WHO/Europe | News feed

Regional Director pledges WHO support to help Ukraine’s health system build back better during visit to Lviv

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 16:22:38 +0200

On World Health Day in Lviv, Ukraine, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge visited health facilities and heard first-hand from health workers and patients who have faced some of the most testing circumstances imaginable amid the ongoing war that erupted on 24 February.

Regional Director pledges WHO support to help Ukraine’s health system build back better during visit to Lviv

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 16:20:25 +0200

Adjusting health financing for people fleeing conflict: WHO releases new guidance for countries in Europe

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 15:56:18 +0200

WHO has released new guidance on how host countries can adjust health financing to meet the needs of people fleeing conflict.

‘Ensuring high-quality of HIV Care for displaced people from Ukraine’

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 13:58:40 +0200

Since the onset of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and as of 11 April 2022, more than 4 million Ukrainian people have fled to Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and the Republic of Moldova* . Whilst countries bordering Ukraine have received most of the displaced people so far, it is envisaged that there will be further migration across Europe in weeks to come.

Novo Nordisk Foundation supports WHO’s emergency response in Ukraine and neighbouring countries with 25 million Danish kroner/3.4 million euros

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 10:30:44 +0200

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has donated 25 million Danish kroner (about 3.4 million euros), to WHO’s emergency response in Ukraine and countries hosting Ukrainian refugees. The funds granted by the Denmark-based Foundation are fully flexible and can therefore be swiftly used to cover urgent needs in WHO’s response to the complex health emergency, where the situation on the ground is extremely fluid.

WHO donates incinerators to Tajikistan to dispose of medical waste

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 00:08:39 +0200

Through a project supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, WHO has procured incinerators to support an effective health-care waste management system in Tajikistan. The procurement includes 8 diesel-fuelled incinerators with a capacity of 20–30 kg, and 6 wood-fuelled units with a capacity of 10–15 kg.

Health-care facilities in the firing line – the unacceptable reality of the war in Ukraine

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 14:00:03 +0200

One of the largest hospitals in eastern Ukraine, providing specialized medical care to a population of 103 000 people, was used to dealing with the consequences of conflict even before the Russian military offensive began on 24 February 2022. Since 2014, the hospital had been playing a crucial role in treating wounded soldiers from the armed struggle in the nearby Donbas region, as well as caring for the 51 000 civilians displaced by the hostilities.

WHO records 100th attack on health care in Ukraine

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:35:17 +0200

As of 7 April 2022, WHO has confirmed more than 100 attacks on health care in Ukraine since the start of the war on 24 February – claiming 73 lives and injuring 51. Targeting health facilities, workers, supplies, vehicles and patients is a major violation of international law.

In solidarity with the health workers of Ukraine this World Health Day

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 15:12:08 +0200

On this World Health Day, I reiterate WHO’s determination to provide health for all – wherever they are across the 53 countries of the WHO European Region. We seek to ensure that everyone, in whatever circumstances, will not be deprived of the medicines, treatment and care they may need. I stand with our Director-General, who on behalf of WHO has consistently called on the Russian Federation for a humanitarian ceasefire immediately, which includes unhindered access to humanitarian assistance for those in need.

Health on Earth: a healthy planet benefits us all – World Health Day 2022

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 09:02:28 +0200

On this World Health Day, WHO/Europe calls on everyone to come together and recognize the importance of our planet, for the sake of our health and that of the generations to come.

WHO Regional Director for Europe visits Kazakhstan, strengthens primary health care collaboration

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 11:11:14 +0200

During a 3-day visit to Kazakhstan from 28–30 March 2022, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, reaffirmed WHO/Europe’s support to the country in the COVID-19 recovery process and praised Kazakhstan’s efforts in moving the primary health care (PHC) agenda forward.

Ukraine: Crisis averted for now – WHO, PEPFAR and partners ensure supply of antiretroviral drugs for people living with HIV

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 08:03:31 +0200

Faced with alarming reports of disrupted HIV treatments threatening the lives of thousands of people, WHO, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Ukrainian authorities and partners are ensuring the supply of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), covering most of the needs of every single person known to be living with HIV in Ukraine for the next 12 months.

WHO Regional Director for Europe visits Kazakhstan, strengthens primary health care collaboration

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 05:34:24 +0200

WHO and Czechia sign new agreement to improve health for all

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:18:38 +0200

During a 1-day visit to Czechia, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health cementing closer collaboration in priority areas. At a processing centre for refugees, the Regional Director also saw first-hand how the city of Prague has welcomed arrivals from Ukraine, providing essential health services and more.

WHO and Czechia sign new agreement to improve health for all

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:17:37 +0200

Expecting the unexpected: A year with WHO as a UN Volunteer Communications Specialist

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 10:32:54 +0200

In early 2021, a group of dedicated communications specialists joined 7 WHO Country Offices in different corners of the WHO European Region. But they were not just any skilled communicators – they all joined their WHO Country Office teams through the United Nations Volunteer programme (UNV), administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Battling to protect their patients: how health workers from three Ukrainian hospitals have adapted to working in wartime

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:17:45 +0200

The war in Ukraine has forced Ukrainian health workers to adopt new roles and ways of working and to draw on their ingenuity and dedication to protect and treat their patients.

WHO urges quality care for women and newborns in critical first weeks after childbirth

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 14:37:40 +0200

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched its first ever global guidelines to support women and newborns in the postnatal period – the first 6 weeks after birth. This is a critical time for ensuring newborn and maternal survival and for supporting healthy development of the baby as well as the mother’s overall mental and physical recovery and well-being.

Ireland places disability and rehabilitation at the heart of its health system reform

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 10:01:33 +0200

Ireland is implementing progressive health and social care service reforms for people with disabilities. Named ‘Transforming Lives’, the reforms ensure access to quality, personalized care aligned to Ireland’s health transformation policy framework, Sláintecare. This is a key government commitment to achieving a universal single-tier health and social care system that provides all of its citizens with the right care in the right place and at the right time.

Fighting COVID-19 in prisons: WHO report presents best practices from countries

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 00:49:57 +0200

People living in prisons are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection than those living in the outside community, but there are many ways to protect them. A new WHO report “Good practices in managing infectious diseases in prison settings” sums up the most effective policies from Member States that are aimed at reducing the risks of disease outbreaks in prisons while ensuring human rights and effectively using the resources at hand.

New WHO/Europe pocket book will support primary health care for children and adolescents

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 10:08:15 +0200

WHO/Europe has launched its first-ever “Pocket book of primary health care for children and adolescents”, a comprehensive manual for doctors, nurses and other health workers responsible for caring for children and young people in primary-care settings.

European Union funding boosts COVID-19 vaccination in Africa

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 16:31:56 +0200

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has allocated €16 million in funding to support WHO’s work to boost COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and increase coverage in 15 African countries.

Prioritizing refugee health in Republic of Moldova through better water, sanitation and hygiene

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 15:27:09 +0200

Every day, thousands of refugees are crossing the border from Ukraine into the Republic of Moldova to flee the war. Such large displaced populations are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of water- and food-borne disease, as they are often forced to live in crowded, temporary accommodation where access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) can be difficult. This not only threatens the health, well-being and dignity of refugees, but could even endanger their lives.

European Technical Advisory Group updates recommendations for prioritization and use of COVID-19 vaccines

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 09:34:46 +0100

The European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE) met virtually on 14 March 2022 to update its recommendations for Member States of the WHO European Region on prioritization and use of COVID-19 vaccines.

Slovenia: working with civil society to better support and integrate refugees and migrants during the pandemic

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 15:35:21 +0100

For refugees and migrants in Slovenia, the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the constraints and distress they have experienced as a result of fleeing hardship in their countries of origin.

WHO/Europe advisory group issues revised recommendations on schooling during COVID-19

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 12:40:32 +0100

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on schooling during COVID-19, an advisory body to WHO/Europe, has published its latest set of recommendations on children and adolescents’ access to education during the COVID-19 pandemic. These recommendations replace and update the previous ones issued in June 2021.

The Republic of Moldova continues tuberculosis treatment for Ukrainian refugees

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 09:19:49 +0100

“We were woken up at night by explosions. They continued into the morning. There was smoke and military gear on the street. We understood that the war had begun. It was scary.”

Tuberculosis remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide, warns new report

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 09:03:03 +0100

According to the latest European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)/World Health Organization (WHO) report on tuberculosis (TB) surveillance and monitoring in Europe, a sharp drop (24%) in reported TB cases between 2019 and 2020 was probably exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered detection and reporting.

Ukraine: 28 days of war, 64 verified attacks on health care, and 18 million people affected

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 00:01:15 +0100

One month of war has had a devastating impact on Ukraine’s health system, severely restricted access to services, and triggered an urgent need to treat trauma injuries and chronic conditions. Destroyed health infrastructure and disrupted chains of medical supplies now pose a grave threat to millions of people.

One month of the war in Ukraine – addressing the health needs of 2 million refugees arriving into Poland

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 16:31:20 +0100

Since the Ukraine war started on 24 February 2022, over 3 million people have fled the country to neighbouring states, with the majority, mostly women and children, crossing into Poland to seek protection. Many of them are in need of immediate medical assistance, having been deprived of food and water and exposed to freezing temperatures during their arduous journeys. Others, with underlying health conditions, need special treatments and medication. Mental health and psychosocial services need to be scaled up to help those that have witnessed the horrors of war – as well as the frontline workers who are supporting them.

New WHO web-based knowledge hub unravels the myriad influences behind our health behaviours

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 12:52:15 +0100

Ever wonder why we don’t eat and drink what is good for us, exercise regularly or follow the advice of public health authorities on getting vaccinated? The new WHO web-based knowledge hub of behavioural and cultural insights (WHO BCI-Hub) provides a one-stop-shop for those interested in the complex question of how our health is impacted by who we are, what we know and what we do. It also provides background on the barriers to and drivers of healthy behaviours and practices.

Poland: Understanding the mental health and psychosocial needs of Ukraine’s refugees – Olga’s story

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 11:38:46 +0100

Olga is a 20-year-old medical student who we met at a makeshift refugee shelter in eastern Poland. A few days ago, she was studying in Kyiv, but is now one of the millions of refugees from Ukraine who have fled because of the Russian military offensive and who is seeking protection in Poland.

Placing children and young people’s mental health at the heart of the COVID-19 recovery, WHO/Europe and Greece launch new programme for European Region

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 13:02:10 +0100

Today, the Ministry of Health of Greece and WHO/Europe launched a new programme to support and promote the quality of mental health care of children and adolescents in all 53 countries of the WHO European Region.

Running the health response to Ukraine’s emergency: Interview with WHO Representative Jarno Habicht

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 11:44:21 +0100

Jarno Habicht has worked with WHO for the last 19 years and served as WHO Representative (WR) in Ukraine since 2018. He answers questions about WHO’s preparation for armed conflicts in the country and its health-related humanitarian response since the Russian military offensive and war began.

Taxes on sweetened drinks: WHO explains how to make them an effective health measure

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 09:30:17 +0100

Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) can help countries fight noncommunicable diseases and make people healthier – but this measure can be more effective if taxes are developed in collaboration between health and finance authorities.

Hungary: the importance of mental health and psychosocial support to refugees and displaced people – one mother’s story of a life upended through the Ukraine war

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 11:31:20 +0100

In normal times, Maria Bilovodska runs a successful fashion brand in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. These are not normal times. In the registration centre of Hungary’s Beregsurány border crossing point, Maria looks tired and pale after her long journey. Sitting in a low chair, surrounded by other exhausted-looking families, she is waiting for a bus that will take her and her 2 children, Miron (13) and Maria (8), to Budapest, and then on to France where she has a sister. The children are silent, taking in their new reality.

Prioritizing the health of refugees and migrants: an urgent, necessary plan of action for countries and regions in our interconnected world

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 08:50:11 +0100

Amid multiple ongoing humanitarian crises triggered by conflict, natural disasters, and climate change, 3 WHO regional offices brought together governments, civil society including refugee and migrant voices, and health partners at a high-level meeting in Istanbul this week to craft a joint new vision addressing the health and well-being of refugees and migrants as well as host communities, considering both current realities and anticipating future opportunities and challenges.

The impacts of war on children with cancer – ensuring continuation of care for those whose lives depend on it

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 21:26:43 +0100

As the war in Ukraine intensifies, hundreds of children with cancer have been forced to flee homes and hospital beds all over the country and undertake dangerous journeys in the hope of reconnecting with the treatments they need to survive.

Have your say: WHO holds public consultation to reduce alcohol consumption

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 15:34:14 +0100

Countries of the WHO European Region need an effective policy framework to reduce alcohol consumption levels and the associated health harms. WHO is hosting 3 consultations on the draft of the “Framework to strengthen implementation of the WHO European Action Plan to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (EAPA), 2022–2025”. These consultations are with civil society, Member States and members of the public.

Romania: civil society on the front line of health-care provision to refugees from Ukraine

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:03:37 +0100

On 10 March, staff from WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) visited the Serban Voda temporary emergency shelter in Bucharest, recently set up to provide accommodation and care for refugees fleeing from Ukraine.

WHO and UN promote the use of digital technologies to improve immunization services in North Macedonia

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 11:30:03 +0100

Since the beginning of the pandemic national health authorities in North Macedonia have made efforts to unlock the full potential of available technologies to improve how services are provided and how the health system is managed. WHO and the United Nations (UN) in North Macedonia have supported these efforts as part of the joint programme “Safe and Innovative Health Services in Times of COVID-19” implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), WHO and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

5 recommendations to reduce salt intake to live longer and healthier lives

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 11:20:02 +0100

During Salt Awareness Week, WHO is highlighting 5 simple recommendations that can help lower salt intake and blood pressure, significantly reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease. High salt intake is one of the leading causes of death in the WHO European Region.

WHO is working day and night to keep medical supply chains open and preserve Ukraine’s health system

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 07:04:11 +0100

Since Russia’s military offensive began in Ukraine on 24 February, WHO has worked around the clock to ensure a constant flow of health supplies so that neighbouring countries have the infrastructure and expertise to meet urgent needs of refugees, and to support Ukraine’s health system to meet the immediate health needs of people within Ukraine’s borders.

In solidarity with the health workers of Ukraine this World Health Day

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 08:20:06 +0200