WHO/Europe’s 71st session of the Regional Committee (RC71) concluded yesterday, bringing to a close a busy 3-day agenda that saw delegates endorse the launch of the European Immunization Agenda 2030 as well as resolutions on primary health care and mental health. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was a consistent theme across sessions, with opportunities for delegates to hear about the experiences and responses of countries.
The session also featured addresses by WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge on the state of health in the WHO European Region, and by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the state of health in the world.
"Despite the challenges, we have kept our work centred on the best way to serve our 53 Member States and prepare for a better future and better health for the citizens of the WHO European Region."
05-10-2021 Launched at a hybrid event in Brussels on 30 September in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, the new Coalition is meant to address gaps in mental health services and keep mental health at the top of the policy agenda, for the millions of people who, like Aimee-Louise, have struggled and continue to struggle with mental ill-health. Currently, over 150 million people live with a mental health condition, and only a small minority of them receive the care they need.
“This Coalition is a personal aspiration of mine, a burning desire that was born over the many years of listening to the stories of people on the ground, working with those most marginalized in society all over the world,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, at the launch event.
As the Director-General of WHO just mentioned, every single year, exposure to both ambient and indoor air pollution is estimated to cause more than 7 million deaths globally and millions more of healthy years of life lost. This burden of disease is large, it is growing, and makes air pollution the single most important environmental risk factor for our health. It is one of the leading risk factors for noncommunicable diseases, which continue to increase worldwide as a result of ageing populations and changes in lifestyle.
Everybody on the planet has the fundamental right to breathe clean air. Like most environmental factors, air pollution does not respect national boundaries. The nature of this challenge calls for an enhanced and immediate action, because clean air is a political choice and a societal responsibility. Read the full article
11-10-2021 The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health. Some groups, including health and other frontline workers, have been particularly affected.
Timur Lesbekov is a cardiac surgeon who worked day and night at the height of the pandemic in Kazakhstan to provide medical care and mental health support to critically ill COVID-19 patients. Health professionals like Timur and his team have been the pillar of the COVID-19 response in the WHO European Region.
