WHO & Regional Offices [to 09 Apr 2022]
https://www.who.int/news
News [Selected]
7 April 2022
Departmental news
Open to all, anytime, anywhere: Free online courses bring vaccine knowledge to the global community

6 April 2022
News release
WHO urges accelerated action to protect human health and combat the climate crisis at a time of heightened conflict and fragility

4 April 2022
Departmental news
WHO announces updates on new TB antigen-based skin tests for the diagnosis of TB infection

4 April 2022
News release
Billions of people still breathe unhealthy air: new WHO data

4 April 2022
Departmental news
Health and the environment

2 April 2022
Departmental news
Suspension of supply of COVID-19 vaccine (COVAXIN®)
Today, WHO confirmed the suspension of supply of Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) through UN procurement agencies, and recommended that countries using the vaccine take action as appropriate.
The suspension is in response to the outcome of a WHO inspection on 14–22 March 2022, and the need to conduct process and facility upgrade to address recently identified deficiencies in good manufacturing practices (GMP).
Bharat Biotech has committed to addressing the GMP deficiencies and is developing a corrective and preventive action plan for submission to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and WHO. In the interim and as a precautionary measure, the company has indicated that it will suspend production of Covaxin for export. As a consequence, supply will be interrupted for the foreseeable future.
The risk assessment to date does not indicate change in the risk–benefit ratio. The data, available to WHO, indicate the vaccine is effective and no safety concerns exist…

1 April 2022
Departmental news
Parliaments promote women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health in the time of COVID-19

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WHO Director General Speeches [selected]
https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches
Selected
7 April 2022
Speech
WHO Director-General’s opening remarks at the World Health Day press briefing – 7 April 2022

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WHO Regional Offices
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
WHO African Region
:: 08 April 2022 Managing COVID-19 waste in Africa
:: 07 April 2022 Over two-thirds of Africans exposed to virus which causes COVID-19: WHO study
:: 06 April 2022 Africa faces rising climate-linked health emergencies
:: 01 April 2022 Major antibiotic donation moves African countries closer to defeating yaws

WHO Region of the Americas PAHO
:: On World Health Day, PAHO Director calls for concerted action to safeguard the health of the planet and its people
Washington, D.C., April 7, 2021 (PAHO) – After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic with millions of lives lost to the virus, Pan American Health Organization Director (PAHO) Carissa F. Etienne, marked World Health Day by calling for the urgent protection of the environment and highlighted how the health of the planet is linked to our own. “The so-…
:: World Health Day 2022
World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7 April to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948.  Each year for this date, a theme is chosen that highlights an area of priority concern for WHO. In the face of the current pandemic, a polluted planet, and an increasing incidence of diseases,…
:: Americas at risk of further COVID-19 wave as cases surge in other regions, PAHO Director warns
Vaccination campaigns must focus on protecting the most vulnerable. Washington D.C. 6 April 2022 (PAHO) – As cases of COVID-19 surge in Europe and East Asia due to Omicron BA.2, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne has urged countries to remain vigilant and urgently close vaccination gaps. While COVID cases…

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

WHO European Region EURO
:: WHO records 100th attack on health care in Ukraine 08-04-2022
:: In solidarity with the health workers of Ukraine this World Health Day 07-04-2022
:: Health on Earth: a healthy planet benefits us all – World Health Day 2022 07-04-2022
:: Ukraine: Crisis averted for now – WHO, PEPFAR and partners ensure supply of antiretroviral drugs for people living with HIV 06-04-2022
:: WHO Regional Director for Europe visits Kazakhstan, strengthens primary health care collaboration 06-04-2022

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region EMRO
No new digest content identified.

WHO Western Pacific Region
:: 7 April 2022 Countries in the Western Pacific on the frontlines of the climate crisis, says WHO
:: 7 April 2022 Regional Director’s remarks at the virtual press conference on 7 April 2022

 

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WHO Events
https://www.who.int/news-room/events/1
[Selected]
Public hearings regarding a new international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response
12 – 13 April 2022
In a consensus decision aimed at protecting the world from future infectious diseases crises, in December 2021 the World Health Assembly agreed to kickstart a global process by establishing an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said the decision by the World Health Assembly was historic in nature, vital in its mission, and represented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the global health architecture to protect and promote the well-being of all people.
As part of this historic decision, the World Health Assembly requested the Director-General to hold public hearings, in line with standard WHO practice, to support the work of the INB.
Registration and additional information on the public hearings is available at https://inb.who.int

 

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New WHO Publications
https://www.who.int/publications/i
Selected Titles
7 April 2022
Report of the first meeting of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Diabetes: virtual meeting, 29-30 September…

7 April 2022
Emergency in Ukraine: external situation report #6, published 7 April 2022: reporting period: 31 March–6…

6 April 2022
Sharing and reuse of health-related data for research purposes: WHO policy and implementation guidance
Overview
The purpose of this document is to clarify the policy and practice on the reuse and onward sharing for research purposes of health data collected under the auspices of WHO technical programmes. This covers use in both emergency and non-emergency situations and complements the following: the Policy on use and sharing of data collected in Member States by the World Health Organization (WHO) outside the context of public health emergencies; the Policy statement on data sharing by the World Health Organization in the context of public health emergencies; and the Joint statement on public disclosure of results from clinical trials. This policy covers the reuse of health data for research purposes. Its scope includes research data generated by research undertaken directly by WHO, or funded by WHO, as well as the use of other health data for research purposes.
This document sets out the objectives of this WHO policy and the obligations of WHO staff and researchers funded by WHO. The following section of this document entitled Guidance on the implementation of the WHO policy on the sharing and reuse of health-related data for research purposes provides further references and resources to assist in the development of a data management and sharing plan that is in alignment with the vision of this policy.

6 April 2022
Clinical care of severe acute respiratory infections – Tool kit

6 April 2022
Strategic framework for collaboration on antimicrobial resistance

5 April 2022
Injection safety in the context of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination: Addendum to policy brief,…

4 April 2022
Stakeholder consultative meeting on prevention and management of childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea: report,…

4 April 2022
Rapid communication: TB antigen-based skin tests for the diagnosis of TB infection

4 April 2022
WHO Drug Information – Volume 36, No. 1

3 April 2022
HIV module: Global competency and outcomes framework for universal health coverage

3 April 2022
Global competency framework for universal health coverage

3 April 2022
Global Competency and Outcomes Framework for Universal Health Coverage

1 April 2022
Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance on health and environment, 2022 update