Gaza: Palestinians are dying amid lethal evacuation delays

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said the darkest moment of the Gaza conflict is unfolding in the north of the Strip, where the Israeli military is effectively subjecting an entire population to bombing, siege and risk of starvation, as well as being forced to choose between mass displacement and being trapped in an active […]

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85 percent of children affected by polio in 2023 lived in fragile and conflict-affected areas: UNICEF

On World Polio Day, UNICEF has issued a stark warning: polio cases in fragile and conflict-affected countries have more than doubled over the past five years, with 85 per cent of the children affected by the disease in 2023 living in these regions.  “In conflict, children face more than bombs and bullets; they are at […]

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Gaza: Israeli strikes delay polio vaccine campaign in the north

The UN health agency said pauses in the bombardment are key. “Humanitarian pauses are essential for its success, allowing partners to deliver vaccination supplies to health facilities, families to safely access vaccination sites and mobile teams of health workers to reach children in their communities,” WHO said. But, due to the escalating violence, intense bombardment, […]

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The Affordable Care Act Marketplace: Coverage for 21 Million Americans and Counting Could be at Stake!

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010, was a landmark piece of legislation aimed at reforming the U.S. healthcare system. One of its key components is the Health Insurance Marketplace, which has provided access to affordable health insurance for millions of Americans. As of now, approximately 21 million people are covered through this marketplace, […]

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World News in Brief: Egypt malaria-free, tropical storm lashes Cuba, Mozambique killings, WHO support for South Sudan

“Malaria is as old as Egyptian civilisation itself, but the disease that plagued pharaohs now belongs to its history and not its future,” said Tedros Adhanom-Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This certification of Egypt as malaria-free is truly historic, and a testament to the commitment of the people and Government of Egypt to rid themselves of this […]

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Lebanon: Cholera fears for communities uprooted by war

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that a response plan had been activated to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing and water sampling. The case was confirmed in Akkar, the country’s northernmost governorate. Speaking in Geneva late Wednesday, Tedros noted that the Lebanese health authorities had launched an oral vaccination drive in August targeting […]

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UNICEF seeks $165 million for therapeutic food to combat ‘silent killer’

The warning comes from UN children’s agency UNICEF which said levels of severe wasting in children under five remain gravely high in several countries due to conflict, economic shocks and climate crises. Deadly condition Severe wasting – also known as severe acute malnutrition – is caused by a lack of nutritious and safe foods and […]

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Multi-country outbreak of mpox, External situation report #40: WHO – 13 October 2024

Overview This is the 40th situation report for the multi-country outbreak of mpox, which provides an update on the mpox epidemiological situation in Africa as of 6 October 2024. Sixteen countries on the African continent have reported mpox cases in the last six weeks. The most affected country in 2024 continues to be the Democratic […]

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1 in 7 children and teens impacted by mental health conditions

In addition, one-third of mental health conditions emerge before the age of 14 and half before the age of 18. Published ahead of World Mental Health Day, celebrated annually on 10 October, the report seeks to support the transformation of mental health services for children and adolescents. It underscores the importance of early action as an […]

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Invest more in vaccines to reduce deaths from drug-resistant superbugs: WHO

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines. It is among the top global public health and development threats, with nearly five million associated deaths each year. The main drivers are misuse and overuse of antimicrobials. Catch up on our live coverage of the issue from […]

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