Health In Europe

When we talk about alcohol at WHO, we often start with the evidence. Today, we're starting with people's experiences.

Aleksandra Olsen works on communications about alcohol and health here at WHO Regional Office for Europe.  At WHO, it is common that we will talk about units, thresholds and risk.  Today, Aleks put all of the statistics aside and invited three women in for a conversation.

Mia, who is 34 and has stage 4 breas...

In the first episode of this mini-series, we've heard why WHO/Europe launched the Special Initiative on Violence Against Women and Girls. In the second, we spoke with UNFPA on how health systems can and are practically taking steps to help tackle gender based violence.

In this third episode of 'I believe you' we speak with Elisa Fernandez Saenz from UN Women Europe and Central Asia. We hear about Elisa's upbringing in Costa Rica, wh...

Last episode on I Believe You, Dr. Hans Kluge set out why WHO Europe has made violence against women and girls one of its top priorities. This week, what that means in practice. 

When a woman or a girl walks into a clinic, that may be the only moment anyone has a chance to notice what is happening to her, whether the person in front of her is ready to understand that it can change everything.  

Melanie Hyde and Greg Bianchi...

What role does a health system play in protecting women and girls from violence? I Believe You is a new podcast mini-series from WHO's Health In Europe, under the Special Initiative on Violence Against Women and Girls. Throughout the series, we talk with leaders from WHO, UNFPA and UN Women to explore what role health systems play in protecting women and girls from violence and what more can be done to make societies safer.

In this ...

What insights and lessons learned from the UN High Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistence last September can inform preparations for the upcoming UN High Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases? 

In this second episode of Intersections in Health, a podcast mini-series, we delve into #NCDs and #AMR common policy benefits and challenges with 

• Professor Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on AMR, former Chief Medical...

How can we address the intersecting challenges of climate change and non-communicable diseases at once? 

In this first episode of the Intersections in Health, a new short podcast mini series, we delve into NCDs and the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and toxic pollution with  

• Hans Bruyninckx , Commissioner on the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health #PECCH, Professor of Environment...

Crisis and conflict dominate the headlines.  The ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory have brought death, destruction and displacement.  But among the major disasters and conflicts. It's important to look for the stories of the people who are helping.  

As we mark over 5,000 medical evacuations from Ukraine, in this episode of Health in Europe, we'll share stori...

Stories of strength and dedication to mark International Women’s Day

For International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of three remarkable women working at the forefront of global health. Margaux Mesle, Ana Paula Coutinho Rehse and Harsh Lata work for the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s World Health Emergency programme (WHE) which sits at the centre of global coordination, preparation and response to di...

 When we hear the word suicide, many of us instinctively recoil. The word is taboo in everyday life.  For family members who have lost somebody to suicide, this stigma can make grieving even more complex.  People may struggle to explain the loss and how they feel about it to friends, colleagues, and other family members. 

But how do you explain suicide to a young child?  What words should you use? How do you...

In this turbulent world, it’s tempting to move on and forget the difficult days of COVID-19. Although the impact of the COVID pandemic is far-reaching, and for many, ongoing, as priorities shift, people are thinking less about the last pandemic or the possibility of another one. We risk falling into yet another cycle of panic and neglect. 

In episode 6 of Not If, But When, we ask, what are the challenges for the public he...

In tropical and subtropical countries, the virus causing dengue is spiking. Close to an historic high of over 6 million cases and more than 7,000 dengue-related deaths were reported in over 80 countries and territories in 2023. Most places in Europe remain too cool to favour the mosquito or the virus, but imported dengue cases have been rising in the European region and the impact of climate change appears to be shifting the pictur...

The first of the three influenza pandemics that occurred in the 20th century is estimated to have killed over 50 million people.  Based on scientific advances, what do we know about the 1918-20 pandemic? What lessons does it teach about preventing pandemics and containing outbreaks when they do occur?

• Richard Pebody, director clinical and emerging infections of the UKs health security agency, explores the deadly 1918-20 pan...

The 2022 mpox outbreak has taught public health authorities a lot about the value of working with communities on important areas like testing, vaccination, and risk communication. Lessons that can be applied to other disease outbreaks.

Mpox is back in the news; there are sporadic clusters of cases in our region, and, in Central and West Africa, two strains of the virus continue to cause suffering and death. 

In this episode, we ...

In this episode, we are putting a special focus on the H5N1 bird flu. We explore the ongoing efforts to prepare for future pandemics by speaking with experts like Peter Sousa Hoejskov, who explains the constant risk of zoonotic diseases jumping from animals to humans, and Maria van Kerkhove, who emphasizes the importance of global surveillance and preparedness in the face of potential influenza pandemics. The discussion sheds light...

We turn our attention to the world of nursing through the compelling lens of Stefanie Fernandes and Francisco Ferraz. Francisco, a passionate third-year nursing student from Portugal, brings us into the heart of his journey—navigating the intricate balance of emotional connections and the systemic challenges within healthcare. From his night shifts in the pediatric intensive care unit to the poignant stories that shape his vo...

What are we doing to prepare for the next pandemic?

We go behind the scenes at WHO and some of the European region’s major public health institutions to understand what the most likely causes of future pandemics could be and what strategies are in place to avert them. We talk to the experts applying the lessons of previous pandemics and focus in on the systems in place to spot threats and reduce their impact.  We speak to...

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the WHO's Expanded Programme on Immunization,  now known as the Essential Programme on Immunization, or EPI. This initiative has been a driving force behind the quest for fair access to life-saving vaccines for every child, irrespective of their geographical or socioeconomic circumstances.  

Over the past half-century, EPI has played a crucial role in shaping our battle again...

There is an alarming resurgence of measles. In the WHO European Region, a startling uptick has been observed, with now over 50,000 cases reported across 41 Member States during 2023. This is a staggering increase from the 941 cases recorded throughout 2022, marking a more than fiftyfold escalation. 

Measles is a highly contagious virus. It can spread rapidly through breathing, coughing, or sneezing by an infected individual. Th...

In the latest 'Health in Europe' podcast, we explore Jack Kavanagh's transformation from a sports enthusiast to a disability rights advocate following a spinal cord injury. 

WHO talks with Jack for a deep dive into creating inclusive health systems. This episode goes beyond Jack's personal journey, addressing the societal need for health systems that cater to all, highlighting inclusivity, equity, and diverse needs.&nbs...