Cities, which are home to half the global population, can pose risks to health. This was especially evident during 2020, with the pronounced impact of COVID-19 in urban areas. Many cities were at the epicentre of large outbreaks, as densely populated areas increase the risk of spread. But cities also mounted remarkable responses to COVID-19.
WHO produced a COVID-19 resource hub for cities and local governments and also guidance documents, such as those for strengthening preparedness in urban areas, healthy urban transport and mobility and a practical checklist. WHO also posted the experiences of a number of cities as case studies on its website.
Other settings that came under focus during the pandemic included hospitals, schools, workplaces and prisons, which were at high risk of the disease. Various guidance documents were prepared on schools and COVID-19, including on public health measures and a checklist to support reopening. In the European Region, materials were prepared on prisons and detention centres in the context of COVID-19.
After the launch of the “Making every school a health-promoting school” initiative, WHO and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) made a draft available for review of Global standards and indicators for health-promoting schools. As health-promoting schools can enhance the health of children, a handbook on life skills for noncommunicable diseases was produced for schools.
Cities are working to become more age-friendly. The Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities, which comprises 1300 cities and communities, and the European Healthy Cities Network, are valuable assets for engaging with communities in emergencies.
Poisoning is a significant global problem. Because of the dearth of poison centres – less than half of all Member States have one – guidelines were published on establishing poison centres. As some countries are ill equipped to respond to chemical safety issues, the Chemicals road map was produced, and the Global Chemicals and Health Network met virtually with 90 institutions in 2020.
A guide was produced on a public health strategy for artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the context of the Minamata Convention on mercury. Lessons from three pilot studies, in Ghana, Mozambique and Nigeria, were shared.
A network of five megacities was established to foster equity, solidarity and resilience through health in all policies. Experiences in intersectoral governance, civic engagement and well-being will be analyzed.
In June 2020, WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marked World Food Safety Day to urge people to keep food safe. FAO and WHO are working with the Government of Mongolia to improve food safety in a risk-based food control system.
The Tripartite One Health Coordination Group for Asia and the Pacific, which brings together FAO, WHO and the World Organisation for Animal Health, will intensify their efforts to manage zoonotic influenza and rabies, to ensure food safety and to control antimicrobial resistance. A One Health High-level Expert Council was established to analyze scientific evidence and policy responses in countries, and also a One Health Global Leaders Group comprising heads of government, government ministers and leaders in the private sector and civil society to catalyze global attention and action to preserve antimicrobial medicines and avert the disastrous consequences of resistance.
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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