WHO & Regional Offices [to 12 Feb 2022]

WHO & Regional Offices [to 12 Feb 2022]
https://www.who.int/
News [Selected]
11 February 2022
Departmental news
WHO prequalifies first monoclonal antibody – tocilizumab – to treat COVID-19
Aiming to increase access to recommended treatments for COVID-19, WHO today added tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody, to its list of prequalified treatments for COVID-19. To date, six COVID-19 treatments have been prequalified by WHO, including the three presentations (three vials, each with a different quantity) of the product prequalified today.
The three prequalified products are manufactured by the originator company, Roche, but the listings should pave the way for more companies coming forward to seek WHO prequalification, thereby increasing the number of quality-assured products and creating competition leading to potentially lower prices. The prequalification of these products will also facilitate low- and middle-income countries’ authorization of them as COVID treatments.
Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the Interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor. Interleukin-6 induces an inflammatory response and is found in high levels in patients critically ill with COVID-19…

11 February 2022
News release
South Africa’s mRNA hub progress is foundation for self-reliance
…The mRNA global hub is designed to serve low- and middle-income countries and will empower countries to not only be able to make their own mRNA vaccines but ultimately to have the choice of which vaccines they want to make. Manufacturers from low- and middle-income countries are therefore encouraged to express their own interest so they can receive training, technology transfer and any necessary licenses. WHO and partners will bring in the production know-how, quality control and necessary licenses to a single entity to facilitate a broad and rapid technology transfer to multiple recipients.
“The pandemic has highlighted the need for increased local production of vaccines globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “The WHO mRNA global hub is a major step in that direction, by sharing technology and building on the capacity and scientific expertise that already exists in South Africa.”
The global hubs will act as training facilities where technology is established at industrial scale and clinical development performed. WHO will compliment this activity and assist other countries in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries to strengthen biomanufacturing capacity as well as regulatory capacity…

11 February 2022
Departmental news
WHO’s new International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) comes into effect

11 February 2022
Highlights
ICD-11 2022 release
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) provides a common language that allows health professionals to share standardized information across the world. The eleventh revision contains around 17 000 unique codes, more than 120 000 codable terms and is now entirely digital.

11 February 2022
Departmental news
WHO mourns Dr Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela
It is with a deep sense of sadness and sorrow that WHO is announcing the passing on 10 February 2022 of Dr Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director of WHO’s Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. Dr Malecela died after a prolonged illness at the age of 58.
Dr Malecela will be remembered as an inspirational figure, a dedicated leader and a committed listener…

9 February 2022
Departmental news
France and WHO sign new agreement to reinforce health systems to combat COVID-19
Lyon – The Government of France and WHO today announced a new €50 million contribution agreement that will help countries’ health systems overcome bottlenecks in the COVID-19 response and speed up equitable access to testing, treatments and vaccines…

9 February 2022
Departmental news
Ensuring artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for health benefit older people

9 February 2022
News release
ACT-Accelerator calls for fair share-based financing of US$ 23 billion to end pandemic as global emergency in 2022
[See Perspectives above for detail]

8 February 2022
News release
FIFA and WHO reiterate call on world to #ACTogether to end COVID-19 pandemic

7 February 2022
Media release
Commonwealth and WHO to strengthen cooperation on health, including access to vaccines
Memorandum of Understanding agreement signed today focuses on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing Universal Health Coverage, addressing vaccine equity, strengthening digital health systems and working towards global health security

7 February 2022
Departmental news
Executive Board reviews progress in the implementation of the global road map on defeating meningitis by 2030

7 February 2022
Departmental news
Essential health services face continued disruption during COVID-19 pandemic
[See Perspectives above for detail]

6 February 2022
Statement
IOC and WHO reaffirm collaboration to promote vaccine equity and healthy lifestyles
… The IOC and the WHO formalised their collaboration to promote public health with a Memorandum of Understanding in 1984. The partnership has grown since then, resulting in a series of projects promoting grassroots sports and healthy lifestyles for all, and leveraging WHO expertise in health emergency, mass gathering, and water quality in the context of the Olympic Games. The two organisations signed a new Cooperative Agreement in 2020 to strengthen and expand on these dimensions…

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WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region AFRO
:: Africa on track to control COVID-19 pandemic in 2022 10 February 2022

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: WHO’s new International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) comes into effect
February 11, 2022 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) has now come into effect, with the latest update going online today. The ICD provides a common language that allows health professionals to share standardized information across the world. It is the foundation…
:: Despite overall drop in new infections this week, pandemic continues to challenge health care workers in the Americas
PAHO warns that recent surge in COVID-19 cases has overburdened struggling systems. Countries must urgently increase staff and training and prioritize health care workers for vaccination. Washington D.C. February 9, 2022 (PAHO) – While cases of COVID-19 fell by a third in the Americas this week, health care workers continue to face challenging…

WHO South-East Asia Region SEARO
No new digest content identified

WHO European Region EURO
:: WHO/Europe urges governments to include young people in decisions about their health 11-02-2022
:: “Patients should be co-developers of digital health apps”: Polina’s story about fighting disease with innovation 08-02-2022

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
No new digest content identified

WHO Western Pacific Region
No new digest content identified

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WHO Events
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/2
[Selected]
SAVE THE DATE – What recent evidence do we have that omicron is evading immunity and what are the implications?
14 February 2022 13:00 – 17:15 CET

Webinar to present the WHO Classification of self-care interventions
14 February 2022 15:00 – 16:30 UTC Time

Provision of essential Services to Migrants: Promising practices and Emerging Challenges
15 February 2022 11:00 – 12:00 CET

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New WHO Publications
https://www.who.int/publications/i
Selected Titles
10 February 2022
Assessed contributions overview for all Member States as at 31 December 2021

10 February 2022
Meetings of the malaria elimination certification panel (‎MECP)‎: report of two virtual meetings, 3-4…

10 February 2022
Malaria Vaccine Advisory Committee (MALVAC) meeting on Preferred Product Characteristics for malaria…