What exactly are you eating? The nutritional ‘dark matter’ in your food

When scientists cracked the human genome in 2003 – sequencing the entire genetic code of a human being – many expected it would unlock the secrets of disease. But genetics explained only about 10% of the risk. The other 90% lies in the environment – and diet plays a huge part. Worldwide, poor diet is […]

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WHO EMRO | Remarks by Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on the Roundtable on Health Workers’ Education and Training on Antimicrobial Resistance, Manama, Bahrain

05 August 2025 Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, It is a pleasure to join you today for this timely roundtable on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and health workforce education. I thank Dr Saad Alfuhaid, President of the Arabian Gulf University, for bringing us together, and I warmly acknowledge the leadership of Dr Jameela Alsalman, Chair of WHO’s Strategic […]

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UK Record High Dementia Diagnosis Rate as NHS Expands Home-Based Care

LONDON — The NHS has reached a record milestone in dementia care, with 506,549 people now formally diagnosed—up from 490,163 a year ago—reflecting growing awareness, improved access to testing, and a renewed focus on early intervention under the NHS’s 10 Year Health Plan. Dementia remains the UK’s leading cause of death, and timely diagnosis is […]

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What your neck size reveals about your health

Doctors have long relied on measurements like body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratios to assess health risks. However, researchers are increasingly focusing their attention on an unexpected indicator: neck circumference. A thick neck might project strength, like that of heavyweight boxers or rugby players, but studies suggest it could signal a concerning health issue. […]

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WHO EMRO | Remarks by Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on the certification of Healthy Governorates in Bahrain

06 August 2025 His Excellency Lieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior Her Excellency Dr Jalila bint El-Sayed Jawad Hassan, Minister of Health The Honourable Shaikh Khalid bin Humood bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Governor of the Capital Governorate The Honourable Hassan Abdullah Mohammed Al Madani, Governor of the Northern Governorate The […]

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how gender bias in design puts women surgeons at risk

“If you can’t handle this, you’ll never keep up with your peers.” That’s what a young vascular surgeon in training reported hearing from a senior colleague during interviews for our study, after she needed two hands to hold a medical device her male peers could operate with one. Another cardiologist, more than ten years into […]

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Engineered ‘superfood’ boosts bee colony growth – UKRI

The research, supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), found that colonies fed with the supplement reared up to 15 times more larvae than those on conventional diets. The power of collaboration Led by Professor Geraldine Wright of the University of Oxford and Dr Elynor Moore, formerly of the University of Oxford, […]

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WHO EMRO | Remarks by Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean on the 24th intercountry meeting of poliovirus laboratory directors in EMR Amman, Jordan

18 August 2025 Distinguished colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 24th intercountry meeting of poliovirus laboratory directors in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Your work is critical to the Region’s progress towards polio eradication. The precision, dedication, and collaboration that define this laboratory network are essential to timely detection, […]

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Period pain and heavy bleeding linked with lower school attendance and GCSE results – new study

Menstrual cycles are experienced by roughly half of the population for half of their lives. The experiences of menstruation on teenagers are incredibly important, especially as young people are starting periods earlier. Our research shows that this impact extends to their school attendance – and GCSE results. Previous studies have reported that many young people […]

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WHO EMRO | Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia advance cross-border collaboration for migrant health

Government representatives call for standardized public health procedures at the close of a 3-day simulation exercise. 25 August 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Government representatives from Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia — major countries on migratory routes in North Africa — convened in Cairo from 18–20 August for a 3-day table-top simulation exercise (SimEx) organized by […]

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