Geneva The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that 2019 will see the start of the WHO’s new five-year strategic plan � the 13th General Program of Work � to address the world’s multiple health challenges and threats.
In a statement published Tuesday on its website, WHO said this plan focuses on a triple billion target: ensuring 1 billion more people benefit from access to universal health coverage, 1 billion more people are protected from health emergencies and 1 billion more people enjoy better health and well-being.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that reaching these goals will require addressing the threats to health from a variety of angles, including the provision of vaccines to control vaccine-preventable diseases; development of antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarial; and reducing obesity and physical inactivity.
He noted that reaching the goals will also require tackling air pollution and climate change, as the greatest environmental risk to health, addressing humanitarian crises, rapid response to emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola and dengue, as well as working with governments to combat noncommunicable diseases through awareness campaigns.
The statement said that the world will face another influenza pandemic, pointing out that WHO is constantly monitoring the circulation of influenza viruses to detect potential pandemic strains: 153 institutions in 114 countries are involved in global surveillance and response.
Source: International Islamic News Agency