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Friday, 24 January 2025 | Issue 288
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Tania attends to a patient in the dengue ward at Mugda Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2023
WHO/Fabeha Monir
Conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory [https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/conflict-in-Israel-and-oPt]
WHO work on mpox [https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/mpox-outbreak]
Latest news from WHO [https://www.who.int/news-room] and WHO events page [https://www.who.int/news-room/events]
Sunday, 26 January
World Leprosy Day
On World Leprosy Day [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/01/26/default-calendar/world-leprosy-day-2025], WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, Yohei Sasakawa, calls [https://www.who.int/news/item/21-01-2025-message-for-world-leprosy-day-2025] for global efforts to eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with leprosy and to promote the dignity of those affected by the disease.
Also see: Global Appeal 2025 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy [https://sasakawaleprosyinitiative.org/latest-updates/initiative-news/5557/]
Monday, 27 January
Launch of the WHO guideline on the use of lower-sodium salt substitutes
14.00-15.15 CET, online
The new WHO guideline on lower-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) aims to support Member States in reducing sodium intake and improving heart health through public health policies and interventions.
With 1.9 million annual deaths linked to high sodium intake, WHO recommends limiting sodium to below 2 g/day to reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk. Despite efforts, global sodium intake remains high at 4.3 g/day, necessitating urgent action.
LSSS, which contain less sodium and often include potassium chloride, are seen as a potential strategy to lower sodium intake and associated risks, however, concerns about potassium safety, especially for those with kidney issues, have been raised.
The guideline will be launched in a virtual event on at 14.00 CET on Monday, 27 January, please register [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/01/27/default-calendar/launch-of-the-who-guideline-on-the-use-of-lower-sodium-salt-substitutes] to attend. Further information: Launch of the WHO guideline on the use of lower-sodium salt substitutes [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/01/27/default-calendar/launch-of-the-who-guideline-on-the-use-of-lower-sodium-salt-substitutes]
Monday, 27 January
Health community calls for urgent action for clean air ahead of WHO conference
Ahead of the Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/03/25/default-calendar/second-global-conference-on-air-pollution-and-health] in March 2025, the global health community is making an urgent call to action for clean air, urging governments, business leaders and policy-makers to act swiftly to stop air pollution and save lives.
Air pollution is responsible for at least 7 million deaths each year, contributing to a growing global health crisis, with the vast majority of deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular issues, respiratory diseases and lung cancer.
The call to action will be available here [https://www.who.int/news/item/27-01-2025-health-community-calls-for-urgent-action-for-clean-air-ahead-of-who-conference] at 09.00 CET on Monday, 27 January.
Tuesday, 28 January
Empower yourself: Make ear and hearing care a reality for all (webinar)
08.00-09.30 CET and 16.00-17.30 CET, online
The theme for World Hearing Day 2025 [https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2025], “Changing mindsets: Empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all,” aims to address common misperceptions and stigmatizing mindsets surrounding hearing loss and ear diseases and to invite people to empower themselves and take action on ear care and hearing loss prevention.
Participants in the webinar will discuss campaign activities and actions, and share key messages and materials developed for the campaign. World Hearing Day will be held on 3 March 2025.
Further information [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/01/28/default-calendar/world-hearing-day-2025–introduction-webinar] and registration: session 1 [https://who.zoom.us/meeting/register/BY9jwID_QcWqVR18vPHkHw] (08.00-09.30 CET) and session 2 [https://who.zoom.us/meeting/register/LZYm9mjhQ9uaJLeU0yW-NQ] (16.00 to 17.30 CET).
Thursday, 30 January
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) continue to disproportionately affect the poorest members of the global community, primarily in areas where water safety, sanitation and access to health care are inadequate.
On World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day [https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-ntd-day/2025], WHO and partners call for a renewed and united effort under the theme “Unite. Act. Eliminate.” and urge bold, sustainable investments to free the estimated 1.5 billion people, in the world’s most vulnerable communities, from a vicious cycle of disease and poverty.
Further information: here [https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-ntd-day/2025].
Thursday, 30 January
Climate change, malaria and neglected tropical diseases (webinar)
13.30-14.30 CET, online
The webinar will focus on the new major scoping review published in Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, [https://www.rstmh.org/news-blog/news/who-article-on-climate-change-and-ntds-published-in-rstmh-journal] which draws on extensive research spanning over a decade and lays a foundation for understanding how climate shifts are likely to influence disease dynamics.
It also outlines potential pathways for developing a greater understanding of the future impact and points to the need for more comprehensive research to better inform refined strategies in response to climate-related health challenges.
Further information and registration here [https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/01/30/default-calendar/climate-change-malaria-and-neglected-tropical-diseases].
Look ahead:
156th session of the WHO Executive Board [https://www.who.int/about/governance/executive-board/156th-session], 03 to 11 February 2025
Selection of stories on WHO’s work in emergencies
New study estimates that 71 000 drought-related “excess” deaths may have occurred in Somalia between 2022 and 2024 [https://www.emro.who.int/somalia/news/new-study-estimates-that-71-000-drought-related-excess-deaths-may-have-occurred-in-somalia-between-2022-and-2024.html], 22 January Influenza season well underway across the WHO European Region: protect yourself, protect those around you [https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/22-01-2025-influenza-season-well-underway-across-the-who-european-region–protect-yourself–protect-those-around-you], 22 January South Sudan steps up vaccination, response measures to curb cholera [https://www.afro.who.int/countries/south-sudan/news/south-sudan-steps-vaccination-response-measures-curb-cholera], 22 January WHO-supported health facility in Ghor province makes childbirth safer for mothers [https://www.emro.who.int/afg/afghanistan-news/who-supported-health-facility-in-ghor-province-makes-childbirth-safer-for-mothers.html], (Afghanistan) 21 January Supporting displaced people in Haiti: health challenges in the context of escalating armed violence [https://www.paho.org/fr/nouvelles/21-1-2025-soutenir-les-personnes-deplacees-haiti-des-defis-sanitaires-relever-dans], 21 January Tanzania confirms outbreak of Marburg virus disease [https://www.afro.who.int/countries/united-republic-of-tanzania/news/tanzania-confirms-outbreak-marburg-virus-disease], 20 January The ceasefire in Gaza brings hope, but immense challenges lie ahead to restore the health system [https://www.emro.who.int/opt/news/the-ceasefire-in-gaza-brings-hope-but-immense-challenges-lie-ahead-to-restore-the-health-system.html], 19 January Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, deputy executive director of WHO’s emergencies programme, visits DRC to strengthen advocacy around the mpox response [https://www.afro.who.int/fr/countries/democratic-republic-of-congo/news/visite-en-rdc-du-dr-chikwe-ihekweazu-directeur-executif-adjoint-du-programme-des-urgences-de-loms], 17 January Uganda deploys national emergency medical team to support mpox response [https://www.afro.who.int/countries/uganda/news/uganda-deploys-national-emergency-medical-team-support-mpox-response], 17 January Cholera outbreak in Angola: strengthening response capacity and promoting community resilience [https://www.afro.who.int/pt/countries/angola/news/surto-de-colera-em-angola-fortalecendo-capacidade-de-resposta-e-promovendo-resiliencia-comunitaria] 15 January
WHO events here [https://www.who.int/news-room/events]
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Check out the WHO series, Science in 5 [https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/media-resources/science-in-5]
Access WHO photos available for media use here [https://photos.hq.who.int/category/53/photos-for-media-?tab=categories]
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