News

Lithuania promotes physical activity and heart health in a collaborative community bicycle event 29-09-2015

On World Heart Day, 29 September 2015, WHO recommends increased physical activity and exercise to live longer in good health and to reduce mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart conditions, obesity and diabetes.

Day 4 highlights: RC65 adopts new tuberculosis action plan and closes 17-09-2015

Highlights of the final day of the 65th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC65) included adoption of the action plan, agreement on closer cooperation between WHO/Europe and the European Commission and a description of countries' experience in addressing the migration crisis in Europe.

Day 3 highlights: adoption of strategy on physical activity and roadmap for tobacco control 16-09-2015

The strategy and the roadmap for the European Region, adopted by the 65th session of the Regional Committee (RC65), will contribute to achieving the global goal of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by 2025.

WHO European Region Member States commit to denormalizing tobacco 16-09-2015

Ministers of health from the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region signed up to a roadmap that will make it possible for coming generations to make tobacco a thing of the past. The roadmap was presented to the 65th session of the Regional Committee for Europe in Vilnius, Lithuania,

European ministers of health adopt strategy to tackle physical inactivity in 53 WHO Member States 16-09-2015

WHO estimates indicate that, in Europe, more than one third of adults and two thirds of adolescents are insufficiently active. Worldwide, physical inactivity causes 6–10% of cases of coronary heart disease, diabetes and breast and colon cancer and 9% of premature mortality.

Day 2 highlights: focus continues on intersectoral action 15-09-2015

Panel discussions on the second day of the 65th session of the Regional Committee (RC65) focused on the need to work across sectors to address the health challenges of today's interconnected world. The WHO Director-General called on Member States to pay particular attention to how corporate interests influence health policy-making, asking, "Who really governs the policies that shape our health?"

Day 1 highlights: RC65 opens with emphasis on intersectoral action 14-09-2015

HRH The Crown Princess of Denmark and the WHO Regional Director for Europe opened the 65th session of the Regional Committee (RC65), recognizing intersectoral action as its overarching theme. The President of the Republic of Lithuania welcomed over 300 delegates to Vilnius.

WHO supports European countries in managing health needs of refugee and migrant influxes 14-09-2015

In response to the growing numbers of refugees and migrants arriving in the European Region, WHO supports countries by offering medical supplies, assessing national preparedness to assist people in need, training personnel at points of entry in public health and migration matters, and providing information materials.

WHO European governing body to convene in Vilnius 10-09-2015

The 65th annual session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, the WHO European Region's governing body, will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 14–17 September 2015. Over 260 delegates, including ministers of health and other policy-makers, will attend the meeting as representatives of the 53 Member States of the Region.

Stepping up action on migrant and refugee health 18-06-2015

Since June 2013, with the generous support of the Government of Italy, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has conducted many assessment missions and piloted a toolkit with ministries of health to assess how their health systems could manage large influxes of migrants. 20 June is World Refugee Day.

Executive Board discusses newborn health, mycetoma and the development and governance process for WHO guidelines 08-06-2015

The 137th session of WHO's Executive Board took place on 27–28 May 2015, after the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly.