The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) this Monday welcomed the work of Member States to improve public health, for example by combating smoking and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke at the 77th World Health Assembly during the presentation of the report on WHO’s work in 2023.
“This is the only one of the three goals that we estimate will be achieved: 1.5 billion people are expected to have better health and well-being by 2025,” he added.
Tobacco consumption is falling in 150 countries and there are now 19 million fewer smokers worldwide than two years ago, while more than 90 countries are raising tobacco taxes between 2020 and 2022, he said.
“Last year, 13 other countries approved or implemented measures (…) to eliminate trans fats” (found mostly in highly processed foods), he said, adding that “almost half the world’s population is now protected by such measures.” . compared to just 7% in 2018,” when WHO contacted the issue.
The UN health agency estimates the measures have “cut by two thirds” the number of people dying from trans fats.
He also highlighted that more and more countries are taking action to combat obesity and increase breastfeeding, with 28 countries increasing taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks.
Last year, WHO responded to 65 emergencies, including earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.
The most alarming disease outbreaks, he said, were cholera, dengue fever, diphtheria, hepatitis E, measles and smallpox (known as “monkeypox”).
The organization estimates that by 2025, 777 million people will be better protected from health emergencies, three-quarters of its one billion target.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also noted that 2023 was a productive year in terms of the organization’s work to support access to medicines and other health products.
“We have prequalified 120 drugs, vaccines, diagnostics and other products to treat HIV, malaria, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, Ebola, polio and Covid-19, as well as the first long-acting insulin analogues” and “we have issued eight warnings about Medical products are of low quality or counterfeit,” he explained.
He also said WHO continues to “support countries in responding to the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance, which kills at least 1.3 million people every year.”
Regarding the goal of providing universal health coverage to more than one billion people by 2025, the official lamented that estimates are only just over half (585 million).
The WHO director-general said climate change could pose the greatest threat to health, and noted that 149 countries had signed a declaration on the topic after leaving the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) at the end of 2023, and that donors had committed “more billion dollars (920.6 billion euros) to eliminate the consequences.”
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also provided an overview of the organization’s work on vaccinations, reducing maternal and child mortality, eradicating polio, strengthening health systems and combating non-communicable diseases.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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