WHO | Week Ahead for media - 17 July 2026

No images? Click here Friday, 17 July 2026  | Issue 361   Subscribe to receive this weekly update © WHO / Malin Bring   Monday, 20 July UN High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety 20 – 21 July 2026 at 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, United States A United Nations High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety, convened by the President of the UN General Assembly and the World Health Organization, will be held at the UN HQ in New York, under the theme ‘Scaling up and accelerating implementation of commitments to halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030.’  The 2-day event will be live-streamed online.  Further information: here. ********** A WHO side event at the UN High-Level Meeting, From Commitment to Delivery: Country Progress on Halving Road Traffic Deaths by 2030, will be held from 13.15-14.15 ET on 20 July in Conference Room 11, UNHQ. It will provide an overview of global road safety progress, an exploration of national actions, and a discussion of the steps needed to turn commitments into impact.  In-person access is restricted to people attending the High-Level Meeting (register here to attend). The event will be live-streamed on UN Web TV.  Further information: here. ********** WHO experts are available for interviews, please send your request to jinn@who.int with a copy to mediainquiries@who.int. Related: ‘Improving global road safety’, a note by the UN Secretary-General released on February 13, 2026 Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 Road traffic injuries fact sheet Tuesday, 21 July Launch of the 2026 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report 12.00 CEST/10.00 GMT, Rome, Italy The 2026 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI), an annual flagship report jointly prepared by FAO, IFAD, WFP, WHO and UNICEF, will be launched during a special event at the 30th Session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) in Rome, Italy. Under the theme "Understanding and Addressing the High Cost of a Healthy Diet," this year's report presents the latest global assessment of food security and nutrition, progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), and updated evidence on the cost and affordability of a healthy diet.   Journalists interested in attending the launch in person should send their accreditation request to FAO-Newsroom@fao.org, including a valid press card or letter of assignment on company letterhead and a copy of a valid photo ID (passport or identity card).  The conference can also be followed online. WHO experts are available for interviews, please send your request to jinn@who.int with a copy to mediainquiries@who.int. ********** Research4Life marks 25 years    On 21 July, WHO and partners will mark the 25th anniversary of Research4Life, a global partnership that has expanded access to scientific knowledge for researchers, health professionals and policymakers in more than 120 countries. The announcement will highlight the initiative's impact on research equity, capacity strengthening and sustainable development.  WHO experts are available for interviews, please send your request to mediainquiries@who.int. Wednesday, 22 July Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak readiness: tools, experiences and lessons from the field 13.00 CEST/11.00 GMT, EPI-WIN webinar This EPI-WIN webinar will provide an overview of the current Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) readiness approach, showcase practical country and regional experiences, for planning, tracking and strengthening readiness activities. Participants will hear firsthand lessons from simulation exercises and country implementation efforts, including experiences from South Sudan. Further information and registration: here. ********* Global research prioritization and action plan on health, migration and displacement in the context of climate change 12.30 CEST/10.30 GMT, webinar In this webinar, WHO will present the report containing the findings of the Global Research Prioritization Exercise on health, migration and displacement in the context of climate change.  Recognizing climate change as an increasingly important driver of migration and displacement and a determinant of health, the report addresses critical evidence gaps concerning the health of migrant and displaced populations throughout the migration journey. Further information and registration: here. Thursday, 23 July Launch of the PROTECT technical package for drowning prevention 12.00 CEST/10.00 GMT, webinar Ahead of the World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 on 25 July, WHO will launch the PROTECT technical package for drowning prevention – a new, evidence-based tool designed to help governments strengthen policies, legislation, and systems to reduce drowning deaths worldwide - on 23 July.  Drowning takes more than 300 000 lives a year - 30 every hour - and almost a quarter of them are children under five.  Globally, it is among the ten leading causes of death for children aged 5-14 years. Further information and registration: here. Please write to mediainquiries@who.int and jinn@who.int to request a copy of the embargoed press material, or an interview with WHO experts.   Saturday, 25 July World Drowning Prevention Day 2026 On World Drowning Prevention Day 2026, observed under the theme “Unite to turn the tide”, WHO is calling on all partners – governments, communities, and individuals – to join the global movement to reduce drowning deaths by 35% by 2035.  A flagship webinar will be held at 13.00 CEST on 28 July (registration mandatory). Campaign page and further information: here. Other WHO events of interest and look ahead (full list here)  WHO @ AIDS 2026, 26-31 July World Hepatitis Day, 28 July World Drowning Prevention Day WHO Flagship Webinar, 28 July   Latest news from WHO here Outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus here WHO events here Sign up for our newsletters here WHO photos available for media use here WHO media contact: 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