Tag:WHO

The decline in support follows the suspension of US assistance, which previously accounted for nearly half of the international funding directed toward Afghanistan’s healthcare.

The report says that the COVID-19 pandemic is a profound global example of the inequitable health outcomes driven by upstream social determinants. From its outset, socio-economic inequality was a predictor of higher mortality.

The text affirms national sovereignty in public health decisions. It states explicitly that nothing in the agreement gives WHO the authority to mandate health measures such as lockdowns, vaccination campaigns, or border closures.

Nearly half of PM2.5 pollution in the worst-affected countries comes from the burning of fossil fuels, biomass, and agricultural waste – also major contributors to climate change. As extreme weather events worsen due to climate change, air pollution is expected to become an even greater threat, UNICEF warned.

The Trump administration has signalled that funding for climate programmes, gender rights, and reproductive health will likely be cut permanently.

UN agencies responded on Tuesday to President Trump’s executive orders ending US membership of the World Health Organization and its adherence to the Paris Climate Agreement, highlighting the massive potential negative impact on public health and efforts to curb global warming.

In urban areas, the winter months reveal unique indoor air quality challenges. The fine particles from outdoor pollution sources infiltrate homes, offices, and public buildings, significantly degrading air quality.

Despite the challenges, some organisations continue to operate in Afghanistan, striving to fill the gaps left by fleeing professionals. However, without significant international support and a reversal of restrictive Taliban policies, the health-care system’s recovery seems unlikely.