Friday, 21 February 2025 | Issue 292

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Rebecca speaks to a nurse about health and vaccines at a local health centre in Ghana, August 2023
WHO/Fanjan Combrink

Conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory

WHO work on mpox

Latest news from WHO and WHO events page

Tuesday, 25 February

Virtual press conference on the 20 year anniversary of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

25 February, 15:00 CET

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first ever treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO and one of the most widely embraced treaties in United Nations history. The Convention has 183 Parties and has succeeded in saving millions of lives through various tobacco control measures since its entry into force 20 years ago.

A virtual press conference will be held on Tuesday, 25 February at 15.00 CET. Speakers will share how the WHO FCTC has impacted millions of lives globally and calls for action. A press release will be shared with journalists on Tuesday, 25 February in advance of the press briefing.

Journalists who require further background and interviews with the Head of the Secretariat of the FCTC can contact mediafctc@who.int

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Third meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee on the mpox upsurge

The third meeting of the Emergency Committee for the mpox upsurge, convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), will be held on 25 February 2025.

Following their meeting, the Emergency Committee will advise the DG as to whether the mpox upsurge still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The decision of the Director-General following the advice of the Emergency Committee will be shared after the meeting. The Committee’s statement, once issued, will be shared with the media.

Wednesday, 26 February

Mental health and psychosocial support aspects of responding to public health emergencies: the why, what and how

26 February, 13.00 to 14.00 CET, WHO EPI-WIN webinar

Humanitarian emergencies cause widespread suffering, affecting people’s mental health and psychosocial well-being. Almost all people affected by emergencies will experience psychological distress. For most people, this improves over time. But for others, the impacts on mental health can endure.

Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) describes any type of local or outside support that aims to protect or promote psychosocial well-being and/or prevent or treat mental health conditions. MHPSS is an integral part of all emergency responses, including public health emergencies such as infectious disease outbreaks.

Further information and registration: here.

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Global situation of infection prevention and control and the case for action and investment in improving it

26 February, 14.00-15.30 CET, online

This session aims to raise awareness about the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC) and encourage stakeholders to take decisive action and invest in improving IPC measures globally.

Data on the implementation of IPC programs, which play a critical role in preventing healthcare-associated infections and combating antimicrobial resistance will be presented. The session will also explore the economic implications of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.

Access the session: here.

Thursday, 27 February

20th anniversary of the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

27 February, 15.00 CET, online

This year we mark the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) which came into force on 27 February 2005. WHO FCTC is the only international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on 21 May 2003 and has since become one of the most rapidly and widely embraced treaties within the United Nations.

A high-level event featuring remarks by the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the Head of the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC, Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo will be held on Thursday, 27 February at 15.00 CET. The event will be live streamed here.

Friday, 28 February

WHO Information Meeting on the Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines for Use in the 2025-2026 Northern Hemisphere Influenza Season

28 February, 09.00 to 10.30 GMT, live stream

On 28 February 2025, WHO will announce the recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2026-2026 influenza season in the northern hemisphere. The recommendations are used by the national vaccine regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce and license influenza vaccines.

The announcement will follow a 4-day consultation with an advisory group of experts. This meeting is held twice annually, once for the southern and once for the northern hemisphere.

An information session will be held with the WHO and the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), as they announce the vaccine composition. This will stream on YouTube from 09.00 to 10.30 GMT.

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Addressing the impacts of climate change on maternal, newborn, and child health and building climate-resilient societies

28 February, 13.00 CET, webinar

The webinar, organized by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) is part of the Ready, Set, Implement: A PMNCH High-Impact Dialogue Series to accelerate action to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality.

Speakers will, among others, share the latest evidence and existing gaps on the impacts of climate change on maternal, newborn and child health, and identify and discuss effective policies, interventions and projects that can enhance climate mitigation and adaptation for maternal, newborn and child health, with a focus on country-level implementation.

Further information and registration: here. Also see: https://pmnch.who.int/

Other events of interest:

World Health Organization has officially announced the theme of World Health Day 2025, Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, which will focus on improving maternal and newborn health and survival. See: World Health Day 2025 to spotlight women and babies’ survival, urging solidarity at a critical moment for global health.

Further information about WHD2025: here.

WHO events here

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