(AGENPARL) – mer 05 luglio 2023 WHO Media
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Wednesday 5 July 2023
WHO Virtual Press Conference on global health issues- AV links and additional material
Dear journalists, please find links below to:
WHO Director General’s opening remarks:
[https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing—5-july-2023](https://worldhealthorganization.cmail20.com/t/d-l-vvjdly-iitylyihjr-r/)
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening,
First malaria, I’m pleased that together with Gavi and UNICEF, WHO will shortly announce the allocation of 18 million doses of the RTS,S malaria vaccine to 12 countries in Africa.
With the climate crisis changing weather patterns, mosquitoes that carry these diseases are increasing in density and spreading further afield.
Malaria remains one of Africa’s deadliest diseases, killing nearly half a million children under the age of 5 every year, and accounting for approximately 96% of global malaria deaths in 2021.
As the first vaccine against malaria, the RTS,S vaccine has now been delivered to more than 1.6 million children in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.
It has been shown to be safe and effective, resulting in a substantial reduction in severe malaria and a fall in child deaths.
Other positives worth noting, at least 28 African countries have expressed interest in receiving the RTS,S vaccine.
And a second vaccine is currently under review for pre-qualification and if successful provides additional supply in the short-term.
The climate crisis is now one of the major factors determining human health outcomes.
El Niño, which has now been announced by the World Meteorological Organisation, together with global warming is already driving record temperatures.
On Monday, the world recorded its hottest day on record.
Over the coming months, we expect a range of extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, hurricanes, and heatwaves, all of which harm human health.
Prolonged drought in the greater Horn of Africa has already driven a wave of hunger, migration and disease, and is putting a major strain on health services.
This year, nearly 60 million people are food insecure across the greater Horn of Africa, which includes 7 countries: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
In Somalia, South Sudan, and parts of Kenya, WHO teams are seeing the highest levels of severely malnourished children arriving in health facilities since the crisis began 3 years ago.
Over 10 million children under 5 years are facing acute malnutrition in 2023.
While drought has given way to heavy rain and flooding, the situation remains extremely difficult, and hunger levels are expected to remain high.
WHO is working with local partners to provide critical health and nutrition services to marginalized communities and training to health workers.
There is a 97% cure rate when treating severely acutely malnourished children but it takes well trained health workers to deliver skilled care.
The sooner WHO and partners are able to treat children in need, the better chance of regaining their strength and health.
WHO and health partners need sustainable and coherent funding to mitigate the severe health outcomes, which are happening today.
Conflict in Sudan is further exacerbating an already challenging health and hunger situation.
The health needs of the population are high, access to healthcare remains very difficult, and the conditions created by the conflict in Sudan increase the risk for epidemics to spread and kill.
The conflict has dramatically increased the number of people at highest risk of hunger – from 11.7 million to 19.1 million people.
WHO has verified 50 incidents through WHO’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care since the beginning of the conflict, which started in April.
This includes 32 incidents affecting health facilities, and 10 deaths and 21 injuries reported among health workers and patients.
I’m appalled by attacks on health care, as well as increasing gender-based violence in the country.
The ongoing violence, including attacks on health care workers, facilities, transportation and supplies, are preventing survivors of gender-based violence from accessing essential health services at a time when they need them most.
Women and girls must have unhindered access to the care they need, particularly survivors of sexual violence and women that need support through pregnancy and birth.
Health workers and facilities must be protected.
Corridors for humanitarian and health supplies to be delivered need to safeguarded.
We urge all parties to the conflict in Sudan to cease hostilities now before the health and hunger crisis gets even worse.