News

Highlights of RC64 day 4 – Ebola emergency update, food and nutrition action plan adopted, and six European progress reports discussed 18-09-2014

On its final day, the 64th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC64) enthusiastically adopted the European Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2015–2020

Europe leads the world in eliminating trans fats 18-09-2014

Consumption of trans fats is strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, and has been linked to several types of cancer. A growing number of countries in the WHO European Region have recognized that taking action to eliminate trans fats may bring significant health gains, and new data indicate that such action is highly effective in reducing trans-fat consumption among the population.

Highlights of RC64 day 3 – Adoption of action plans on vaccines and prevention of child maltreatment 17-09-2014

Two far-reaching action plans – on vaccines and prevention of child maltreatment – were adopted, mapping the path for interventions in these areas until 2020.

Rising numbers of children living in poverty across Europe 17-09-2014

The number of children living in relative poverty is increasing across all Member States in the WHO European Region. The new WHO strategy – Investing in children: the European child and adolescent health strategy 2015–2020, launched today at the 64th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe – identifies the risks for children and adolescents and outlines actions to ensure the health and well-being of all.

Highlights of RC64 day 2 – Ebola emergency and nomination of Regional Director 16-09-2014

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan described the harm done in West Africa by the Ebola outbreak, and the global lessons to be learned from the emergency. Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, was nominated for a second five-year term.

Zsuzsanna Jakab nominated for second term as WHO Regional Director for Europe 16-09-2014

Ms Zsuzsanna Jakab has been nominated for a second five-year term as the Regional Director of the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. The Regional Committee is WHO’s governing body for the European Region, and comprises health ministers from the Region’s 53 Member States. The nomination will be submitted to the session of the WHO Executive Board to be held in January 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Board is expected to confirm the nomination, after which Ms Jakab will begin a second term in office on 1 February 2015.

Highlights of day 1 – Focus on more equitable, sustainable health for Europe 15-09-2014

“Our aim will be better health for Europe, more equitable and sustainable,” said Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, in her address to representatives of all 53 Member States in the WHO European Region.

WHO European governing body set to adopt innovative public health plans and nominate regional head of agency 11-09-2014

On 15 September, the annual meeting of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe opens, bringing together representatives of the 53 Member States in the WHO European Region to take stock of what has been achieved and to decide what should be done next. During the four-day meeting, about 350 participants will consider the progress made in implementing the WHO European policy framework, Health 2020, and nominate the WHO Regional Director for Europe for a five-year term of office. The Regional Committee is also expected to endorse innovative action plans, negotiated over the last year, on some of the key public health issues in the Region: vaccination, child and adolescent health, prevention of child maltreatment, and food and nutrition.

European ambassadors briefed on this year’s Regional Committee agenda 09-09-2014

On 8 September, WHO Regional Director for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab briefed ambassadors, counsellors and senior representatives from 30 embassies in Copenhagen, Denmark on health issues to be discussed next week at the annual meeting of the governing body for the WHO European Region, the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.

New and updated documents available for RC64 08-09-2014

Achieving a tobacco free generation – “stopping them from starting” 04-09-2014

Finland uses a range of legislative measures to end tobacco use. Its goal is to reduce the proportion of smokers in the adult population to or below 2% by 2040. Achieving a tobacco free generation is one of the main themes of the European strategy for child and adolescent health for 2015–2020, which will be submitted to the 2014 session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe.

Sure Start – investing in early childhood 01-09-2014

Sure Start children’s centres in the United Kingdom are popular, offering families with young children a one-stop shop for advice on parenting practices, employment, social benefits and health. Supporting early childhood development is one of the main themes of the European strategy for child and adolescent health for 2015–2020, which will be submitted to the 2014 session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. 

Obesity: priority for Malta and WHO/Europe’s joint work 29-08-2014

Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, and Christopher Fearne, Parliamentary Secretary for Health of Malta, signed an agreement on 26 August, establishing priorities for collaboration for 2014–2015.

Final versions of documents for RC64 now available 14-08-2014

Final versions of documents for the 64th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe are now available for download.

Realizing our vision: Regional Director’s report 04-06-2014

The adoption of Health 2020, the European policy for health and well-being, is one of many recent achievements enabling WHO/Europe and the 53 countries it serves to respond to the changing health environment. This report documents WHO’s work in 2012–2013 to secure better health in Europe.