(AGENPARL) - Roma, 9 Settembre 2026 - Wednesday, 09 September 2026 | Issue 368
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Sexual and reproductive health services consultation at the Adolescent and Youth Health Department at Lemi Kura Woreda 02 Health Center, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
© WHO / Addis Aemero
10 and 11 September are official holidays at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, and the offices will be closed
14 to 18 September
Eighth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement
The eighth session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement will be conducted in a hybrid format, from 14 to 18 September 2026. The opening and closing sessions will be webcast [ closing session on 18 September is scheduled to start at 17.30 CEST).
Further information about this session: here [
Also see:
Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement [ WHO Pandemic Agreement [
Tuesday, 15 September
New WHO strategy to strengthen the market for childhood cancer medicines
Wednesday, 16 September
Strengthening pandemic preparedness: from investment to implementation and impact
13.30 CEST, EPI/WIN webinar
Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response requires sustained investment to build and maintain the capacities needed to detect, prevent and respond to health emergencies. As investments in preparedness continue to grow, this webinar will explore practical experiences from country and regional initiatives, highlighting lessons learned on translating investments into stronger preparedness systems and more resilient health security capacities.
Further information and registration: here [
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Beyond the method: what drives willingness to use novel male contraceptive methods?
15.30 CEST, webinar Join WHO for a webinar presenting key findings from a global study exploring men's and women's knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to male contraception. Drawing on research conducted in Colombia, Ghana, Morocco and Togo, the study examines perceptions of existing and emerging male contraceptive methods and discusses how new reversible options could expand contraceptive choice, promote shared responsibility for family planning and inform the future positioning of male methods within the contraceptive method mix. Further information and registration: here [
Thursday, 17 September
World Patient Safety Day
Celebrated every year on 17 September, this year's World Patient Safety Day highlights a critical but often overlooked challenge: ensuring safe care for the billions of people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Under the slogan "Safe care for life!", the campaign [ draws attention to the risks patients face throughout long-term care and calls for action to prevent avoidable harm, improve treatment quality and make patient safety a core part of the global response to NCDs.
Further information: here [
Friday, 18 September New global health workforce data statistics One in four doctors nearing retirement age as WHO warns of growing global health workforce gap
The National health workforce accounts: health workforce levels and trends 2026 [ shows how health worker ageing is intensifying the health workforce shortage, projected to reach 11.1 million health workers globally by 2030, while population ageing is increasing service demand. The report reveals that nearly one in four doctors globally (one in three in high-income countries) is older than 55 and is expected to retire in the next decade, and that 67 countries will not have enough health workers to maintain population health needs by 2030.
For further information or to request interviews with experts, please write to [] with a copy to []. Also see: Health workforce [
WHO events of interest (full list here [
Call for proposals: What are the priorities for advancing women's, children's and adolescents' health? [ (submissions opened until 18 October 2026) Third meeting of the Global Initiative on AI for Health [ 16-18 September
Look ahead
A New Blueprint for Male Contraception [ 22 September WHO Consultation on the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2027 southern hemisphere influenza season [ 21 to 24 SeptemberRelease of the new WHO guidelines on expanding contraceptive options, and the webinar [ 23 September Navigating menopause: sex, relationships and well-being [ 24 September (webinar) WHO Information Meeting on the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2027 southern hemisphere influenza season [ 25 September
Latest news from WHO here [
Outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus here [
WHO events here [
