WHO/Europe highlights - December 2012

News highlights -- December 2012

FEATURE

HIV rising in Europe

New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have fallen in recent years at the global level, but are rising in the WHO European Region. In 2011, over 121 000 new HIV diagnoses were reported in the Region, but estimates indicate that the real figure is more than 170 000 new infections and there are and more than 2.3 million people living with HIV.

Video: HIV, 5 things you probably didn’t know but should.

Publication: HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe 2011

Photo story: Putting people at the centre: integrated treatment for HIV, tuberculosis and drug dependence in Portugal

NEWS

Standing Committee meets in Bulgaria
30-11-2012
At its second session in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Twentieth Standing Committee of the Regional Committee for Europe (SCRC) discussed technical and policy items for the next Regional Committee session, in September 2013. In addition, Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, met Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria to discuss future health development in the country.

Universal health coverage: from technical report to global movement
22-11-2012
While many countries have achieved universal coverage in the European Region, 19 million people are still subject to out-of-pocket health payments that place a catastrophic burden on their household budgets. WHO/Europe promotes policies that move towards or sustain universal coverage.

Self-prescription of antibiotics boosts superbugs epidemic in the European Region
16-11-2012
Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Viruses, which antibiotics do not affect, cause 9 out of 10 sore throats and 10 out of 10 cases of influenza. Taking antibiotics unnecessarily weakens their ability to work against infections when they are needed. This enables bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics. On European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2012, WHO advises the public to use antibiotics only when and as prescribed by a doctor.

Feature: Antibiotic resistance: a growing threat

Video: Antibiotics - the 5 things everyone needs to know

Monitoring framework agreed to assess progress on NCDs
12-11-2012
International After three days of discussion last week, WHO Member States agreed on a global monitoring framework to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and chronic lung conditions.

New public health action plan focuses on disease prevention and health promotion
12-11-2012
Participants in the annual conference of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), held in Malta, welcomed the launch of the WHO European Action Plan for Strengthening Public Health Services and Capacity on 9 November 2012.

New phase for regions for health
07-12-2012
In European countries, regions hold a unique position, translating national policies into services delivered at local level. Active for the past 20 years, the Regions for Health Network is entering a new phase, committed to implementing Health 2020 at subnational level.

RIVM and WHO/Europe to collaborate on health information provision
07-12-2012
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) of the Netherlands and WHO/Europe agreed last week to collaborate on the further development and dissemination of European health information and knowledge.

More news

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