As the world continues to battle COVID-19, yoga offers a 鈥渦nique鈥 way to destress and boost immunity, allowing the mind and body to connect in a state of 鈥渃ellular quiet鈥. That鈥檚 according to Doctor Krishna Raman, who鈥檚 taking part in a major International Day of Yoga event on Monday, organized by the Indian mission to the UN. He spoke to 鈥檚 Sachin Gaur, and explained his work on integrating Western medicine with yoga, and how the practice helps support wider social well-being.
Health
Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, according to 鈥檚 latest estimates. Among young people aged 15-29, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death. In 2019, more than 700,000 people died by suicide: one in every 100 deaths, prompting WHO to produce new guidance to help countries improve suicide prevention and care. Currently only 38 countries are known to have a national suicide prevention strategy. To support countries in their efforts, WHO has released for implementing its LIVE LIFE approach to suicide prevention.
Effective and binding action is urgently required to protect the millions of children, adolescents and expectant mothers worldwide whose health is jeopardized by the informal processing of discarded electrical or electronic devices, according to a new As many as 12.9 million women work in the informal waste sector, which potentially exposes them to toxic e-waste and puts them and their unborn children at risk. Meanwhile more than 18 million children and adolescents are actively engaged in the informal industrial sector, of which waste processing is a sub-sector.
Scientists have developed safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines much faster than was first predicted. However, that progress will be in vain if we cannot ensure they are made quickly available for everybody, everywhere. This requires a combination of urgency, political will, technology, money, and manufacturing, logistical and administrative capacity. is committed to working closely with the UN family and partners to ensure everybody receives a COVID-19 vaccine as quickly as possible. Not only is it the right thing to do, it also makes economic sense.
is focused on young people and their contribution to saving lives by donating blood. This year鈥檚 slogan, 鈥淕ive blood and keep the world beating鈥, underscores the energy young people bring to their communities and highlights the way blood donations keep the world healthy and hearts beating. It also reinforces the global call for more people all over the world to donate blood regularly and contribute to better health.
A survey conducted by ahead of , reveals that first menstruation for women and girls in Arab states is often accompanied by fear, shame, lack of information, and even stigma and mistreatment.
In an ahead of the G7 Summit, leaders of the , the , and state that there will be no broad-based recovery without an end to the health crisis and that access to vaccination is key to both. Despite impressive progress on the vaccination front, increasingly, a two-track pandemic is developing, with richer countries having access and poorer ones being left behind. They call for a stepped-up coordinated strategy, backed by new financing at an estimated $50 billion, to vaccinate the world.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of tobacco users saying they want to quit. Nearly 60% of tobacco users around the world want to quit smoking, but only 30% of the global population has access to quality tobacco cessation services. Currently, only 23 countries provide comprehensive services to help tobacco users to quit. In its annual campaign against the tobacco epidemic launched for (31 May), the World Health Organization wants to help 100 million people quit tobacco use through 鈥渜uit & win鈥 initiatives. Commit to quit today and !
The development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines is a huge step forward in our global effort to end the pandemic. This is exciting news, but there are still some people who are skeptical or hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines. Chances are you know a person who falls into this category 鈥 maybe among your group of friends or in your family. If you are unsure of how to approach conversations about vaccines with vaccine skeptics you know, you鈥檙e not alone. Dr. Saad Omer, Director at the Yale Institute for Global Health, talks about the do鈥檚 and dont's of navigating these difficult discussions.
鈥淧hosphoros鈥 is a beautiful tribute to the heroes and heroines dressed in white 鈥 the health workers saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. This short animation film obtained in 2021 a "GRAND PRIX" in the 2nd edition of the by the World Health Organisation for its competition category on Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It's a film directed by Susana Beatriz Serrano (El Salvador).
Tips on what you can do before, during and after you get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Mothers already shouldered tremendous financial, physical, emotional, and intellectual burdens before the onset of the pandemic. But now 鈥 under increasing economic pressures, reduced access to health care, diminishing social support and growing unpaid care responsibilities 鈥 many of these burdens have become crushing. All of this is taking a toll on the long-term health and welfare of mothers. Women have been by pandemic-related job losses, and researchers are starting to see signs of around the world.
UNESCO's Director-General has welcomed the decision by the United States and many other countries to call for the lifting of patent protection on COVID-19 vaccines. This growing momentum comes in response to the to open up science and boost scientific cooperation. The idea behind is to allow scientific information, data and outputs to be more widely accessible (Open Access) and more reliably harnessed (Open Data) with the active engagement of all the stakeholders (Open to Society).
International Nurses Day (12 May) is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, considered as the founder of modern nursing. Reports show investment in nursing can have the triple impact of better health, greater gender equality and stronger economies (SDGs 3, 5, and 8). Nurses have proven to be a critical force battling COVID-19, dedicating their time to protect, support, and care for people affected by the virus in the community. We must all acknowledge the great sacrifice they do for the health of all. Thank you nurses for saving lives and keeping our loved ones safe!
A deadly surge in COVID-19 cases is placing an enormous strain on health and critical care facilities in India. This second wave of the pandemic is larger and spreading more rapidly than the first, and is leaving vulnerable families paying a particularly steep price. has already to help India in its battle with COVID-19 and has deployed senior-level experts to the worst hit areas to support state and local authorities. But more support is urgently needed to save lives.