WHO | Week Ahead for media - 14 February, 2025

No images? Click here Friday, 14 February 2025 | Issue 291   Subscribe to receive this weekly update   Traffic in Thailand WHO / Conor Ashleigh Conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory WHO work on mpox Latest news from WHO and WHO events page 17 – 21 February  Thirteenth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) for a WHO instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response In December 2021, the World Health Assembly established an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization, to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The thirteenth meeting of the INB is to be held in hybrid format from 17–21 February 2025. The opening and closing plenary sessions of the INB are open to WHO Member States, Associate Members, Observers and regional economic integration organizations, as well all relevant stakeholders. These sessions, on 17 and 21 February, will be publicly webcast and archived for later viewing. Relevant stakeholders (Annexes A–E) will be invited to join for a brief open session at the beginning of each day to be updated on progress and provide their views on relevant Articles. Substantive negotiating sessions will be held in closed format. Monday, 17 February Joint Launch of the 2025 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and the Regional Refugee Response Plan for Sudan The event will take place from 15:00 to 16:30 Geneva (CET) at the Palais des Nations, Room XXIV and is co-convened by Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.   The meeting will be held in-person and livestreamed on UN WebTV.   ************** WHO launches new technical brief on encephalitis On Monday, 17 February, WHO will publish a new technical brief on encephalitis, a serious, life-threatening neurological condition characterized by inflammation of the brain. The technical brief, which forms part of the implementation of the broader Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP), draws attention to the lack of access to essential care, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Contact: Laura Kelleher at kelleherl@who.int Tuesday,18 February WHO's Special Initiative for Mental Health with the Hon. Ms Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome Trust and former Prime Minister of Australia. Join WHO’s Special Initiative for Mental Health for a webinar at 1300 CET with the Hon. Ms Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome Trust and former Prime Minister of Australia.  Ms Gillard will share insights on advancing global mental health and the strategies shaping health care transformation. Please note: the event will be held in English, with live Spanish interpretation provided. Register  18-20 February The Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety The Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, Morocco on 18-20 February 2025, with the theme of "Commit to Life", will bring leaders and experts together to accelerate action towards the Sustainable Development Goals’ target of halving global road deaths by 2030. The conference is hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco and the WHO.  Road safety is an urgent and preventable global health crisis. Road crashes claim the lives of nearly 1.2 million people around the world each year - around 3200 every day - and are the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5-29. For more information, please visit the event page.   Wednesday, 19 February WHO EPI-WIN Webinar: epidemics in winter: influenza and other respiratory viruses This WHO EPI-WIN webinar aims to provide an update on current influenza virus, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and other respiratory virus activity in the northern hemisphere winter season and related issues. Speakers will give brief presentations and then answer questions from the audience. Speakers Welcome remarks: Maria Van Kerkhove, Director a.i., Epidemic & Pandemic Threat Management, WHO Update on influenza virus and RSV activity: Aspen Hammond, Technical Officer, GIP, WHO Update on SARS-CoV-2 activity: Ayse Acma, Public Health Officer, EZD, WHO Update on other respiratory viruses: Ben Cowling, The University of Hong Kong Q&A: Moderator: Wenqing Zhang, Head, Global Influenza Programme, WHO Webinar Registration - Zoom Selection of stories on WHO's work in emergencies PAHO warns of increased risk of dengue outbreaks due to circulation of DENV-3 in the Americas Angola vaccinates over 1 million people as it bolsters cholera outbreak control efforts South Sudan is vaccinating 3.4 million children to eliminate the polio outbreak WHO donates essential medical equipment to combat Marburg outbreak in Tanzania   WHO events here Sign up for our newsletters here Check out the WHO series, Science in 5 Access WHO photos available for media use here WHO media contacts: mediainquiries@who.int You are receiving this NO-REPLY email because you are included on a WHO mail list. 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