News and top stories

Staying at zero: Keeping Ebola out of Liberia

WHO/M. Winkler

18 June 2015 -- Over a month has passed since Ebola transmission ceased in Liberia. This hard-fought achievement is still being celebrated across the country, where nearly 11 000 people became infected with the virus and 4 800 died. Liberia is still urging communities not to let their guard down until Ebola is gone from the region. Liberia is working closely with WHO and partners to keep Ebola from re-emerging.

• Read more about staying at zero

• MERS-CoV
• Inequality report
• Universal health coverage
• Ukraine: Mobile care

WHO statement on the ninth meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee regarding MERS-CoV

June 2015 -- The ninth meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations regarding Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was conducted on 16 June 2015. The Committee concluded that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern have not been met.

• Read the statement

State of inequality report

16 June 2015 -- Launched this week in Washington DC, WHO’s State of inequality reports on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health interventions and health outcomes, across and within 86 low- and middle-income countries. The report focuses attention on reducing inequalities between subgroups of the population, using interactive ways for users to explore health data.

• Read the report

New report shows that 400 million do not have access to essential health services

12 June 2015 -- A report, launched by WHO and partners today, shows that 400 million people do not have access to essential health services and 6% of people in low- and middle-income countries are pushed into poverty because of health spending. The report, “Tracking Universal Health Coverage”, is the first of its kind to measure health service coverage and financial protection to assess countries’ progress towards universal health coverage.

• Tracking universal health coverage: global monitoring report
• Read the press release

Mobile health care for Ukraine

WHO/A. Glyadyelov

11 June 2015 -- WHO has trained medical staff in Ukraine to deliver quality health services for internally displaced people and communities in conflict areas. Currently, 16 mobile emergency primary health-care units are operating in eastern Ukraine, giving over 1,600 consultations a week to people affected by the crisis in Ukraine.

• Read the press release
• View the photo story

Highlights

• WHO calls for stepping up vigilance for MERS, Thailand confirms case
  June 2015 -- Thailand confirmed Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) disease in a traveller from the Middle East region, the first case in the WHO South-East Asia Region, as WHO urged countries in the region to step up vigil and review preparedness to respond to the disease. WHO has been working with countries in the Region to build their capacities and strengthen preparedness to effectively detect and respond to outbreaks and other hazards.

• WHO welcomes new Kuwait donation for Syrians in need
  15 June 2015 -- The Government of Kuwait has contributed an additional US$ 20 million to provide life-saving treatments to people impacted by the prolonged conflict in Syria. The funding support, will enable WHO to scale up the provision of essential treatments and expand ongoing programmes to provide trauma and secondary health care services.

• Frequently asked questions on MERS-CoV
  June 2015 -- What is Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus? Find the answer to questions regarding the disease, the current outbreak and how WHO is responding.

• WHO and partners align on new way forward to measure impact of country health programs
  June 2015 -- WHO and partners are coming together today at the World Bank Group for a high-level summit, Measurement and Accountability for Results in Health, to examine and advance a common agenda for health measurement as we move into the post-2015 development era.