Global health in 2012: key health issues
28 December 2012 — Key public health milestones were reached in 2012, including the end of polio transmission in India and meeting the Millennium Development Goal target on drinking water ahead of schedule. This photo feature presents a selection of some of the major health issues confronted in 2012.
The U.S. Role in Global Polio Eradication
This paper provides an overview of the global polio eradication effort, emphasizing the U.S. role. The purpose is to explain how the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) came to where it is today and discuss plans for moving forward. The focus on the United States is not meant to detract from the enormous international investments or essential contributions of individuals from other countries. But by highlighting American involvement, the paper aims to help U.S. policymakers understand the costs, benefits, and challenges of polio eradication and plans to complete eradication and transition GPEI methods and resources into other programs.
This paper Highlights the impressive role that the U.S., U.K. and U.N., along with many other significant donors, have had in reducing worldwide cases of polio from 350,000 in 1988 to 213 in 2012 - that is more than a 99% decrease. The future difficulties that will be encountered in eradicating the final 1% is also discussed. The paper states that the GPEI must continue to be innovative, connect with local communities and improve medical services worldwide.
Related UN Resources:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) HomePage
- Polio Eradication Initiative: Country Activities
- Polio Eradication in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Progress Report
- Global Action Plan for laboratory containment of wild polio: WHO Report
- Polio Infected Countries: Fact Sheets
2012 World Drug Report
UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov today in New York launched the 2012 World Drug Report during a General Assembly thematic debate on the impact of drugs and crime on development. The 2012 World Drug Report shows that global patterns of illicit drug use, production and health consequences largely remained stable in 2010, however opium production had rebounded to previous high levels in Afghanistan, the world’s biggest opium producer. Looking at the global picture, lower overall levels of cultivation and production of opium and coca have been offset by rising levels of synthetic drug production.
Previous Reports
WHO: World Health Statistics 2012
World Health Statistics 2012 contains WHO’s annual compilation of health-related data for its 194 Member States, and includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and associated targets.
This year, it also includes highlight summaries on the topics of noncommunicable diseases, universal health coverage and civil registration coverage.
Available in 3 languages
Summary:
To order a Print Copy:
Trends in Maternal Mortality
“I am very pleased to see that the number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth continues to decline. This shows that the enhanced effort of countries, supported by UNFPA and other development partners, is paying off. But we can’t stop here. Our work must continue to make every pregnancy wanted and every childbirth safe.”
Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA
Released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2010 confirms that the number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth is declining. From 1990 to 2010, the annual number of maternal deaths dropped from more than 543,000 to 287,000 – a decline of 47 per cent.
The report also highlights:
- In 2010, the global maternal mortality ratio was 210 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest maternal mortality ratio at 500 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, a woman faces a 1 in 39 lifetime risk of dying due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. In South-eastern Asia the risk is 1 in 290 and in developed countries, it is 1 in 3,800.
- Ten countries have 60 per cent of the global maternal deaths: India (56,000), Nigeria (40,000), Democratic Republic of the Congo (15,000), Pakistan (12,000), Sudan (10,000), Indonesia (9,600), Ethiopia (9,000), United Republic of Tanzania (8,500), Bangladesh (7,200) and Afghanistan (6,400).
- Ten countries have already reached the MDG target of a 75 per cent reduction in maternal death: Belarus, Bhutan, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Iran, Lithuania, Maldives, Nepal, Romania and Viet Nam.
Resources:
- Millennium Development Goal 5 : Improve maternal health
- UNFPA Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990-2008
- UNFPA Maternal Mortality in 1995 - 2002 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006
- UNFPA publications on safe motherhood
- World Health Organization publications on maternal health and new born health
- UN reports on maternal mortality
UNFPA:Contraceptive Commodities for Women’s Health
UNFPA has released a report titled Contraceptive Commodities for Women’s Health:Key data and findings.This report, prepared for the United Nations Commission on Commodities for Women and Children’s Health, provides a review of three contraceptive commodities that are considered to be overlooked or underutilized: the female condom, hormonal implants and emergency contraception.
Related Resources:
- Medicines for Maternal Health
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Framework: A reality for All
Progress on drinking water and sanitation 2012
MDG drinking-water target was met in 2010, five years ahead of schedule!
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports every two years on progress towards the drinking-water and sanitation target under Millennium Development Goal 7.
Progress on Drinking Water and Sanitation reveals that, at the end of 2010, 89 per cent of the world’s population used improved drinking water sources, meeting the target. By 2015, an estimated 92 per cent of the global population will have access to improved drinking water.
However, serious challenge remain. The report also indicates that the world is far from meeting the MDG target for sanitation – and is unlikely to do so by 2015.
Documents:
Resources on UN Secretary-General’s “Every Woman, Every Child” Event
UN Secretary-General is hosting the “Every Woman, Every Child” event Tuesday (20 September), a global effort bringing together governments, philanthropic institutions and other funders, the United Nations and multilateral organizations, civil society and non-governmental organizations, the business community, health-care workers and professionals, and academic and research institutions around the world that support the “Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health”
*Photo - A Somali woman and a malnourished child exit from the medical tent after the child receives emergency medical treatment from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), an active regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union with the approval of the United Nations… (July 2011) - UN Photo/Stuart Price
Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2011
WHO global report
Publication details
Editors: World Health Organization
Number of pages: 209
Publication date: September 2011
Languages: English
ISBN: 9789241502283
Downloads
Overview
The report features information about the noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) situation in 193 countries. This includes details of what proportion of each country’s deaths are due to diseases such as cancer, heart and lung diseases, and diabetes.
Using graphs, on a page-per country presentation format, the report provides information on prevalence, trends in metabolic risk factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and blood sugar) alongside data on the country’s capacity to address the challenges posed by NCDs. Countries will be able to benchmark progress to date and determine where more efforts are needed.
