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The World Health Organisation reports a 38% decline in global drowning deaths since 2000 but stresses the need for continued action to prevent over 300,000 annual deaths.

“We cannot have health without peace. ����AV is the most urgent medicine.”

As a doctor, Dr. Hans Kluge helped save lives in some of the toughest places on Earth. Now the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Europe, he is working to improve the health of hundreds of millions of people - in a region stretching from Vladivostok to Lisbon.

“My dream and my vision is that we have a culture of health [...] independent of your financial means, your sexual orientation, whether you are documented or an undocumented migrant, that you are empowered to live a healthy life, [...] we have to have universal health coverage.”

Stepping into his European role just as a global pandemic swept the earth, Hans never dreamed that his previous experience in crisis-hit sub-Saharan Africa would prove so useful. In this episode, Hans reflects on lessons learned during COVID, the mental health crisis, and on surprising methods to build trust with remote communities.

Photo: ©WHO

Investing in improves equity and social cohesion. It also benefits national economies by improving health and well-being, increasing workforce participation and productivity, and building resilience in individuals, families and communities. And yet 4.5 billion people still do not have access to essential health services. This must change! On this International Universal Health Coverage Day (12 December) we call on governments to invest in health for all and to protect people – particularly the most vulnerable among us – from impoverishment through health spending.

As World AIDS Day approaches, it's important to highlight the significance of preventive measures like PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) which offers over 90% protection against HIV when taken correctly, empowering individuals to protect themselves from potential exposure.

Strengthening Noncommunicable Diseases services integration in primary health care improves access, diagnosis, and treatment.

The commit the global community to end all forms of violence against children. The futures of one billion boys and girls hang in the balance. 

There is opportunity, and necessity, to accelerate; to deliver a transformative shift on child protection. The first-ever represents an historic moment; to re-imagine a world where all children are safe in their homes, schools, communities and online and make commitments commensurate with the global child protection challenge.

October is month.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally, with around 2.3 million new cases every year.

It represents one in eight cancer cases in both sexes and a quarter of all cancers in women, with 70% mortality occurring in resource constrained settings.

It is the most common type of cancer among women, and most breast cancers are self-detected.

 expert Dr Mary Nyangasi explains in this .

The has to promote health literacy and combat misinformation through engaging, science-based content on the platform.

Did you know that a snakebite kills someone every four minutes? What should you do if you are bitten? Dr David Williams talks about prevention and treatment in a new episode of the World Health Organization's Science in 5 podcast.

The (PAHO) and Alzheimer's Disease International launched the #TimeToActOnDementia campaign to raise awareness about dementia and address the stigma that surrounds the condition.

This year’s (17 September) is focused on improving diagnosis for patient safety, using the slogan “Get it right, make it safe!”. On the day, patients and families, health workers, healthcare leaders, policymakers and civil society will emphasize the pivotal role of correct and timely diagnosis in improving patient safety. A diagnosis identifies a patient’s health problem and requires collaboration between patients and healthcare teams. It involves discussions, examinations, testing, and review of results before reaching the final diagnosis and treatment.

Suicide is a major public health challenge, with more than 700,000 deaths each year globally.  to help prevent it.

Positive relationships grounded in mutual respect, empathy and understanding are a cornerstone of sexual health and well-being. As we celebrate World Sexual Health Day (4 September) this year, positive relationships take the spotlight. Indeed, when partners prioritize each other’s sexual health – and understand that it is a shared responsibility – communication, trust and reproductive health outcomes improve.  empowers everyone, especially women and girls, to form good relationships and protect their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

In tropical and subtropical countries, the virus causing dengue is spiking. Close to an historic high of over 6 million cases and more than 7,000 dengue-related deaths were reported in over 80 countries and territories in 2023. Most places in Europe remain too cool to favour the mosquito or the virus, but imported dengue cases have been rising in the European region and the impact of climate change appears to be shifting the picture.

To find out more about dengue and the family of viruses it belongs to, called arboviruses, , high threat pathogens technical lead at the WHO Regional Office for Europe and medical entomologist Luca Facchinelli. 

Is dementia a normal part of ageing? Someone suffers from dementia every three seconds. What are the causes? Can we prevent it? Is there a cure?

Dr Katrin Seeher explains in this of .

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