Türkiye earthquakes: supporting the emergency response

In the wake of today’s devastating earthquakes in the south-eastern region of Türkiye, a WHO European Region Member State, near the border with the Syrian Arab Republic, WHO/Europe is poised and ready to support the Turkish Ministry of Health with the humanitarian emergency response, including through the WHO Country Office in Türkiye and in collaboration with WHO headquarters.

“Amid the devastation wrought by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, I want to express my deepest condolences to all the affected communities,” said WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge. “WHO/Europe and the WHO Country Office in Türkiye are committed to assisting any unmet needs now and in the future, recognizing that Türkiye has its own extensive response capabilities that are already taking action and responding in the earthquake-affected areas.”

TÜRKIYE & SYRIA EARTHQUAKES

Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, on the Türkiye and Syria earthquakes

With the numbers of people having succumbed to the initial impact of these earthquakes, my heartfelt condolences go to all who have lost family members, all who have lost their homes, all who have lost everything.

My recognition and admiration go to the first responders, including the WHO personnel in our field office in Gaziantep, who themselves are displaced, many spending last night in their cars in cold wintry conditions, but already responding while their own lives remain in peril.

This disaster, the latest in a string of natural or man-made disasters to hit the WHO European Region, and its scale, will be marked in history – not only for its devastation across southern Türkiye and northern Syria, but also for the speed of the national and the tremendous international support provided.

WHO Foundation Health Emergency Appeal for Türkiye and Syria

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COVID-19

Statement on the fourteenth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic

The WHO Director-General has the pleasure of transmitting the Report of the fourteenth meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic, held on Friday 27 January 2023, from 14:00 to 17:00 CET.

The WHO Director-General concurs with the advice offered by the Committee regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and determines that the event continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The Director-General acknowledges the Committee’s views that the COVID-19 pandemic is probably at a transition point and appreciates the advice of the Committee to navigate this transition carefully and mitigate the potential negative consequences.

Three years of pandemic learning response: reaching learners across the world with life-saving health knowledge

26 January 2023 marks three years since WHO launched its first OpenWHO.org course on the then-novel coronavirus and started providing accessible, up-to-date and informative health knowledge for a diverse global audience amid the fast-evolving pandemic. As of this date, OpenWHO offers a total of 190 online courses, 46 of which address COVID-19 topics, and has totaled 7.4 million course enrolments.

UKRAINE EMERGENCY

Key priorities for health system recovery in Ukraine the focus of new paper

A joint discussion paper by WHO, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Ukraine, the World Bank and the European Union (EU) highlights key priorities for the recovery of the health system in Ukraine over the next 2 years amid the Russian Federation’s ongoing invasion.

The document, which is intended to complement Ukraine’s National Recovery Plan, was informed by discussions with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders. It presents an analysis of critical priorities for the health sector across 4 domains.

Supporting free primary health care in Ukraine – the story of a Ukrainian doctor

WHO in Ukraine has been supporting the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) to conduct costing studies with primary health care (PHC) providers in Ukraine in order to safeguard free access to PHC services for the entire population.

The study aims to inform the development of the PHC payment system based on objective costs to ensure that all necessary costs of delivering the PHC services in the benefit package are being covered.

“Investment in PHC improves access to health-care services and enhances social well-being,” explained Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine. “Current PHC service costing studies are particularly important in order to adjust payment systems amid changing health needs and care models.”