Access to chronic disease medication ‘still out of reach for many’: WHO report

Access to chronic disease medication ‘still out of reach for many’: WHO report

Access to NCD Medicines: Emergent Issues During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Key Structural Factors, highlights the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to NCD medicines, and the policies and strategies implemented by countries to both anticipate and mitigate the disruption that has hit medical supply chains. Pandemic shortages During the pandemic, people living with cancer, heart diseases, chronic…

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Crystalize recent diplomatic shifts, top UN envoy urges Israelis, Palestinians

Crystalize recent diplomatic shifts, top UN envoy urges Israelis, Palestinians

“This should be a period for safe and peaceful religious reflection and celebration for all,” said Tor Wennesland, the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. Diplomatic engagement The Special Coordinator recalled that, on 26 February, senior officials from Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Palestine and the United States met in Aqaba, Jordan, to reaffirm…

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UN Water Conference: More investment crucial to access water, sanitation, hygiene for all

UN Water Conference: More investment crucial to access water, sanitation, hygiene for all

Some two billion people still have no access to safe drinking water and 3.6 billion, use sanitation services that leave human waste untreated. Access to safe water and sanitation offer a pathway to social and economic progress by supporting community health and productivity. From solutions to actions The world needs to progress four times faster…

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Guterres warns of ‘catastrophic’ consequences of a world without glaciers

Guterres warns of ‘catastrophic’ consequences of a world without glaciers

Secretary-General António Guterres told a conference side event dedicated to the issue of preserving the world’s glaciers that new data released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) showed global average sea levels have already risen faster since 1900, “than over any preceding century in the last 3,000 years.” ‘Erased forever’ He said that “low-lying communities and entire countries could be…

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Funding for African Union Somalia mission critical to security: UN political chief

Funding for African Union Somalia mission critical to security: UN political chief

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo was speaking on Wednesday at a meeting at UN Headquarters to draw attention to the widening financing gap at the year-old operation. “Despite initial generous donor support, contributions have significantly declined, leaving the mission in a dire financial situation,” she said.  Contributing to progress  ATMIS builds on the work of a previous…

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Water, source of Samoa’s ‘cultural identity’ and national wealth: A UN Resident Coordinator Blog

Water, source of Samoa’s ‘cultural identity’ and national wealth: A UN Resident Coordinator Blog

As the UN Water Conference continues at UN headquarters in New York, Simona Marinescu, the UN Resident Coordinator in Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau explains why finding a solution to provide all people access to clean and safe water remains a priority for the UN.   “Water is life. No other definition captures quite so aptly…

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Uganda: UN rights chief calls on President not to sign anti-homosexuality bill

Uganda: UN rights chief calls on President not to sign anti-homosexuality bill

The UN rights chief called on Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, not to sign the bill into law, saying that it would mean lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Uganda will become criminals simply “for existing, for being who they are“. He warned the legislation would lead to “systematic” human rights violations.  Adopted by Uganda’s parliament…

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Tanzania confirms first-ever outbreak of deadly Marburg Virus Disease

Tanzania confirms first-ever outbreak of deadly Marburg Virus Disease

Lab tests were carried out after eight people in the region developed symptoms of the “highly virulent” disease, including fever, vomiting, bleeding, and kidney failure. Five of the eight confirmed cases have died, including a health worker, and the remaining three are being treated. The agency also identified 161 contacts of those infected, who are…

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