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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.
Viruses, like COVID-19, do not respect borders. That makes surveillance, data sharing, research, vaccines, diagnostics and treatments international concerns. The need is even greater amidst growing threats on global stability and security from emerging infectious diseases to climate-related crises and conflicts. On 25 September, the United Nations General Assembly convenes a one-day high-level meeting aimed at mobilizing political will at the national, regional and international levels for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
After 19 years underground, Kazakh miner Ivan Katolik stresses vigilance, mentorship and worker-led safety to prevent accidents in dangerous mines.
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
For Indigenous midwives in Guatemala, bringing new life into the world is more than a profession—it is a calling rooted in ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. The women featured have spent decades accompanying mothers through pregnancy and childbirth, often serving communities where formal healthcare remains difficult to access. Their stories reveal the trust, experience and cultural knowledge behind their work, as well as their long struggle for recognition and respect. As Guatemala creates more space for Indigenous health systems, these midwives are helping ensure that traditions that have cared for women and families for generations can continue into the future.
Technology can extend specialist care to underserved communities while strengthening health systems and supporting economic opportunities through workforce and infrastructure investments.
The 2026 theme for the is "Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works," focuses on tracking progress, evaluating impact, and scaling proven approaches that improve breastfeeding outcomes. It calls on governments, health systems, workplaces, communities, civil society organizations, and families to build on successful experiences and strengthen the "Warm Chain of Support" for breastfeeding. The interventions are proven. The economic returns are exceptional. The remaining challenge is not knowing what works – it is investing at sufficient scale.
Even during Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, dedicated midwives like Francine continue providing life-saving care to mothers and newborns despite the risks.
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 2026 International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent (25 July) highlights the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Women and girls of African descent continue to face systemic racism, gender discrimination and unequal access to quality, culturally appropriate health care, resulting in preventable health disparities. The observance calls for equitable health systems, respectful maternal care, better race- and gender-disaggregated data, and the meaningful participation of women and girls of African descent in shaping the policies that affect their health and well-being.
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.
Watch Hasset Dereje unpack a kit with students who are seeing some of these items for the very first time. Hasset knows that for a girl in rural Ethiopia, lacking menstrual hygiene products can impact their education. That’s why a $15 dignity kit is so much more than a box of supplies. It’s a toolkit for her future. For just $15, you can help a girl stay in school. .