Mixed progress has been made in reducing the major risks factors: tobacco use is decreasing, but the prevalence of obesity is rising, as is alcohol consumption in some regions.
Tobacco use is the single most readily preventable cause of premature mortality globally. WHO’s MPOWER package has helped save millions of people from an early death through tobacco control measures such as tobacco taxes and advertising bans. At least five billion people are now covered by at least one of MPOWER’s six proven policies, including 1.6 billion people in 70 countries protected from second-hand smoke in public places by national smoke-free laws.
Impact of MPOWER
In 2020, the Region of the Americas marked a milestone in becoming “smoke-free”, after Bolivia passed a comprehensive tobacco control law and Paraguay amended its regulations to include smoke-free indoor public places and workplaces. WHO awarded three Bolivian institutions the 2020 World No Tobacco Day award for their part in the new legislation.
Six African countries also implemented national laws banning smoking in public places and public transport, with WHO support. Indonesia, which has adopted stronger MPOWER measures, plans to have 70% of its population covered by smoke-free laws.
Industrially-produced trans fats cause heart disease, and WHO has been working to eliminate them from the food supply. Best-practice policies are now in effect in 14 countries, covering almost 600 million people. In 2020, WHO began a certification programme to recognize countries that have eliminated trans fats from their food supplies and also released the first WHO global laboratory protocol for measuring these compounds in food.
Front-of-pack labelling is an important means of helping consumers to make healthier food choices. In the Americas, expenditure on processed food in the Region rose from 10% in 1990 to 50% in 2000. In 2020, Mexico became the latest country to implement front-of-pack labelling to discourage consumption of processed food products, after Chile, Ecuador and Peru. The Argentine Senate approved a bill in 2020 promulgating the highest front-of-pack labelling standards.
WHO has increased advocacy for physical activity. In 2020, when many people were home-bound due to COVID-19, WHO released new guidelines on physical activity, which prompted strong interest from dozens of countries.
To support a “whole-of-system” response, WHO is collaborating with multiple sectors to align policy and action and to strengthen coordination. WHO is engaging with the sports sector to promote health through sports, partnering with the International Olympic Committee in 2020 and with football’s governing body FIFA in 2019.
To find progress on health outcome indicators, visit the World health statistics
The elimination target was set by the WHO global malaria strategy. A country that was malaria-endemic in 2015 had to achieve at least one year of zero indigenous cases and then maintain that status through the end of 2020. Countries that reach at least 3 years of zero indigenous cases are eligible to apply for an official WHO certification of malaria elimination.
Strong public health system infrastructure with skilled, motivated personnel, signed Tashkent declaration with 8 neighbouring countries to scale up response and interrupt transmission completely
Strong public health system infrastructure with skilled, motivated personnel, signed Tashkent declaration with 8 neighbouring countries to scale up response and interrupt transmission completely
Reoriented surveillance according to risk stratification to focus on areas where people are more likely to be affected and maintains surveillance in ports and airports
Reoriented surveillance according to risk stratification to focus on areas where people are more likely to be affected and maintains surveillance in ports and airports
All patients are treated by the public sector with at least 3 days of hospitalization, which helps to improve rates of adherence to medication
All patients are treated by the public sector with at least 3 days of hospitalization, which helps to improve rates of adherence to medication
Inter-ministerial effort in health, education, finance, research and science, development, public security, the army, police, commerce, industry, information technology, the media and tourism
Inter-ministerial effort in health, education, finance, research and science, development, public security, the army, police, commerce, industry, information technology, the media and tourism
Maintains a network of > 3000 community health workers to identify imported cases early before they transmit infections onwards
Maintains a network of > 3000 community health workers to identify imported cases early before they transmit infections onwards
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention provided free of charge, including for migrant workers from neighbouring countries, and volunteers trained in use of rapid diagnostic tests and compliance with treatment regimens
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention provided free of charge, including for migrant workers from neighbouring countries, and volunteers trained in use of rapid diagnostic tests and compliance with treatment regimens
Extensive surveillance system in villages and stratification based on risk of mosquito bites and likelihood of importation particularly on plantations where labourers who often travel receive treatment free-of-charge
Extensive surveillance system in villages and stratification based on risk of mosquito bites and likelihood of importation particularly on plantations where labourers who often travel receive treatment free-of-charge
Effective surveillance combined with mobile clinics enabled prompt, effective treatment in areas of high transmission in the middle of a civil war
Effective surveillance combined with mobile clinics enabled prompt, effective treatment in areas of high transmission in the middle of a civil war
Districts still have reserve stocks of anti-malarial drugs, insecticides and bednets, and health education continues for population in higher-risk areas
Districts still have reserve stocks of anti-malarial drugs, insecticides and bednets, and health education continues for population in higher-risk areas
Launched a Universal Coverage UHC scheme in 2012, which resulted in 98% of the population with coverage, at a cost to the Government of US$ 80 per beneficiary
Because we are poor, we cannot afford not to have universal health coverage.
Thai Minister of Public Health on Universal Health Coverage Day, 2016
Launched a Universal Coverage UHC scheme in 2012, which resulted in 98% of the population with coverage, at a cost to the Government of US$ 80 per beneficiary
Because we are poor, we cannot afford not to have universal health coverage.
Thai Minister of Public Health on Universal Health Coverage Day, 2016
Large, predominantly government participation in health care and services in public facilities provided free at point of delivery and little private expenditure; however, financial hardship due to large household expenditure on health has slightly increased.
Coverage of essential services | < 10% household expenditure on health |
---|---|
Improved from 24/100 (2000) to 52/100 (2017) | Worsened from 2.6% (2001) to 2.9% (2014) |
Coverage of essential services should be improved; e.g. only 57% of births are attended by skilled personnel and only 73.5% of children are fully vaccinated by 12 months of age.
Large, predominantly government participation in health care and services in public facilities provided free at point of delivery and little private expenditure; however, financial hardship due to large household expenditure on health has slightly increased.
Coverage of essential services | < 10% household expenditure on health |
---|---|
Improved from 24/100 (2000) to 52/100 (2017) | Worsened from 2.6% (2001) to 2.9% (2014) |
Coverage of essential services should be improved; e.g. only 57% of births are attended by skilled personnel and only 73.5% of children are fully vaccinated by 12 months of age.
Tripled public spending on health in a decade, increasing public expenditure on primary health care to 37%, as compared with a regional average of < 15%
Coverage of essential services | > 10% household expenditure on health |
---|---|
Improved from 41/100 (2000) to 68/100 (2017) | Improved from 11.06% (2000) to 6.02% (2016) |
1 in 3 Latin American countries close to reaching the goal of allocating 6% of GDP towards public health.
Tripled public spending on health in a decade, increasing public expenditure on primary health care to 37%, as compared with a regional average of < 15%
Coverage of essential services | > 10% household expenditure on health |
---|---|
Improved from 41/100 (2000) to 68/100 (2017) | Improved from 11.06% (2000) to 6.02% (2016) |
1 in 3 Latin American countries close to reaching the goal of allocating 6% of GDP towards public health.
catastrophic health spending
and recommends
90% of essential medicines | |||
on the WHO model list of essential medicines can be subjected to competition only 5-10% are patented agents |
90% of essential medicines | |||
on the WHO model list of essential medicines can be subjected to competition only 5-10% are patented agents |
20 m people | US$ 1.96 b saved | |
worldwide have access to antiretroviral treatment | in international procurement of HIV and hepatitis C medicines and supplied 50 m patient-years of treatment over last 8 years |
20 m people | US$ 1.96 b saved | |
worldwide have access to antiretroviral treatment | in international procurement of HIV and hepatitis C medicines and supplied 50 m patient-years of treatment over last 8 years |
Most countries selecting WHO-recommended medicines for primary care and infectious diseases
More should select WHO-recommended specialty medicines, e.g. for cancer
Most countries selecting WHO-recommended medicines for primary care and infectious diseases
More should select WHO-recommended specialty medicines, e.g. for cancer
of consumption of antibiotics worldwide from “Access” group of the AWaRe classification
of consumption of antibiotics worldwide from “Access” group of the AWaRe classification
antiretroviral medicines available only sporadically |
As an example, climate-resilient water safety improved for:
- 2.5 million people in Ethiopia using 50 water supply systems, 2020
-280 000 people in Nepal, 2020
-605 000 people in Bangladesh, 2020
-240 000 in urban areas of the United Republic of Tanzania, and 6200 people in rural areas, 2017
Simple, low-cost interventions, such as building retaining walls or ditches, prevent contamination of drinking-water during flooding; and planting indigenous trees protects the water table in Ethiopia, 2018.
As an example, climate-resilient water safety improved for:
- 2.5 million people in Ethiopia using 50 water supply systems, 2020
-280 000 people in Nepal, 2020
-605 000 people in Bangladesh, 2020
-240 000 in urban areas of the United Republic of Tanzania, and 6200 people in rural areas, 2017
Simple, low-cost interventions, such as building retaining walls or ditches, prevent contamination of drinking-water during flooding; and planting indigenous trees protects the water table in Ethiopia, 2018.
For example, the assessment in:
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic studied the links between climate change and water-related and vector-borne diseases; water, sanitation and hygiene; mental health; malnutrition; injury and disability; and sudden increases in health service use.
- Madagascar highlighted the health impacts of flooding, cyclones, drought, heatwaves and cold spells, 2015
Health national adaptation plans are informed by the assessments and include:
- Timor-Leste plan for health sector adaptation to climate change finalized in wide consultation with partners, 2019
- health national adaptation developed and endorsed in Nepal, 2018
- climate change action plan for public health officially endorsed by the Ministry of Health in Cambodia, 2020
For example, the assessment in:
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic studied the links between climate change and water-related and vector-borne diseases; water, sanitation and hygiene; mental health; malnutrition; injury and disability; and sudden increases in health service use.
- Madagascar highlighted the health impacts of flooding, cyclones, drought, heatwaves and cold spells, 2015
Health national adaptation plans are informed by the assessments and include:
- Timor-Leste plan for health sector adaptation to climate change finalized in wide consultation with partners, 2019
- health national adaptation developed and endorsed in Nepal, 2018
- climate change action plan for public health officially endorsed by the Ministry of Health in Cambodia, 2020
Climate and weather information integrated into health surveillance and early warning systems to predict outbreaks, such as:
- cholera in Bangladesh and Malawi, 2020
- malaria in Mozambique, 2020
- dengue fever in Myanmar and Timor-Leste, 2020
Climate and weather information integrated into health surveillance and early warning systems to predict outbreaks, such as:
- cholera in Bangladesh and Malawi, 2020
- malaria in Mozambique, 2020
- dengue fever in Myanmar and Timor-Leste, 2020
Action towards climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities, for example:
- in 62 health care facilities in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 2020
- assessments conducted in 25 health centres in Cambodia with focus on climate-resilient WASH, 2020
Action towards climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable health care facilities, for example:
- in 62 health care facilities in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 2020
- assessments conducted in 25 health centres in Cambodia with focus on climate-resilient WASH, 2020
Action to build climate-resilient health systems in small island developing states, includes:
18 country profiles on health and climate change completed to inform evidence-based decision-making when strengthen the resilience of health systems, 2021
US$ 33-65 m funding mobilized to small island developing states to strengthen the resilience of health systems, health-care facilities, schools and communities to climate change
Action to build climate-resilient health systems in small island developing states, includes:
18 country profiles on health and climate change completed to inform evidence-based decision-making when strengthen the resilience of health systems, 2021
US$ 33-65 m funding mobilized to small island developing states to strengthen the resilience of health systems, health-care facilities, schools and communities to climate change
Best-practice policy takes effect (2009)
Best-practice policy takes effect (2009)
Best-practice policy takes effect (2018)
Best-practice policy takes effect (2018)
First country to legislate a limit on trans fat content in all food products, 2g/100g of total fat; best-practice policy to take effect 1 year later (2003)
First country to legislate a limit on trans fat content in all food products, 2g/100g of total fat; best-practice policy to take effect 1 year later (2003)
Best-practice policy takes effect (2014)
Best-practice policy takes effect (2014)
Best-practice policy takes effect (2011)
Best-practice policy takes effect (2011)
Best-practice policy takes effect (2014)
Best-practice policy takes effect (2014)
Bogotá will become “the Caring City” by promoting an inclusive, sustainable, conscious city for population well-being through a participatory approach. The approach to primary health care will be strengthened by intersectoral mechanisms and strategies, and fostering collaboration among academia, civil society, city sectors such as health, social innovation, planning and development.
Bogotá will become “the Caring City” by promoting an inclusive, sustainable, conscious city for population well-being through a participatory approach. The approach to primary health care will be strengthened by intersectoral mechanisms and strategies, and fostering collaboration among academia, civil society, city sectors such as health, social innovation, planning and development.
Communities and civil society participation at the centre of health promotion | Urbanizationas a key influence on health |
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