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Public health news from around the WHO European Region.
News highlights
June 2023
With the international public health emergency ending, WHO/Europe launches its transition plan for COVID-19
12-06-2023
Although COVID-19 is no longer defined as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), it continues to take a significant toll on health globally. With the pandemic now in its fourth year, it is clear the virus is likely to stay with us for many years to come – if not forever. Responding to the current situation, and looking to the future, WHO/Europe is launching its transition plan for COVID-19. “While the international public health emergency may have ended, the pandemic certainly has not,” explained Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, Regional Director for WHO/Europe. “And as our Region seeks to emerge from this crisis, it is also faced with new health threats, at a time when our health systems face increasing workforce and other challenges.” “Using the momentum built since 2020, now is the time to invest and sustain the gains made during the pandemic response and apply the lessons of this pandemic and other health emergencies,” continued Dr Kluge. “This is the way to increase the resilience of our health systems against future shocks.”
Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health
5 – 7 July 2023
Budapest, Hungary
The 7th Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health will define the future environment and health priorities and commitments for the WHO European Region, with a focus on addressing the health dimensions of the triple environmental crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution. The Conference will take into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for a healthy recovery on the path towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UKRAINE EMERGENCY
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on 6 June 2023 has caused widespread devastation and human suffering. The overall impact on water supplies, sanitation and sewage systems, and health services cannot be underestimated. The severe flooding downstream has displaced thousands of people and destroyed vital infrastructure including roads, electricity lines, agricultural land, health facilities and private homes. The environmental damage alone could take years to fix, with potentially hazardous agricultural chemicals seeping into the water supply. Flooding in a highly industrialized zone poses the risk of additional chemical releases into water, which could severely impact people and animals for years to come. The floods are also believed to have dislodged unexploded mines.
Public health advice in the aftermath of flooding: how to protect your health and keep safe
12-06-2023
Joint ECDC-WHO Regional Office for Europe Mpox Surveillance Bulletin: 08 June 2023
08-06-2023
COVID-19
Going door-to-door in North Macedonia to address immunization inequities
09-06-2023
Increasing Recognition, Research and Rehabilitation for Post COVID-19 Condition (long COVID)
Publications and technical guidance
Publications, country and technical guidance for the COVID-19 outbreak
06-06-2023
Films from France, Germany, Israel, Sweden and the United Kingdom – five of WHO/Europe’s 53 Member States – feature among the winners of the global 2023 WHO Health for All Film Festival (HAFF). WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus approved the recommendations from the festival’s jury and announced the winners today. More than 780 short film entries were received, with some 93 shortlisted for the 4th edition of HAFF, showcasing critical health topics ranging from emergencies and mental health to sexual and reproductive health and climate change.
From seedbed to cigarette butt – tobacco’s trail of harm and broad injustice
31-05-2023
ELA Tier 2: Strengthening transformational leadership for health to drive health systems change
30-05-2023
Subsidizing tobacco a blow to sustainable food production
30-05-2023
World No Tobacco Day Awards 2023: inspiring European advocates
25-05-2023
WHO/Europe policy dialogues spark momentum for health system reform in central Asia
24-05-2023
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Statement – Why rethink mobility in the WHO European Region?
15-05-2023
It has been well-documented that more roads with more lanes equal more cars. Experience from cities worldwide demonstrates that such expansion is unsustainable. It leads to death, injury and disability, and contributes to traffic congestion, lengthy commutes, and related stresses, as well as noncommunicable diseases through poor air quality, noise and reduced opportunities for physical activity, emissions of greenhouse gas that contribute to climate change, soil sealing, and land consumption and fragmentation. A new vision of mobility would demand building or redesigning roads and public spaces for everyone, prioritizing the accessibility and mobility needs of those most vulnerable to the effects of motorized transport: children, women, people with disabilities, and elderly people. Governments could achieve this by increasing investments in modes of active transport, such as walking, cycling and public transport, along with urban planning that allows accessing services and amenities within distances that could be readily covered on foot or by bicycle. Yet, this can only be considered if the roads we build, and those that already exist, are made safe. Read the full article
06-06-2023
Mental health issues depicted on the big screen can resonate deeply with audiences, fostering dialogue and understanding. Paul Jerndal, an award-winning Swedish filmmaker and passionate advocate for mental health, chose to channel his activism through film early in his career. On 6 June, he was announced the winner of the 2023 Health for All Film Festival (HAFF) Very Short Film category for his compelling short film “Mirrors”. “Through the medium of film, we have the power to illuminate the complexities of mental health conditions, initiate meaningful conversations and contribute to destigmatizing the challenges faced by countless individuals,” said Jerndal. “Films and other artistic expressions can serve as catalysts for dialogue and genuine support, truly breaking down barriers. Accepting this esteemed award is a tremendous honour, but above all, my hope is that it further amplifies the significance of mental health, reminding people that they are not alone in their struggles with negative thoughts.”
Child and adolescent mental health high on agenda in 3 countries in Europe
13-06-2023
World No Tobacco Day 2023: Ukraine survey results highlight challenges
31-05-2023
WHO explores way to support training for new doctors in North Macedonia
06-06-2023
Advancing perinatal care to prevent maternal and newborn deaths in Kyrgyzstan
31-05-2023
Slovenia’s public health advocates recognized for commitment to tobacco control
26-05-2023
EVENTS
Eliminating mpox: Placing affected populations at the heart of our response
17 May – 30 September 2023
Expert meeting on digital marketing of alcohol
24 June 2023, Vilnius, Lithuania
Health in Prisons and Places of Detention International Conference – making prisons and places of detention resilient to infectious diseases, including epidemic and pandemic threats
20 – 21 June 2023, London, United Kingdom
Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health
5 – 7 July 2023, Budapest, Hungary
