The largest sustained decline in childhood vaccinations in 30 years has been recorded in data published by and . According to the agencies, global vaccination coverage continued to decline in 2021, with 25 million infants missing out on lifesaving vaccines such as DTP. The decline was due to many factors including an increased number of children living in conflict settings where immunization access is challenging, COVID-19 related service and supply chain disruptions and resource diversion to response efforts.
Health
Over the 41 years since AIDS was first reported, the International AIDS Conferences have served as a communal platform for collective action, driving some truly watershed moments in the HIV response. , the 24th International AIDS Conference (29 July - 2 August) in Montreal, Canada, will call on the world to come together to re-engage and follow the science. It will define future research agendas, shift the latest evidence to action, and chart a new consensus on overcoming the HIV epidemic as a threat to public health and individual well-being.
Every 30 seconds someone loses their life to hepatitis B or C. Almost 90 percent of people living with viral hepatitis are unaware that they have it. is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, which causes inflammation of the liver that leads to severe disease and liver cancer. On , WHO is highlighting the need for bringing hepatitis care closer to the primary health facilities and communities, so that people have better access to treatment and care, no matter what type of hepatitis they may have.
launched its annual Summer Fun Weeks (SFWs) last week to serve some 120,000 Palestine refugee children and youth in the Gaza Strip. SFW will be held between 25 June - 28 July and will be provide vital psychosocial support for child and youth impacted by the repeated rounds of conflict and violence they have survived. Some 42 per cent of first grade UNRWA students surveyed require psychosocial support.
Data show that restricting access to abortion does not prevent people from seeking abortion, it simply makes it more deadly. As reveals, nearly half of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended, and over 60 per cent of these unintended pregnancies may end in abortion. A staggering 45 per cent of all abortions are unsafe, making this a leading cause of maternal death. Almost all unsafe abortions occur in developing countries, and fears that more unsafe abortions will occur if access to abortion becomes more restricted.
The SunSmart Global UV app for mobile phones that provides localized information on ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels, has been launched by , , and .
Our mental health is a fundamental part to our overall health and well-being. brings expert tips and resources to help parents support their child's and their own mental health.
Food security means having regular access to enough safe and nutritious food to lead an active and healthy life. That makes food safety an integral part of food security.
Menstruation is not only an issue of , but also a matter of .
The harmful impact of the tobacco industry on the environment is vast and growing adding unnecessary pressure to our planet鈥檚 already scarce resources and fragile ecosystems. Tobacco kills over 8 million people every year and destroys our environment, further harming human health. This year鈥檚 campaign for (31 May) aims to raise awareness on the environmental impact of tobacco 鈥 from cultivation, production, distribution and waste. It will give tobacco users one extra reason to quit.
Akib Dahir, 27, arrived at the Gabi鈥檃s displacement camp with her eight children, after losing 180 goats and 15 camels to the drought. Her husband spends hours in the baking heat on an increasingly desperate hunt for pasture and water to keep their few remaining animals alive. 鈥淲e are trying to save all we have,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he animals are almost worthless in the market. We can鈥檛 even feed our children.鈥 The last three rainy seasons failed one after the other, blighting the lives and livelihoods of nearly 8 million people across and pushing eastern and southern areas of the country to the brink of famine. More than 286,000 people have been forced from their homes in search of survival as crops, livestock, and the hope of putting food on the table are all wiped out.
Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury, which also results in stillbirth in 90 percent of cases. The encouraging news is that obstetric fistula is not only treatable but preventable. leads efforts to in more than 55 countries in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. This year鈥檚 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula highlights the need for investment towards quality healthcare to empower communities. Obstetric fistula is not only a development and public health issue, but also a human rights issue, granting the right to health and a life of dignity.
Skilled health professionals and timely, quality emergency obstetric care can help prevent the devastating childbirth injury of obstetric fistula. Find out more about it at
highlights the increasing use of online marketing for alcohol and the need for more effective regulation - young people and heavy drinkers are increasingly targeted by advertising.
Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended. presents how unintended pregnancies can contribute to the shame, stigma and misunderstandings that must be overcome to end this crisis.