1) The WHO Forum on alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours is due to take place from 26-28 June 2017 in Geneva.
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The primary goal is to strengthen partnerships and collaboration among public health organisations and networks working to reduce the health burden caused by alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours. Topics to be covered include: the links between alcohol use and injuries, the health and social consequences of cannabis use and prevention of substance use in educational settings.
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2) Democratic Republic of Congo reports polio outbreak
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Two outbreaks of polio have been identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in a blow to the goal of wiping out the disease from the world. At least four cases have been identified. Two were found in the eastern Maniema province and two further south in Haut-Lomami province, the WHO says. "WHO assesses the risk of further national spread of these strains to be high, and the risk of international spread to be medium" (14th June 2017)
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3) Aspirin ‘major bleed’ warning for over-75s has been identified by The Lancet.
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Those taking daily aspirin after a stroke or heart attack are at higher risk of major- and sometimes fatal- stomach bleeds than previously thought. Scientists say that to reduce these risks, older people should also take stomach-protecting PPI pills. (14th June 2017)
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4) A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has shown surprisingly high rates of diabetes amongst India’s urban poor.
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Glucose tolerance tests were given to 57,000 people across 15 states to diagnose diabetes and pre-diabetes. 7.3% of people had diabetes—half of whom had not been diagnosed previously. (June 9th 2017)
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5) Yemen cholera cases recorded at more than 100,000 amid ‘unprecedented’ epidemic.
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Yemen's health, water and sanitation systems are collapsing after two years of war between government forces and the rebel Houthi movement. The OCHA said the risk of the epidemic spreading further was compounded by the rainy season, widespread food insecurity and malnutrition.The UN says it is struggling to deliver medicine to treat those with cholera due to the ongoing conflict (8th June 2017)
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6) The World Health Organisation has updated its Essential Medicines List
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The updated list adds 30 medicines for adults and 25 for children, and specifies new uses for 9 already-listed products, bringing the total to 433 drugs deemed essential for addressing the most important public health needs. It has added medicines for hepatitis C, HIV, tuberculosis and cancer, also including new advice on use of antibiotics. The WHO Essential Medicines List (EML) is used by many countries to increase access to medicines and guide decisions about which products they ensure are available for their populations. (6th June 2017)
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7) A pre-famine situation has been identified in Somalia (24th May 2017)
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The international community and the Somali federal government have both raised a red flag over the drought and pre-famine situation that has affected half of the country’s population. The drought has resulted in food insecurity, which has led to large scale malnutrition that has directly affected the health of the population.
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8) The World Health Organisation has a newly elected Director-General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
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The former Ethiopian Health Minister is the WHO’s first Director-General from Africa and will begin his five-year term on 1 July 2017. As Minister of Health, Ethiopia, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus led a comprehensive reform effort of the country's health system. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will succeed Dr Margaret Chan, who has been WHO’s Director-General since 1 January 2007. (23rd May 2017)
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9) World Immunization Week was held from 24-30th April 2017.
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The aim was to raise awareness about the critical importance of full immunization throughout life, and its role in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
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10) The Trump administration has pulled funding from UNFPA, the UN’s international branch focused on family planning and maternal and child health
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The state department said it was withholding $32.5m in funding for the fiscal year of 2017 because the UNFPA "supports, or participates in the management of, a programme of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilisation". (4th April 2017)
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