WHO & Regionals [to 19 September 2015]
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Addressing noncommunicable diseases in emergencies
16 September 2015 — Due to ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine people struggle to receive treatment for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, lung and heart disease and diabetes. Working closely with the Ukrainian Ministry of Health and partners, WHO provides emergency kits with training materials to treat these diseases in the field.

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The Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER) 18 September 2015, vol. 90, 38 (pp. 489–504) includes:
:: Global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: progress report, 2014

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Global Alert and Response (GAR) – Disease Outbreak News (DONs)
:: 18 September 2015 – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Jordan
:: 17 September 2015 – Chikungunya – Spain (update)
:: 17 September 2015 – West Nile virus – Portugal
:: 17 September 2015 – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
:: 14 September 2015 – Chikungunya – Senegal

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:: WHO Regional Offices
WHO African Region AFRO
No new digest content identified.

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: PAHO/WHO and U.S. National Park Service partner to connect people to parks for better health (09/18/2015)
Countries of the Americas agree to step up action toward rabies elimination (09/17/2015)
Wellness Week in the Americas, Sept. 12-19, will focus on “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” (09/14/2015)

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
:: Regional Committee adopts resolution on cancer prevention, control
WHO Regional Committee meeting, which ended on 11 September, adopted six resolutions on priority areas. The countries resolved to strengthen cancer prevention and control programme, tobacco control, preparedness to respond to emergencies and outbreaks, anti-microbial resistance, community based health services and patient safety for sustainable Universal Health Coverage. Press Release

WHO European Region EURO
:: Day 4 highlights: RC65 adopts new tuberculosis action plan and closes 17-09-2015
:: Refugee crisis in Europe: update on the situation and WHO response 17-09-2015
Vilnius and Copenhagen, 14 September 2015
In response to the growing numbers of refugees and migrants arriving in the European Region, WHO supports countries by offering medical supplies, assessing national preparedness to assist people in need, training personnel at points of entry in public health and migration matters, and providing information materials.
Senior government officials of the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region discussed the public health impact of large-scale migration during the 65th session of the Regional Committee for Europe in Vilnius, Lithuania. They called for continued involvement and support from WHO to respond adequately to the public health implications of large influxes of people by conducting additional assessments in countries and by providing policy advice on contingency planning, training of health personnel and delivery of supplies. It was decided that a high-level WHO conference would be organized as soon as possible to agree on a common public health approach to large-scale migration in the Region.
“As refugee and migration movements escalate and the migratory routes change, more European countries face this challenge,” said Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Today more than ever, this situation calls for a regional, comprehensive and systematic public health response. As refugees and migrants move, intercountry coordination must be strengthened across the European Region, as well as with the countries of origin and transit.”…
:: Day 3 highlights: adoption of strategy on physical activity and roadmap for tobacco control 16-09-2015
:: WHO European Region Member States commit to denormalizing tobacco 16-09-2015
:: European ministers of health adopt strategy to tackle physical inactivity in 53 WHO Member States 16-09-2015
:: European countries review progress and synergize efforts for control of vaccine-preventable diseases
14-09-2015
Three days of discussion and sharing of experience among national immunization programme managers, WHO, partners and international experts on 1–3 September 2015 brought into full focus the challenges facing the European Region in the area of immunization and progress towards implementation of the European Vaccine Action Plan at national level. Over 130 delegates from 47 Member States of the European Region gathered in Antwerp, Belgium, to discuss remaining barriers to full immunization in Europe and the actions needed to achieve regional goals, such as elimination of measles and rubella and maintenance of the Region’s polio-free status.
“The European Vaccine Action Plan (EVAP) embodies regional commitment to immunization, and this meeting offers immunization programme managers the chance to voice their opinions and experience, interact with each other and WHO staff and work together to translate EVAP strategies into national priorities and actions,” said Dr Pierre van Damme, Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Antwerp and chair of the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunizaton (ETAGE), with reference to the interactive approach taken at the meeting. The format included included panels, small group discussion and question-and-answer sessions….

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
:: Malaria MDG target achieved amid sharp drop in cases and mortality, but 3 billion people remain at risk 17 September 2015
:: Improving the health of women, children and adolescents 14 September

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: UN: Progress made but more to be done to ensure all children are born free of HIV & syphilis in Asia-Pacific
BANGKOK, 14 September 2015 – The Asia–Pacific region has made significant progress in efforts to eliminate the transmission of HIV and syphilis, but thousands of mothers and children have yet to feel the benefits. Addressing this gap will be a key area for discussion at the 10th Asia-Pacific United Nations Parent-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis Task Force meeting in Beijing, China, this week. Read the joint news release