| No images? Click here  Wednesday, 29 November 2023 Post- presser links: Virtual press conference on global health issues Below are resources for journalists, including the Director-General's remarks, video and audio files from the briefing and B-roll from the field. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing -29 November 2023Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, WHO welcomes the extension of the humanitarian pause in the conflict in Gaza, and the release of hostages and prisoners by both sides. The pause has enabled WHO to increase deliveries of medical supplies in Gaza, and to transfer patients from Al-Shifa hospital to other hospitals south of the Wadi Gaza. During the first three days of the pause, WHO received 121 pallets of supplies into our warehouse in Gaza, including IV fluids, medicines, lab supplies, medical disposables, and trauma and surgical supplies. This is enough to support about 90 000 people. However, much more is needed. We continue to call for a sustained ceasefire so that aid can continue to be delivered to end further civilian suffering. And we call for the remaining Israeli hostages to be released, and for those who are still being held to receive the medical care they need. WHO’s greatest concern remains supporting Gaza’s health system and health workers to function. Only 15 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are still functioning at all, but are completely overwhelmed. For example, European Gaza Hospital is currently operating at triple its capacity. Of the 25 hospitals north of the Wadi Gaza before the conflict began, only three are functioning at the most basic level, but they lack fuel, water and food. The remaining health system capacity must be protected, supported and expanded. The health needs of the population of Gaza have increased dramatically, but they are now being serviced by one third of the hospitals and primary care clinics. And with severe overcrowding, the risks are increasing for epidemics of respiratory tract infections, acute watery diarrhea, hepatitis, scabies, lice and other diseases. WHO is working to support Gaza’s health system and health workers in every way we can. Together with partners, we are distributing supplies, coordinating emergency medical teams to provide extra clinical capacity for existing hospitals, and establishing standalone field hospitals in strategic locations. We thank those partners who are working with us. But we repeat that emergency medical teams and field hospitals can only complement Gaza’s health system, not replace it. The priority must be to support Gaza’s health workers, hospitals and clinics to do their jobs. === This week, the world is converging in the United Arab Emirates for COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, about 3.5 billion people, nearly half of humanity, live in areas highly vulnerable to the climate crisis. This year alone, catastrophic flooding in Libya and the Horn of Africa has cost lives and livelihoods, and just this week Brazil hit record temperatures. An unhealthy planet means unhealthy people. Heat-related deaths among people aged over 65 years have climbed by 70 percent globally in two decades. Every year, 7 million people die from air pollution. Changing weather patterns, driven by human activity and the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to record numbers of cholera outbreaks. And our warming planet is expanding the range of mosquitoes, which carry dangerous pathogens like dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever into places that have never dealt with them before. The climate crisis is a health crisis. So we’re pleased that for the first time, this year’s COP will include a day dedicated to health, with more than 50 health ministers attending from around the world. While at COP, I will make three specific calls: First, a climate-friendly world. WHO calls on leaders from government and industry to work together to phase out fossil fuels urgently, and accelerate the transition to clean energy. Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Weaning the world off fossil fuels is therefore the only way for countries to meet their commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is a public health imperative. Second, climate-friendly health systems. While the health sector is affected by climate change, it also contributes to it, with about 5% of global emissions. We must focus on decarbonizing health systems to reduce that. At the same time, we must continue to strengthen health systems to be more climate-resilient. That means strengthening the health workforce and disease surveillance systems, building on investments that many countries made during the COVID-19 pandemic. And it means scaling up vector control and access to safe water and sanitation. Third, finance. The health sector is at the frontline of the climate crisis, but it receives just half of one percent of global climate financing. The world spends trillions of dollars of public moneys in fossil fuel subsidies every year. We call on governments and investors to redirect those funds to protecting and promoting the health of our planet, and the health of people. And we request high-income countries to honour their pledge of US $100 billion in support. === Finally, this Friday marks World AIDS Day. This year’s theme is “Let Communities Lead”. It affirms the vital role that affected communities play in leading the response to HIV. Thanks to decades of activism, advocacy, and support from affected communities, millions of new infections have been averted and 30 million people are now receiving antiretroviral therapy. As prevention and treatment services for HIV are increasingly delivered in community and primary health care settings, communities and community health workers are even more critical. We must stand together to ensure communities have the funding and resources they need to stand up for human rights, to fight stigma, and to help us end AIDS for good. I thank you. Margaret, back to you. LINKS: WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing – 29 November 2023
Audio links from today's VPC Length 55mins 31sec Download and listen: Weblink: https://terrance.who.int/mediacentre/presser/WHO-AUDIO_Press_Conference_29NOV2023.mp3
Video Presser News edit : Length 7min 05sec Download link: https://who.canto.global/b/JE0TS Presser Full file: Length: 55mins Download link: https://who.canto.global/b/QIA4V Broll edit: Length 3mins 05sec Download link: https://who.canto.global/b/O9RU8 Presser News edit shows: (please check against delivery) Filmed at WHO HQ Geneva Switzerland and remote locations 29NOV2023 Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General WHO welcomes the extension of the humanitarian pause in the conflict in Gaza, and the release of hostages and prisoners by both sides. The pause has enabled WHO to increase deliveries of medical supplies in Gaza, and to transfer patients from Al-Shifa hospital to other hospitals south of the Wadi Gaza. During the first three days of the pause, WHO received 121 pallets of supplies into our warehouse in Gaza, including IV fluids, medicines, laboratory supplies, medical disposables, and trauma and surgical supplies. This is enough to support about 90,000 people. However, much more is needed. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General We continue to call for a sustained ceasefire so that aid can continue to be delivered to end further civilian suffering. And we call for the remaining Israeli hostages to be released, and for those who are still being held to receive the medical care they need. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General WHO’s greatest concern remains supporting Gaza’s health system and health workers to function. Only 15 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are still functioning at all, but are completely overwhelmed. For example, European Gaza Hospital is currently operating at triple its capacity. Of the 25 hospitals north of the Wadi Gaza before the conflict began, only three are functioning at the most basic level, but they lack fuel, water and food. The remaining health system capacity must be protected, supported and expanded. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General The health needs of the population of Gaza have increased dramatically, but they are now being serviced by one third of the hospitals and primary care clinics. And with severe overcrowding, the risks are increasing for epidemics of respiratory tract infections, acute watery diarrhoea, hepatitis, scabies, lice and other diseases. WHO is working to support Gaza’s health system and health workers in every way we can. Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative, occupied Palestinian territory We have more than 20,000 Gaza health workers, very good health workers, we need to make sure they get the right supplies and medical equipment Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative, occupied Palestinian territory Secondly, that we get the primary healthcare systems working again and referrals. We talk always about trauma, we have to focus as well on maternal lead child health, think about reproductive health, emergency obstetric care, mental health, psychosocial support, non-communicable diseases and the whole referral system linked to that. Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative, occupied Palestinian territory Gaza can absolutely not afford to lose more hospital beds. We need to expand the number of hospital beds, we need to make the vulnerable system work again. Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme We don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. Many of these hospitals that we’re supporting are potentially in harms-way again within the next 24 hours and we need to recognise that. We’re not dealing, right now as far as we can see with as much as we would like this, we‘re not dealing with a permanent pause or a long scale ceasefire. Many of these facilities lie in very strategic locations, along highways as would be in any major urban conurbation, you put your hospitals in strategic locations where they are accessible to people. Because of that, we really do need to get reliable deconfliction of these facilities. Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme It is truly horrific in terms of the impact of so many people out in the open. We’re not talking about people in tented cities here, we’re talking about open ground on to which we could have up to 2 million people, approaching into the depths of winter, with their underlying nutritional status, with the overcrowding, with the stress, and the wounded and the old and the disabled and the mentally, the mentally and psychologically damaged and suffering, I really don’t know. Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme If we go to that scenario and see that happen, I shudder to think quite frankly, I shudder to think what will happens in terms of the numbers we’ve seen up to now of deaths and casualties may be a distant memory. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General So, the question is, will those who have the influence, will do everything to stop it? I mean to stop, to sustain the pause and then ultimately have a ceasefire and, you know, having a political solution to this problem. So, it’s possible, except you know, those with influence are not doing it. So that’s the situation. It can happen it’s a matter of will, to be honest. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General This week, the world is converging in the United Arab Emirates for COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, about 3.5 billion people, nearly half of humanity, live in areas highly vulnerable to the climate crisis. This year alone, catastrophic flooding in Libya and the Horn of Africa has cost lives and livelihoods, and just this week Brazil hit record temperatures. An unhealthy planet means unhealthy people. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General The climate crisis is a health crisis. So, we’re pleased that for the first time, this year’s COP will include a day dedicated to health, with more than 50 health ministers attending from around the world. Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical Lead COVID-19, WHO Health Emergencies Programme We are following up with the situation in China and again, they have seen overall an increase in acute respiratory infections due to a number of different pathogens, including influenza, which is on the rise. Microplasma pneumonia was on the rise for the last couple of months and now seems to be a little bit on the decline. We are following up through our clinical networks and working clinicians in China to better understand resistance to antibiotics which is a problem across the world. Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical Lead COVID-19, WHO Health Emergencies Programme One of the things we are following up on in terms of the acute respiratory infections is looking at burdening health systems. So, it’s one thing to see a rise in these type of infections, particularly in school-aged children but also to monitor the severity and looking at the healthcare capacities around the world to be able to deal with these type of infections. ------------------------------------------------- Broll edit shows:
Broll edit: Length 3mins 05sec Download link: https://who.canto.global/b/O9RU8 UNWRA shelter, west of Khan Younis, Gaza 27NOV2023
Al-Hakima Nibal Iyad Hammad, health worker, UNWRA shelter, west of Khan Younis, Gaza 27NOV2023 (Arabic) The cases we face daily: burns, wounds, and possible fractures. We always face a shortage of all medical tools, capabilities, and treatments in all fields. UNWRA shelter, west of Khan Younis, Gaza 27NOV2023
Dr.Bassam Zaqout, Palestinian Medical Relief Society, UNWRA shelter, west of Khan Younis, Gaza 27NOV2023 (Arabic) We work here daily at the medical point, and deal with approximately two hundred sick cases a day. The cases are diverse but most are of the hygiene related diseases: polluted water that people use to clean up, lack of soap and hygiene products, which result in tonsillitis infections and digestive system diseases. Secondly, the polluted drinking water which results in severe diarrhea cases. UNWRA shelter, west of Khan Younis, Gaza 27NOV2023
Dr.Bassam Zaqout, Palestinian Medical Relief Society, UNWRA shelter, west of Khan Younis, Gaza 27NOV2023 (Arabic) We are afraid that if these weather conditions continue, these will turn into pneumonias and even meningitis. UNWRA shelter, west of Khan Younis, Gaza 27NOV2023
IDP, UNWRA shelter, west of Khan Younis, Gaza 27NOV2023 (Arabic) Of course, it’s due to the weather conditions that my daughter is sick. We are living in tents, rain, wind, and the tent literally blew away from us. The conditions are harsh, and it ended up making the kids sick. UNWRA shelter, west of Khan Younis, Gaza 27NOV2023
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Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Post- presser links : Virtual press conference on global health issues: 29 November
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