Preventing and treating soil-transmitted helminth infections

17 June 2013 -- Soil-transmitted helminth infections are among the most common infections worldwide and affect the poorest and most deprived communities. Safe and effective medicines are available to control infection. This fact sheet outlines the global situation and describes the treatment and preventive interventions.

• Read the fact sheet on soil-transmitted helminth infections

12 June 2013 – On World Blood Donor Day, 14 June, WHO calls for all countries to obtain 100% of their supplies of blood and blood products from voluntary unpaid blood donors by 2020. Providing safe and adequate supplies of blood and blood products should be an integral part of every country’s national health care policy and infrastructure.

• Read the note for media on voluntary blood donation
• Read the feature story on France and Sri Lanka’s voluntary blood donation system
• More on World Blood Donor Day 2013

10 June 2013 -- Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. This feature story is from Stavropol, in the Russian Federation, a member of the European Healthy Cities Network. The story describes the committed work of municipal services on healthy lifestyles promotion, chronic disease prevention, and creating health-friendly conditions for the citizens.

• Read the feature story on health promotion in the Russian federation
• Read the Director-General’s speech

5 June 2013 -- Although many low- and middle-income countries have policies in place to tackle undernutrition, often the major health threats of overweight and obesity are neglected. To help countries close these gaps, WHO has issued a consolidated package of 24 Essential Nutrition Actions, which outline the most effective ways countries can improve their peoples’ nutritional status by preventing both undernutrition and overweight.

• Read the note for the media on guidance on undernutriton and obesity