You may be scrolling on social media today and notice that #WorldHealthDay is trending.
Well, for those who don’t know it’s the World Health Organization’s (aka WHO) anniversary. This year marks the organization’s 75th birthday since they have continuously brought awareness and access to public health.
On their website, you can go through their anniversary campaign where they highlight their milestones, personal stories, photo exhibition, key messages, and more. I recommend taking the time to look through all public health initiatives affecting every single person on this little planet we call Earth.
However, let’s go over a couple of WHO’s milestones from within the last decade (this is by no means all they have done in the last 10 years and also note 2018 was skipped as the organization personally did not note a milestone at that time)
2013
The very first global Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan was endorsed which will operate from 2013-2030, for 27 years long. Originally it was supposed to go until 2020 but in 2019 it was decided that the plan would be extended to 2030. The plan basically maps out how WHO partners will promote mental health as well as well-being initiatives around the world for all.
2014
WHO declared a Public Health Emergency back in August 2014 when there was an Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Although the outbreak started in Guinea it later reaches other countries including Italy, Senegal, Spain, Mali, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.A. Foreign medical teams and technical experts were deployed to bring healthcare services to those affected.
2015
By the end of 2015, WHO helped expand HIV treatment coverage around the world. It’s estimated that 17 million people WHO’s lives have been affected by HIV got access to antiretroviral therapy. In Bulgaria specifically, self-testing kits were given out at 120 locations, sending about 900 free kits out in total.
2016
In 2016 WHO along with partners coordinated and developed The Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescent Health. This strategy is planned to last from 2016 to 2030, a total of 14 years. The hope is to “transform the future and ensure that every newborn, mother and child not only survives but thrives” according to WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan.
2017
In 2017 the Partnership for Healthy Cities was launched between 70 cities globally that are working to prevent noncommunicable diseases and injuries. By creating and implementing multiple policies it is believed that the number of exposures to risk factors will be sustainably decreased.
2019
The United Nations (UN) adopted universal health coverage (UHC) welcoming a landmark in public health and development globally. The UHC is a list of comprehensive health commitments such as developing stronger health workforces and infrastructures.
2020
WHO along with 10 of the world’s leading health and development agencies collaborate to bring COVID-19 tests, vaccines, and treatments that are accessible to the general public. The partnership, known as ACT-Accelerator aided in accelerating the development and production of COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines globally.
2021
The first vaccine to fight against a parasite, specifically Malaria, was introduced for children living in areas of moderate-high risk transmission known as RTS,S/AS01. The recommendation to use the vaccine in Sub-Saharan Africa came after an ongoing pilot program in countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. The vaccine had reached an estimated number of 900,000+ children since the start of the pilot program in 2019.
2022
WHO continues to support families by releasing their 4th edition of “Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers” with co-authors USAID and John Hopkins University. The first edition was released back in 2007 and has distributed ~1 million copies since. The handbook gives updated guidance on sexual and reproductive health while keeping in mind their initiative of universal health coverage through primary health care.