China has suggested that the access pharmaceutical manufacturers get to information about dangerous pathogens should be “contingent” on their home country being a party to the Pandemic Agreement recently adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA). This will encourage World Health Organization (WHO) member states to ratify the agreement in their respective countries, but it […] Continue reading ->
Despite an uptick in food supplies reaching Gaza this month, critical medical equipment remains barred from entry while deaths from malnutrition continue to mount to 147 casualties as of August 5, said Rick Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Tuesday at a UN press briefing in Geneva. On the same […] Continue reading ->
The proportion of the world’s population suffering acute hunger declined globally in 2024 to about 673 million people, but continued to rise in most African regions as well as western Asia, according to the new UN State of Food Security and Nutrition (SOFI) report, launched Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Global hunger levels have remained […] Continue reading ->
One World Health Organization (WHO) staff member remained in Israeli detention Tuesday evening after the Israeli military destroyed WHO’s main supply warehouse and then raided the WHO staff residence in Deir Al Balah during its new offensive into the central Gaza strip area – which until recently had remained a relative island of calm during […] Continue reading ->
The United States’ decision last Friday to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) – aimed at improving the global response to disease outbreaks – is based on “inaccuracies”, according to the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). “We regret the US decision to reject the amendments adopted by consensus by the […] Continue reading ->
The global childhood vaccination rate in 2024 held steady with 85% of infants and children receiving three doses of the vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT), used as a global benchmark for immunization rates overall.  However large, continued gaps in coverage are propelling outbreaks, including the highest rate of measles cases since 2019.  “In […] Continue reading ->