WHO reveals this year's biggest global health threats
| Jan 22, 2019, 13:56 IST
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed this year's biggest global health threats. Experts warn if these issues are not addressed it could be fatal for millions of people around the world.
To combat the problem, a five-year strategic plan has been initiated by the United Nation's public health agency. The plan includes ensuring one billion more people have access to universal health coverage, one billion more people are looked after during health emergencies, as well as one billion more people having a better quality of life.
Here are the 10 key global threats on the list for 2019.
2. Non-communicable diseases: Close to 70 percent of death across the globe are caused by cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
3. Global influenza pandemic: WHO is carefully monitoring the circulation of influenza viruses in order to be able to detect potential pandemic strains.
4.Fragile and vulnerable settings: Approximately 22 percent of the world's population lives in areas where there are famine, conflict and population displacement. This leaves a lot of people without access to valuable healthcare services.
5. Antimicrobial resistance: When bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi are able to resist medicines, it could result in the spread of serious infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis and gonorrhoea.
6. Ebola: This disease still has the potential to spread across countries.
7. Weak primary health care: There are a number of places around the world that do not have proper healthcare facilities. This could be due to lack of resources.
8. Vaccine hesitancy: Not getting vaccinated can ruin the progress made in tackling vaccine-preventable diseases.
9. Dengue: The mosquito-borne disease can be deadly and kill up to 20 percent of dengue patients.
10. HIV: Despite the progress made in tackling this health issue, millions of people are still dying from HIV/AIDS annually. The WHO plans to work with countries to introduce self-testing techniques.
To combat the problem, a five-year strategic plan has been initiated by the United Nation's public health agency. The plan includes ensuring one billion more people have access to universal health coverage, one billion more people are looked after during health emergencies, as well as one billion more people having a better quality of life.
Here are the 10 key global threats on the list for 2019.
2. Non-communicable diseases: Close to 70 percent of death across the globe are caused by cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
3. Global influenza pandemic: WHO is carefully monitoring the circulation of influenza viruses in order to be able to detect potential pandemic strains.
4.Fragile and vulnerable settings: Approximately 22 percent of the world's population lives in areas where there are famine, conflict and population displacement. This leaves a lot of people without access to valuable healthcare services.
5. Antimicrobial resistance: When bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi are able to resist medicines, it could result in the spread of serious infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis and gonorrhoea.
6. Ebola: This disease still has the potential to spread across countries.
7. Weak primary health care: There are a number of places around the world that do not have proper healthcare facilities. This could be due to lack of resources.
8. Vaccine hesitancy: Not getting vaccinated can ruin the progress made in tackling vaccine-preventable diseases.
9. Dengue: The mosquito-borne disease can be deadly and kill up to 20 percent of dengue patients.
10. HIV: Despite the progress made in tackling this health issue, millions of people are still dying from HIV/AIDS annually. The WHO plans to work with countries to introduce self-testing techniques.