WHO/Europe, through its Small Countries Initiative, has launched a new roadmap detailing strategic actions for improving health and well-being in small countries by 2025.Over the past 2 years, the pandemic has tested our governments and the resilience of our health systems. Moreover, it has impacted countries differently – the challenges faced by countries with 2…
Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) are an important part of the global health workforce. They provide extra surge capacity and expertise to countries in response to disasters and health emergencies. Consisting of doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health professionals from across the world, the teams are rapidly deployed to help patients during disease outbreaks, sudden onset…
After one hundred days of war, Ukraine’s health system is under severe pressure and the World Health Organization (WHO) has increased its presence, both in Ukraine and in those countries hosting displaced Ukrainians, to help meet the escalating health needs.““This war has gone on for 100 days too many, shattering lives and communities, and imperilling…
WHO, the Government of Tajikistan and over 18 United Nations agencies and development partners have signed a joint statement launching a new era of collaboration in primary health care (PHC) in the country.Signed at an official ceremony in Dushanbe on 27 May, this is the first agreement of its kind and will see WHO working…
WHO/Artist: Handmade by Radhika Woman sitting in nature In the face of a growing sense of urgency to address global climate goals, there is a need for approaches that move beyond technical innovations to better integrate a wide range of factors, including cultural contexts. A report published today by WHO/Europe attempts to systematically engage with…
Statement by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe31 May 2022The WHO European Region remains at the epicentre of the largest and most geographically widespread monkeypox outbreak ever reported outside of endemic areas in western and central Africa. The learning curve has been steep over the past 2 weeks. We now have…
Since May 2018, the EU has been trying to tackle the top 10 types of litter found on Europe’s beaches – the second most common being cigarette butts. As part of the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, it introduced a major directive aiming to phase out unnecessary single-use plastics. This directive takes…
In Spain, a powerful campaign is paving the way to ban cigarette smoking on beaches. The motivations are not just for health, but also for the environment. Long after a cigarette has been extinguished, it continues to cause damage in the form of non-biodegradable cigarette butts – millions of kilograms of which are discarded every…
On 31 May, World No Tobacco Day 2022 focuses on how tobacco throughout its lifecycle pollutes the environment we live in and damages the health of people.Each year, WHO presents awards to organizations and individuals who promote and enforce tobacco control in the Region. WHO carefully selects the recipients in recognition of their long-term commitment…
A new video recently launched by WHO/Europe tells the story of a long battle that united public health specialists, civil society activists, journalists and politicians against a powerful global industry that produces a highly addictive and harmful product. It describes how the fight against tobacco gained momentum in Georgia, and how the country continues to…