UN – United Nations

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) did something it has never done in the history of the global polio eradication effort – it declared polio a “public health emergency of international concern,” calling the international spread of polio in 2014 an “extraordinary event.” Along with this announcement, WHO recommended that ten polio-affected countries, including seven that have been re-infected with the virus, either ensure or encourage the vaccination of all residents and long-term visitors […]

By Jane Ferguson, Scientist at the World Health Organization’s Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health There are more than 1 billion adolescents and most are healthy. But an estimated 1.3 million young people aged 10 to 19 died in 2012, mostly from preventable or treatable causes, and many more suffered needlessly from injuries and illnesses. The World Health Organization’s new report, Health for the World’s Adolescents, analyses the current situation and makes a

Around the world, 3 billion people burn solid fuels such as wood and charcoal for their daily cooking needs. Women and girls can spend up to five hours a day searching for and collecting fuel, taking time away from educational and economic opportunities and putting their safety at risk. Dangers for girls and women are particularly pronounced in crisis and conflict settings. This week, the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which is working to build

By Erin Hohlfelder, Policy Director, Global Health, ONE Quick! With less than a month to go until the World Cup kickoff, can you name this soccer star based on this childhood photo? OK, OK…this was a trick question (if you guessed Erin Hohlfelder, then you’re probably my parents). I may not have been quite good enough back in the day to make it to the World Cup. But I was able to grow up into

Editor’s Note: Right now, the UN Foundation’s Shot@Life campaign is raising funds and awareness to “stop the spots,” a reference to measles, one of the leading causes of death for children under 5. To support the effort, click here, and to learn more, read on! 1. Measles is one of the most contagious and deadliest killers of children under the age of five. 2. Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children, especially

This week, health leaders from around the world are gathered in Geneva for the World Health Organization’s annual World Health Assembly. Here are five of the key stories coming out of Geneva: 1. Saving the Lives of Newborns: Every year, nearly 3 million newborns die within the first 28 days of life. This year’s World Health Assembly has featured discussions on how the global health community can act to keep more newborns alive. At the

At commencement ceremonies across the United States, American leaders are giving graduates advice for their future. They’re also talking about the biggest issues of our time and the importance of working with international partners like the United Nations to build a more peaceful, prosperous world. Here are seven must-read quotes: President Obama at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point: 1. “Likewise, the U.N. provides a platform to keep the peace in states torn apart

It’s a topic that few people talk about, but has profound consequences for the health, safety, and livelihoods of 1 billion people: open defecation. If we’re going to end extreme poverty and make additional significant progress on the Millennium Development Goals, we must break the silence on open defecation and make sanitation for all people a global priority. The United Nations, under the leadership of Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, has launched a campaign to raise