Cervical cancer is preventable and curable when detected early, yet it claimed nearly 350,000 women’s lives worldwide in 2022, with 94% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. The ’s 90–70–90 aims to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem through HPV vaccination, regular screening, and effective treatment by 2030.
WHO
8.4 million people are admitted to psychiatric institutions every year. Around the world, outdated laws and systems continue to rely on coercion and institutionalisation instead of recovery, dignity and community support. Hear from people who have lived this experience, sharing what dignity, care and community mean to them, and their vision for rights-based, community-centred mental health care. Please note: AI Generated footage was used in this video to illustrate these real stories.
From sporting events to religious festivals, extreme heat can turn a day in the crowd into a health emergency. New World Health Organization (WHO) guidance shows that most heat-related illnesses at mass gatherings can be prevented or treated on site with timely planning. Well-organized medical teams can treat more than 90% of patients at venues, easing pressure on hospitals and ambulances. Safe drinking water, cooling areas, adjusted schedules and clear public information all help protect attendees, volunteers and workers. WHO urges governments and organizers to make heat safety part of every stage of event planning.
(10 October) is an opportunity to engage with people with lived experience of mental health conditions and to recognize their knowledge as a vital form of expertise. This year’s campaign calls for their voices to shape the policies, services and decisions that affect their lives. Meaningful engagement goes beyond being heard. It means creating opportunities for people to influence decisions, co-design services, strengthen peer-led approaches, challenge stigma and strengthen accountability. This World Mental Health Day let us move from listening to action and build mental health systems for everyone.
Suicide is a major public health challenge, claiming the lives of more than 720 000 people every year. Each life lost has profound social, emotional, and economic consequences, deeply affecting families, friends, workplaces, and entire communities around the world. (10 September) marks the final year of its three-year theme, Changing the Narrative on Suicide, with a simple call to action: Start the Conversation. Talking openly about suicide can break the silence and misunderstanding, encourage empathy and support, and make it easier for people to seek help.
Sexual and reproductive health is the foundation of health and well-being. It influences how we grow, how we form relationships, how we make decisions about our bodies and futures, and how we support the people around us. Throughout our lives, sexual and reproductive health shapes our experiences, opportunities and quality of life. (1-30 September) is an opportunity to take a deeper look at an area of health that affects everyone. #StandWithScience
Extreme heat is a serious threat to human health, and climate change is making it more frequent and intense. Heat-related deaths have surged by 23% since the 1990s, with more than half a million lives lost every year. is a World Health Organization initiative to protect event-goers, workers and communities from the rising risks of extreme heat, air pollution and ultraviolet exposure. This video explains how Heat-Health Action Plans can help governments, communities, workplaces and event organizers prepare for and respond to extreme heat. It also highlights practical steps individuals can take: stay hydrated, rest in shaded or cool areas, use sun protection, recognize the signs of heat illness and look out for others. Together, we can Beat the Heat.
Drowning claims more than 300,000 lives each year, yet most deaths are preventable. Many countries still lack the policies, laws, and governance needed to reduce water-related risks.
World Health Organization's , including safer infrastructure, swimming education, rescue systems, and flood preparedness. Together, these measures help governments strengthen drowning prevention while advancing public health, safety, and equity.
Global road traffic deaths fell 21% since 2011 despite rising vehicle numbers, but crashes still kill 1.16 million people annually, prompting renewed global safety commitments.
World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and liver cancer. This year's theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down,” is a call to remove the barriers that stand between people and the services that can save their lives. Viral hepatitis continues to be a major cause of preventable illness and death worldwide. The 2026 campaign calls for turning proven science into action through stronger political commitment, sustained investment, and efforts to expand equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care.
Drowning claims more than 300,000 lives every year—around 30 every hour—and nearly a quarter of those who die are children under five. It is among the world's ten leading causes of death for children aged 5–14 years. The theme for World Drowning Prevention Day 2026, "Unite to Turn the Tide," reflects the shared responsibility to prevent these avoidable deaths. The Global Strategy for Drowning Prevention calls on every sector and every level of society to work toward a common goal: reducing drowning deaths by 35% by 2035. Achieving that goal will require all of us to play our part.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released , providing countries with evidence-based recommendations to help prevent or delay the onset of dementia across the life course.
The World Health Organization estimates that 40 million adolescents aged 13–15 worldwide use tobacco. The tobacco and nicotine industries design their products to get young people stuck in a cycle of addiction. The grip of tobacco and nicotine addiction can be broken. This (31 May) let us join together to unmask the appeal and work together for a world free of tobacco addiction.
On 18–23 May, the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. As the principal decision-making body of the World Health Organization, it plays a vital role in global health governance, addressing pressing health challenges through collaborative action. The WHA serves as a platform for Member States to discuss and vote on critical health issues, set priorities, and coordinate responses to global health threats. It is essential in shaping international health policies and ensuring that health systems are resilient and equitable. Watch the Assembly. #WHA79
A large proportion of avoidable infections acquired during health care delivery could still be prevented with hand hygiene and infection prevention and control action at the right times. Each year, since 2009, the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign marked on (5 May) aims to progress the goal of maintaining a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene and infection prevention and control in health care and to ‘bring people together’ in support of improvement globally. #handhygiene