Learning More About WHO
United Nations World Health Organization
Courtesy, United Nations
World Health Organization building from the South-East
Geneva, Switzerland
EMERGENCY
ANNOUNCEMENT
" . . . As the northern hemisphere winter approaches, cases of COVID-19 are rising globally, especially in Europe where countries are expanding measures to contain it, and many people are understandably weary of the disruption the pandemic is causing to their lives and livelihoods.
Last week, the number of cases reported in Europe was almost three times higher than during the first peak in March.
Although the number of deaths reported in Europe last week is much lower than in March, hospitalizations are increasing and many cities are reporting they will reach their intensive care bed capacity in the coming weeks.
Every hospital bed occupied by a patient with COVID-19 is a bed that is unavailable for someone else with another condition or disease, such as influenza.
Every year, there are up to 3.5 million severe cases of seasonal influenza worldwide, and up to 650,000 respiratory-related deaths.
During this year’s southern hemisphere winter, the number of seasonal flu cases and deaths was less than usual because of the measures put in place to contain COVID-19.
But we cannot assume the same will be true in the northern hemisphere flu season. The co-circulation of influenza and COVID-19 may present challenges for health systems and health facilities, since both diseases present with many similar symptoms.
For that reason, WHO is working with countries to take a holistic approach to the preparedness, prevention, control and treatment of all respiratory diseases, including influenza and COVID-19.
Many of the same measures that are effective in preventing COVID-19 are also effective for preventing influenza, including physical distancing, hand hygiene, covering coughs, ventilation and masks.
And although we don’t yet have a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19, we do have safe and effective vaccines for influenza. WHO recommends influenza vaccination for five target groups: pregnant women, people with underlying health conditions, older adults, health workers, and children. These groups remain important targets for influenza vaccination.
However, one of the challenges we now face is that the demand for influenza vaccines may outstrip supply in some countries.
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization has therefore recommended that, among the five risk groups, health workers and older adults are the highest priority groups for influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another under-utilized tool is the use of antivirals to treat people with influenza. We encourage all countries to use all the tools at their disposal. . . . "
Read Full Text Courtesy, WHO - COVID-19 12 October 2020
WHO UPDATE: October 19, 2020
Must See Video
Courtesy, United Nations - World Health Organization (WHO)
VIEW MEDIA BRIEFINGS UPDATES at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
During National and Global COVID-19 pandemic . . .
President Trump announces [5/29/2020] end of US relationship
with World Health Organization.
January 30, 2020
Courtesy, UN - WHO
Learn more / get latest UPDATES & INFO
on the following web page:
Opening remarks of the Secretary-General's appeal for global ceasefire - 23 March 2020
. . . This is crucial . . .
To help create corridors for life-saving aid. To open precious windows for diplomacy. To bring hope to places among the most vulnerable to COVID-19.
Let us take inspiration from coalitions and dialogue slowly taking shape among rival parties in some parts to enable joint approaches to COVID-19. But we need much more.
End the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world.
It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now.
That is what our human family needs, now more than ever.
Courtesy, United Nations - Read full text at: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/speeches/2020-03-23/secretary-general-appeal-for-global-ceasefire
Around the World . . .
" COVID-19: A Global Crisis"
Courtesy, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Flag_map_of_the_world#/media/File:Flag-map_of_the_world.svg
Important Reminder on . . .
Human Rights and COVID-19
Response and Recovery
23 April 2020
Video Courtesy, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS
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Let's All Support Global Health Workers
During this Global Health Emergency!
During this global Corona Virus [COVID-19] pandemic, medical emergency . . .
The World's Poorest Must not be forgotten!
Detained children at ‘grave risk’ of contracting COVID-19 – UNICEF chief
Courtesy, United Nations / UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi
Two young [child] prisoners stand behind bars in a jail in Abomey, Benin
Children . . . Must not be forgotten!
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Q U E S T I O N
Who Started . . .
W H O ?
Courtesy, United Nations - WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO; French: Organisation mondiale de la santé) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948 headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organization, was an agency of the League of Nations.
The constitution of the World Health Organization had been signed by 61 countries on 7 April 1948, with the first meeting of the World Health Assembly finishing on 24 July 1948. It incorporated the Office International d'Hygiène Publique and the League of Nations Health Organization. Since its creation, it has played a leading role in the eradication of smallpox. Its current priorities include communicable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria and tuberculosis; the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases; sexual and reproductive health, development, and ageing; nutrition, food security and healthy eating; occupational health; substance abuse; and driving the development of reporting, publications, and networking.
The WHO is responsible for the World Health Report, the worldwide World Health Survey, and World Health Day. The Director-General of WHO is Tedros Adhanom who started his five-year term on 1 July 2017.[1]
Above Definition Courtesy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization
71st World Health Assembly Delegates Agree to a
New Five-Year Strategic Plan
23 May 2018 - News Release - Geneva
Courtesy, United Nations - WHO
World Health Assembly delegates today agreed an ambitious new strategic plan for the next five years. The Organization’s 13th General Programme of Work (GPW) is designed to help the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals – with a particular focus on SDG3: ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages by 2030.
It sets three targets: to ensure that by 2023, 1 billion more people benefit from universal health coverage; 1 billion more people are better protected from health emergencies; and 1 billion more people enjoy better health and wellbeing. WHO estimates that achieving this “triple billion” target could save 29 million lives.
Speaking to the Health Assembly, Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told delegates that the new strategic plan was ambitious because "it must be".
Delegates noted that the Organization will need to make a number of strategic shifts in order to achieve these targets, notably to step up its public health leadership; focus on impact in countries; and ensure that people can access authoritative and strategic information on matters that affect people’s health.
Above Text Courtesy, WHO
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WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Courtesy, United Nations - WHO
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See Also: World Health Assembly [Archive]
73rd World Health Assembly:
18 - 19 May 2020
Reminder
WHO definition of Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
The correct bibliographic citation for the definition is:
Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.
The Definition has not been amended since 1948.
Above Definition Courtesy, WHO
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