in the European Region. It comprises representatives of each Member State in the Region, and meets in October each year. At these annual sessions, Member States: formulate regional policies; supervise WHO/Europe's activities; comment on the regional component of WHO's proposed programme budget; every five years, nominate the Regional Director for Europe and transmit their decision to the WHO Executive Board for endorsement. Link: https://www.who.int/europe/about-us/governance/regional-committee

Oct142024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Photos – World Health Summit 2024

Global Health

GHealth News - From 13-15 October, global health experts from around the world are gathering in Berlin to attend the World Health Summit under the motto: "Building Trust for a Healthier World". The annual summit is organized in Germany every year discussing different global health issues, where ministers, government officials and youth come to share their thoughts and ideas for a better future for all. Below are different photos that were taken for the 1st day. For more photos and info, just visit the link below: https://www.worldhealthsummit.org/

Oct122024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

From HIV to obesity: Lessons in global health equity

Global Health

By: Damien de Walque Obesity is a major risk factor for a range of diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and various types of cancer. Worldwide, its prevalence has been growing, becoming a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in countries of all income levels, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 Figure 2 A new generation of diabetes drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), including semaglutides such as Ozempic and Wegovy, have been clinically proven to help with weight loss and have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These drugs have been described as game changers. Despite supply constraints and their high prices (ranging from $215-1300/month in the US, depending on rebates and insurance cove...

Oct72024 by GHealth NewsNo Comments

Deadly Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda has health officials on high alert

Communicable Diseases

By Melissa Rudy Amid reports of a deadly viral outbreak in Central Africa, researchers are reportedly scrambling to develop treatments and vaccines to combat the Marburg Virus. As of Sept. 30, 2024, the country of Rwanda — which is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — has reported 27 cases of the virus and nine subsequent deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most of the cases have affected health care workers at two health facilities in the city of Kigali, the same source stated. The patients are being cared for in hospitals, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sept. 29. "Contact tracing is underway, with 300 contacts under follow-up," WHO stated. This is the first time the M...