WHO | Week Ahead for media - 19 September 2025

No images? Click here 19 September 2025 | Issue 322   Subscribe to receive this weekly update   © WHO / Enric Catala Contreras Conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory WHO work on mpox Latest news from WHO and WHO events page 22 - 25 September Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) meeting The Stategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) will hold their regular biannual meeting from 22 - 25 September. The agenda includes reviewing progress on the Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Global Polio Eradication Programme, assessing advances in novel TB vaccine development, and providing recommendations on the use of vaccines for polio, malaria and human influenza A(H5), among other topics.  22 - 30 September 2025 World Health Organization at the 80th UN General Assembly and its High-level Week    All times are for New York, US (EST, GMT-4) unless otherwise indicated. Launch of the WHO’s 2025 Global report on hypertension, 08.00 to 09.00 (14.00 to 15.00 CEST) on 23 September (hybrid event) The WHO hypertension report will be launched at the High blood pressure, high stakes: Translating commitment into life-saving action event on 23 September.  Blood pressure control is one of the world’s leading risk factors for death and disability. With 1.4 billion people living with hypertension worldwide, controlling high blood pressure in just 50% of people could prevent 76 million deaths by 2050 and save $100 billion annually in health care costs.  For an embargoed copy of the report and press release, please contact jinn@who.int This hybrid event is organized by WHO, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Resolve to Save Lives. To register to attend the event in person, please contact Marina Altschiller-Gannon at maltschiller@rtsl.org. Register for livestream here. WHEN: Tuesday, 23 September 2025. Breakfast served 07:30 (EST); main program: 08:00-09:00 (EST) / 14:00-15:00 (CEST) WHERE: The Yale Club, Grand Ballroom, 50 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017 ************ Fourth UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing, 10.00 to 18.00 on 25 September, Conference Room 1, UN HQ Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, are responsible for nearly 75% of all global deaths, while over a billion people live with mental health conditions. At HLM4, Heads of States and Government will meet to adopt a historic political declaration that will set a new vision to tackle these major health challenges, which cost millions of lives each year and trillions of dollars in economic losses worldwide.   The WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is expected to address the opening of this event, joined by leadership of the United Nations, Member States and other key partners.  Watch live at UN Web TV. Wednesday 24 September Global progress report, Essential Services for Quality Care: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Health Care Waste and Electricity Services in Health Care Facilities, WHO/UNICEF Over 100 countries have made unprecedented efforts to improve basic services in health care facilities, according to the new joint WHO/UNICEF global progress report, Essential Services for Quality Care: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Health Care Waste and Electricity Services in Health Care Facilities. Yet billions of people are still served by facilities without these essential services. Urgent acceleration and investment are needed to meet the 2030 global targets. Please note this report is embargoed until 08:00 CEST 24 September. Drawing on new data from 101 countries, the report builds on earlier editions (2020 and 2023) and tracks progress on commitments made under the 2019 World Health Assembly resolution and the 2023 UN General Assembly resolution on WASH in health care facilities. Embargoed copies are available as of Tuesday 23 September by email to osseirann@who.int and mediainquiries@who.int. Once the embargo lifts, the report and departmental news story will be available at https://www.who.int/news/item/24-09-2025-countries-making-unprecedented-efforts-but-billions-still-lack-basic-services-in-health-care-facilities---who-unicef-new-report-warns Friday, 26 September New study on sexual side effects and contraceptives A new study, published on World Contraception Day, reveals that sexual side effects are a significant yet neglected reason why people stop using contraception. The review, published in the journal Sexual Health Research Matters, finds that many contraceptive users perceive negative impacts on sexual well-being, including reduced libido and discomfort. These concerns are rarely addressed in clinical research or by healthcare providers during contraceptive counselling. Understanding why people discontinue contraception is important for strengthening family planning programmes and services. When contraceptive options fail to meet users’ needs, uptake and continuation rates drop. Lower rates of contraceptive use in turn can result in increases in unintended pregnancies, maternal mortality, and sexually transmitted infections. The study was led by WHO, the United Nations’ Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP), and the Pleasure Project. It documents the prevalence of sexual well-being concerns among contraceptive users and calls for more inclusive, user-centred approaches to contraceptive research, counselling, and product development. For more information or to request interviews, please contact mediainquiries@who.int Join the webinar https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/09/26/default-calendar/sex--satisfaction--and-switching--the-questions-contraceptive-research-and-implementation-forgot-to-ask About WHO’s work on sexual health https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexual-health https://www.who.int/health-topics/contraception Stories of interest: Ebola vaccination begins in the Democratic Republic of the Congo -- 14 September Namibia rolls out human papillomavirus vaccination to help end cervical cancer -- 12 September Pakistan joins 150 countries to protect 13 million girls from cervical cancer with WHO-prequalified vaccine -- 16 September Paramedics in Aleppo keep hope alive through EU-supported referral system -- 15 September UNGA: PAHO to join global call for action at High-level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health -- 18 September Cholera outbreak in Nepal: WHO supporting scaling up response to save lives -- 29 August Up to 5% of climate emissions come from healthcare. A new coalition of Asia-Pacific countries, backed by WHO, plans to change that -- 18 September   WHO events here Sign up for our newsletters here Check out the WHO series, Science in 5 Catch a series that debunks misinformation around WHO and public health, Plot Twist 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. If you have been forwarded this update you can click here to subscribe. Do not reply to media@campaign.who.int as it is an unmonitored mailbox. Journalists may write to mediainquiries@who.int.         Share    Tweet    Share    Forward  World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1202 Geneva 27, Switzerland  Unsubscribe