The familiar misery of a runny nose, itchy eyes, and worsening asthma symptoms for hay fever sufferers is set to become even more pervasive, as experts warn of an “explosion” of allergies driven by a shifting climate. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has identified a clear link between climate change and altered patterns in pollen and spore production and distribution,…
Tag: WHO
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Call for Radical Reform to Combat Health Crisis
The recent World Health Assembly in Geneva convened against a backdrop of seismic shifts in the global health arena. A dramatic reduction in funding, a re-evaluation of priorities, and a changing leadership dynamic are collectively reshaping how the world addresses its most pressing health challenges. At the heart of this upheaval lies the United States’ decision to significantly cut foreign…
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Global Health: Understanding the WHO Pandemic Accord
In a significant move for global health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has adopted a new legally binding agreement. This is to bolster international preparedness for future pandemics. The World Health Assembly passed the accord in Geneva after three years of intense negotiations. It was met with applause from member countries. However, the absence of the United States, the WHO’s…
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Universal health coverage urgently needed – Motsoaledi
South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi warned that the world must expedite universal health coverage (UHC) to achieve its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He made this statement during his speech at the G20 Health Working Group. He highlighted alarming global setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, rising healthcare costs, and shrinking health budgets. These issues threaten to reverse decades…
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Stillbirths surge amid global health inequity
A stark reminder of persistent global health inequities has emerged from a new report revealing that 1.9 million babies were stillborn in 2023. Crucially, the report by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation found that nearly half of these tragic deaths occurred during labour and could have been avoided with adequate medical care. The timing of the report’s…
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US foreign aid pause threatens global HIV treatment
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a stark warning regarding the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to pause US foreign aid. This pause has “substantially disrupted” the supply of life-saving HIV treatment in eight countries, placing millions at risk. According to the WHO, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Ukraine are facing imminent shortages…
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56,000 South Africans succumbed to tuberculosis in 2023
An estimated 1.25 million people worldwide and 56,000 in South Africa succumbed to tuberculosis (TB) in 2023, according to recent WHO figures. These alarming statistics place TB above COVID-19 as the leading infectious disease killer globally. Marcus Low analyzes these findings, examining TB’s persistent toll in South Africa and the WHO’s goals to reduce both TB incidence and mortality. TB…
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RHAP advocates for higher ‘sin’ taxes
The Rural Health Advocacy Project (RHAP) has launched a powerful campaign calling for increased taxes on sugary drinks, alcohol, and tobacco products. This movement, backed by a coalition of health tax advocates, seeks to reduce the consumption of harmful products and alleviate the financial pressure on South Africa’s public health system. Last week, RHAP brought together an alliance of health…