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On World Health Day, we look at 75 years of major health milestones—and the work still needed to ensure health equity and the health of the planet. Plus, we recap BIO’s panel at the World Vaccine Congress. (414 words, 2 minutes, 4 seconds) |
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World Health Day puts focus on equity… |
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The World Health Organization (WHO) is celebrating its 75th anniversary today, World Health Day, with a call for health equity.
The history of WHO: Planned during the formation of the UN in 1945, WHO launched April 7, 1948, and has led campaigns to reduce or eradicate smallpox, polio, and maternal mortality, as well as save millions through childhood immunization, among other milestones.
This year’s World Health Day theme—Health for All—emphasizes health as a basic human right.
Why it matters: For almost 2 billion people, health spending is catastrophic or impoverishing, and 30% of the global population cannot access essential health services, WHO notes.
What they’re saying: “We have much to be proud of, but much work to do,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We continue to face vast inequities in access to health services, major gaps in the world’s defenses against health emergencies, and threats from health harming products and the climate crisis.” |
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…and the links between human, animal, and environmental health |
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World Health Day also recognizes the importance of One Health—the nexus of human, animal, and environmental health—which is receiving more policy attention.
What’s happening: The World Health Organization, which celebrates its 75th anniversary today, recently joined other UN agencies in calling for united global policy on One Health.
In the U.S., the 2023 omnibus spending bill mandated creating a One Health Framework by the Department of Health and Human Services, working with the USDA “to address zoonotic diseases and advance public health preparedness.”
Environmental health is also a concern, as climate change is aggravating human pathogenic diseases.
Why it matters right now: WHO is warning rising temperatures could cause outbreaks of zoonotic diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya in Europe, where populations have not been exposed to these viruses, reports Bloomberg.
Appropriate regulation can help biotech address these challenges, as a BIO brief explains. |
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| BIO at the World Vaccine Congress
| The World Vaccine Congress 2023 convened in Washington, D.C., April 3-6 to discuss a host of issues affecting vaccine uptake and infrastructure. Emily Acker, Director of Infectious Disease Policy at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), moderated a panel, “Emerging vaccine legislation and its impact on access,” which focused on how to strengthen vaccine confidence and build strong vaccine advocates in the states. The panel left attendees with a strong call to action to get involved and encourage others to advocate for strong vaccine infrastructure.
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President Biden's Friday: At Camp David with the First Lady. No official events scheduled.
What's Happening on Capitol Hill: Recess. |
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