HQ-1_Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere

Every 7 seconds, a woman or baby dies due to complications in pregnancy, childbirth or the first few weeks after birth. Since 2019, more than 40 countries have developed maternal and newborn health acceleration plans with support from the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) partnership, co-hosted by WHO, the United Nations Children’s Programme (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund.  The slowdown of progress to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and stillbirths stimulated WHO and EWENE partners to reinvigorate momentum to support action at the country level. In 2024, EWENE supported acceleration plans and catalysed critical investments in many countries. In the United Republic of Tanzania, 30 new facilities for small and sick newborns opened in 2024, and a further 20 new units were planned and budgeted for in 2025. In Pakistan, provincial-level interventions improved intrapartum monitoring, essential and emergency and newborn care, and care for small and/or sick newborns. In Sierra Leone, the Acceleration Plan supported partner investment alignment and coordination for country-wide implementation.

HQ-1_Accelerating national and global responses to antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains one of the most urgent global health and development threats. Bacterial resistance was associated with an estimated 4.71 million deaths in 2021, including 1.14 million directly attributable deaths. WHO continued to drive and support international commitment and advocacy to address AMR. Key deliverables included the WHO strategic and operational priorities to address AMR, which were welcomed in a World Health Assembly resolution; support (with the other Quadripartite organizations) for preparations for the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on AMR, which took place in September 2024; and several high-profile awareness and advocacy initiatives. For example, the AMR is invisible. I am not campaign, led by the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors, amplified voices and achieved 2.7 million impressions and more than 51 000 engagements online globally. The 2024 World AMR Awareness Week mobilized diverse groups, including patient advocates, civil society and the private sector. The political declaration of the high-level meeting adopted by the United Nations General Assembly includes new targets to reduce AMR-associated deaths by 10% by 2030; to ensure that at least 70% of antibiotic use is in the “access” group under the WHO “access, watch and reserve” (AWaRe) classification; and to expand diagnostic capabilities so at least 80% of countries can test for key bacterial and fungal pathogens by 2030.

HQ-1_Providing mental health services

Globally, nearly 1 billion people live with mental health conditions. In some countries, the treatment gap can be as high as 90%. WHO Member States that have committed to the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 and the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health are responding to reach the targets and increasing the availability of mental health services. The Special Initiative strengthens health systems and introduces new community-based mental health services at primary and secondary care levels, often in districts with little or no mental health service capacity. WHO operationalized the Special Initiative in 9 countries. By the end of 2024, 70 million more people had access to mental health services and at least 1 million children and adults living with mental health conditions received treatment. These services were highly cost-effective. For every US$ 1 million spent, more than 2.5 million people had access to newly available mental health services in their communities, at a cost of US$ 0.40 per person. Over the next 4 years, the Special Initiative seeks to meet demand to expand to more countries and further the inclusion of mental health as an integral part of universal health coverage.

HQ-1_Access to safe, effective and quality-assured health products

WHO work underpins access to safe, effective and quality-assured health products. WHO leads the assignment of globally recognized names for medicines and the global harmonization of names for medical devices, ensuring standardization, proper identification, appropriate use and patient safety. In 2024, WHO assigned 481 international nonproprietary names for medicines and 185 countries accessed the WHO database of medical devices nomenclature. A total of 158 Member States invested resources in updating their national essential medicines lists, based on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, contributing to evidence-based selection for procurement and reimbursement decisions. WHO supported improvements in local production ecosystems in 9 countries and provided technical assistance to 35 manufacturers towards achieving quality-assured manufacturing.

In 2024, WHO prequalified 48 finished pharmaceutical products (compared with 46 in 2023) and 21 active pharmaceutical ingredients (compared with 13 in 2023). In 2024, 22 immunization devices and cold-chain equipment products were prequalified. The number of prequalified vector control products expanded to 89 in 2024. There were 152 inspections performed including on manufacturing sites, and timelines to prequalification were reduced by 19% compared with 2023.

National regulatory authorities in Rwanda, Senegal and Zimbabwe achieved maturity level 3, indicating capacity to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of medical products, bringing the number of countries with maturity level 3 to 61.

HQ-1_Eliminating and eradicating diseases

Disease elimination rids entire populations of the scourge of illness. With WHO political advocacy, normative and technical guidance, and support on confirming elimination and tracking progress, countries are making progress on a wide range of diseases and conditions that can be eliminated. In 2024, WHO acknowledged 7 countries (Brazil, Chad, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Timor-Leste, Viet Nam) for eliminating a neglected tropical disease, reaching a total of 54 countries that have eliminated at least 1 neglected tropical disease. WHO certified Cabo Verde and Egypt as malaria-free, with Cabo Verde being the third country in the WHO African Region to achieve this. WHO validated Namibia for being on the path towards eliminating vertical transmission of HIV and viral hepatitis B. This is a significant milestone for Namibia, because it is the first country in Africa and the first high-burden country in the world to achieve this status.

Guinea worm disease is closer than ever to eradication. Globally, only 11 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported in 2024. Only 5 countries (Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, South Sudan) are still considered endemic, and Sudan is in the precertification stage for elimination. WHO is currently developing a multi-disease elimination approach that offers a pathway to achieving disease elimination more efficiently, effectively and equitably.

HQ-1_Investing in the health workforce

WHO estimates a shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030, mostly in low- and lower-middle-income countries. WHO support for data-driven analysis can unlock domestic and international financing for education and jobs in the health sector to strengthen essential health service provision in underserved areas. In 2024, WHO supported 11 countries to conduct health labour market analysis to inform national strategies and investment plans (Benin, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Uganda). Chad is 1 of 55 countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List, with low density of health workers and low service coverage. Chad has one health worker per 1250 population and faces complex challenges. The health labour market analysis identified opportunities and solutions to optimize health workforce education and employment, prompting a plan from Chad’s ministers of health and higher education to invest an additional US$ 31 million in curriculum updates, faculty development and education infrastructure for 2025–2030. The health labour market analysis and public financing commitment leveraged an additional US$ 7 million of investment from development partners in preservice education and recruitment, targeting a 30% increase in medical specialty residencies and a 20% rise in health worker deployment in 4 regions.

HQ-2_Transforming technical support and knowledge transfer

The digital transformation of WHO is revolutionizing global health by enabling faster detection, coordinated action and equitable access to critical resources, ultimately saving lives and strengthening resilience. WHO empowered communities and health professionals with digital dissemination of reliable, science-based information.

WHO continued to make its learning materials accessible through OpenWHO.org. More than 9 million people enrolled, with opportunities to access 318 online courses in 75 languages. In 2024, the platform supported 26 outbreak responses, including mpox and filovirus diseases, demonstrating its vital role in global health awareness.

In 2024, the number of WHO Information Network for Epidemics subscribers grew by 77% to 52 000, with 92% of users finding it useful for shaping policies, clinical practice and research. The platform hosted 30 webinars, covering a range of topics and engaging 30 000 participants from 140 countries and more than 400 organizations. WHO launched the Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) Knowledge Hub, designed to accelerate access to and use of public health and social measures research for 23 priority diseases, and it has been used by nearly 2000 users from 102 countries.

WHO published 4 risk communication and community engagement readiness and response toolkits to support planning and implementation for dengue fever, mpox, yellow fever and Zika virus outbreaks. These toolkits have been translated into several languages, including Arabic, French, Portuguese and Spanish, and have been piloted in 16 countries to strengthen evidence- based and tailored risk communication and community engagement readiness and response programmes.

HQ-2_Leadership and coordination in emergency responses

WHO fosters coordinated emergency responses, strengthening global resilience and ensuring timely protection during health crises. In 2024, WHO coordinated responses to 51 graded emergencies in 89 countries and territories. Through the Contingency Fund for Emergencies, WHO allocated US$ 51.5 million to support 28 emergencies across 28 countries and territories. The Health Cluster mobilized more than 900 partners, reaching more than 89.1 million people with urgent health care across 27 countries.

The WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network supported 61 deployments, including to the conflict area in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and to Rwanda for the outbreak of Marburg virus disease, and provided global and multicountry support for cholera.

WHO deployed 51 emergency medical teams to provide on-the-ground essential services to affected areas, including infection prevention and control, WASH, trauma care and mental health support. These teams delivered 2.2 million medical consultations and performed more than 37 000 surgeries. The emergency medical team network expanded to include 52 internationally classified teams across 32 countries.

WHO convened experts from 15 countries and regional public health agencies, to operationalize the Global Health Emergency Corps, laying the foundation for a more resilient, well-coordinated emergency workforce centred in countries.

WHO mapped US$ 3 billion for health security investments and created more than 133 country profiles offering visibility for partners’ financial and technical investments.

HQ-2_Global collaboration – stronger surveillance

Collaborative surveillance saves lives by enabling early detection, rapid response and informed decision-making to prevent, detect and control outbreaks. A cornerstone of these efforts is the WHO Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources, which screened more than 13 000 sources to detect public health threats and expanded its network to more than 100 countries and 25 international organizations. WHO triaged more than 1.2 million raw signals, reporting 494 events with initial risk assessments. Notably, 69% of signals were verified within 24–48 hours under the International Health Regulations (2005), triggering swift operational responses.

WHO supported 179 laboratories with external quality assurance for diagnostics for mpox, declared as a public health emergency of international concern, and distributed 259 000 mpox tests to 32 countries in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

WHO enhanced global collaboration to strengthen surveillance for high-risk hazards, including through global webinars on best practices that engaged 2500 participants from 162 countries; introducing a risk assessment tool; and releasing the Laboratory Biosecurity Guidance, downloaded more than 15 000 times.

Through the International Pathogen Surveillance Network, WHO worked with 200 partners across 71 countries to detect and understand viruses and their mutations rapidly. The Network established a US$ 4 million catalytic grant fund from philanthropic donors to support low- and middle-income countries to develop tools for pathogen genomics to improve global health security.

HQ-2_Expanding lifesaving care in emergencies

Expanding lifesaving care in emergencies strengthens resilience of health systems and ensures rapid, effective responses to crises and improved outcomes for vulnerable populations in times of need. In 2024, WHO drove significant advancements in strengthening health systems and improving health outcomes through integrated efforts in clinical management, infection prevention and control, and WASH during health emergencies.

WHO efforts to expand access to lifesaving medical oxygen addressed critical global gaps, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and fragile health systems, where 60% of the population still lacks access. Since 2020, WHO technical and operational support has facilitated strengthened oxygen ecosystems in 45 countries, enabling care for 7800 critically ill people at any given time.

Simultaneously, WHO led the development of disease-specific global guidance for managing diphtheria, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, infectious diarrhoea and mpox in resource-limited settings. Collaborations with UNICEF introduced interventions for mosquito-borne diseases and emergency measures in crisis settings, such as Gaza Strip. These efforts collectively strengthened outbreak response capacity, saved lives, supported health system resilience, and improved the quality and safety of essential health services during emergencies.

WHO played a key role in tracking and denouncing attacks on health care, with significant increased reporting coverage from 35% in 2020 to 73% in 2024, enhancing protection for health workers and facilities.

HQ-2_Vaccinating children in a conflict zone

Following the detection of variant poliovirus type 2 in 2024 in the Gaza Strip, WHO, in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Health, UNICEF and other partners, launched a two-phase emergency polio vaccination campaign. More than 2300 health workers vaccinated more than half a million children. The first round, on 1–12 September 2024, immunized about 560 000 children aged under 10 years. The second round, in early November 2024, administered a second dose of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 to 94% of the target population of 591 700 children. Vitamin A supplementation was also provided in the second round.

Despite extreme challenges of conflict, displacement and access restrictions, WHO coordinated with all relevant parties to ensure vaccine supply, funding and technical support. The campaign used phased approaches and humanitarian pauses to protect children. WHO strengthened poliovirus surveillance, sensitized health-care providers, and initiated environmental surveillance in 4 governorates. Samples were tested at the National Polio Laboratory in Jordan. At the regional level, WHO conducted a risk assessment and supported Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic in strengthening surveillance and outbreak preparedness. Although these efforts reduced the risk of spread, sustained commitment and adaptive strategies remain essential to fully interrupt transmission and protect children from other health threats.

HQ-2_Delivering critical resources

WHO ensures the rapid delivery of essential resources, providing vital support and saving lives in times of crisis. WHO delivered critical resources valued at US$ 44 million to 77 countries in response to 22 emergency events. Since the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024, WHO and partners established the Access and Allocation Mechanism for mpox medical counter measures, including vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tests. This is a key cornerstone in the operationalization of the Interim Medical Countermeasures Network, requested by Member States.

WHO efforts had substantial impact. Globally, 6 million mpox vaccine doses were pledged. In 2024, the Access and Allocation Mechanism allocated 899 000 mpox doses to 9 African countries that were hardest hit, of which more than 50% were delivered by 31 December 2024. In collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO distributed 259 000 mpox tests, worth US$ 6.4 million, to 32 countries, enhancing diagnostic capabilities across the continent.

WHO facilitated the delivery of US$ 38.5 million critical supplies to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and created a roster of 82 health logistics experts, enabling timely deployments and ensuring equitable distribution of essential supplies. Online forecasting tools such as the Essential Items Estimator Tool, the Health Emergency Facility Tool and the Airborne Risk Assessment Tool were used more than 9000 times, helping national authorities to predict personal protective equipment and critical supply needs, addressing logistical challenges and streamlining rapid planning and resource mobilization.

HQ-3_Delivering health to refugees and migrants

Today there are 1 billion refugees and migrants, who are often faced with inadequate access to health services despite experiencing frequently occurring physical and mental health problems. To help address this, WHO trained more than 15 000 health providers and policy-makers across more than 160 Member States, developed comprehensive health system reviews for Estonia and Uganda, and launched the Dashboard on Global Initiatives for Promoting Refugee and Migrant Health. The Dashboard highlights 140 initiatives from 63 Member States, provides access to collective learning on challenges and barriers in migrant health, and supports the mainstreaming of promising practices.

WHO co-led efforts within the United Nations Network on Migration and enabled US$ 3 million in investments for health services through the Migration Multi-partner Trust Fund.

In Lebanon, WHO provided support for health-care services and increased risk communication and community engagement capacities and translation of research into policy. In combination, these initiatives have influenced national policies, strengthened health systems to include culturally sensitive health care, and addressed migration as a critical health determinant, ensuring the inclusion of refugee and migrant populations in global, regional and national health strategies.

HQ-3_Preventing risk factors for noncommunicable diseases

Noncommunicable diseases are responsible for 75% of non-pandemic global deaths, leading to about 43 million deaths annually. Of these deaths, 73% occur in low- and middle-income countries. With support from WHO, more than 100 countries developed, strengthened and implemented evidence-based policies addressing the risk factors of tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. Key achievements include stronger cessation services, legislation on smoke-free environments, tobacco advertising bans and graphic health warnings in 10 countries. A total of 79 countries has smoke-free legislation, of which 4 adopted this in 2024. A total of 15 countries strengthened alcohol policies and at least 13 countries increased taxes on alcohol, tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages. In total, 33 countries received specialized legal technical assistance on tobacco and nicotine products, alcohol and food labelling and marketing, and promoting healthy diets and environments for physical activity, strengthening their regulatory capacity. In addition, 31 countries advanced data collection on population health literacy and strengthened health promotion strategies and settings-based policies. WHO led the development of new global data on physical inactivity and supported 28 countries in their efforts to increase population-wide physical activity levels. Children, adults and older people are all vulnerable to the risk factors contributing to noncommunicable diseases, and addressing these risks contributes to healthier populations.

HQ-3_Controlling pollution from antimicrobials

High levels of antibiotics downstream of manufacturing sites are widely documented, with some studies showing a higher concentration of antibiotics in wastewater than in the bloodstream of a patient taking antibiotics. This is a risk for the emergence of AMR, posing a serious threat to health. Yet, pollution from manufacturing is largely unmonitored and unregulated and is not included in quality assurance criteria.

WHO led the development of the first ever guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for manufacturing of antibiotics. WHO applied the One Health approach in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme.

Since the launch of the guidance, WHO worked with stakeholders to raise awareness and strengthen capacity to tackle this including training good manufacturing practice inspectors in 52 countries. The AMR Industry Alliance has updated its standards, and key manufacturing and procuring countries have made requests to WHO for further sensitization and training. Key stakeholders have also requested support from WHO to translate guidance targets into policy changes.

Following the guidance, a commitment relating to pollution from antimicrobial manufacturing was included in the United Nations General Assembly political declaration on AMR. This was a result of parallel efforts with Member States, partners and the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on Antimicrobial Resistance to prevent the emergence and spread of AMR, while ensuring access to safe antibiotics.

HQ-3_Reducing road deaths

Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults. Over the past decade, 45 countries have decreased road deaths by more than 30%, including 10 countries with reductions of 50%. Countries continued to make significant advancements in road safety, catalysed through WHO technical support and contributing to implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.

WHO efforts enabled Member States to introduce impactful legislative and policy changes aligned with evidence-based best practices. For example, China introduced new child safety standards; Colombia adopted harmonized United Nations vehicle safety regulations; Malaysia reduced road speeds in school zones; and Viet Nam strengthened procedures to implement and enforce road safety legislation. These interventions addressed major causes of road fatalities, particularly among children and young adults, and strengthened the systemic response to road traffic injuries.

The WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023 continues to serve as a benchmark for assessing progress. WHO convenes stakeholders through regional and national consultations to support countries to identify priority actions to accelerate progress towards the goal of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. Comprehensive collaboration among governments, academia and industry remains central to these successes, demonstrating the importance of multisectoral partnerships in global health policy implementation.

HQ-3_Saving lives lost from child wasting

Child wasting affects an estimated 6.8% of children aged under 5 years globally, posing grave threats to child survival and development. In response, WHO has spearheaded efforts to scale up prevention, detection and treatment through evidence-based guidelines, multisectoral approaches and strengthened health systems. Collaboration with UNICEF and other United Nations agencies has resulted in multiyear funding programmes in 15 high-burden countries, reaching 9.3 million children and saving an estimated 1 million lives. A total of 45 countries adapted WHO guidelines in relation to updating their policies and protocols.

WHO supported capacity-building for health-care workers and improved national nutrition surveillance systems in 15 countries. In the same countries, integrated approaches linking health systems, social protection, WASH, and food systems have expanded access to essential services, addressing child wasting comprehensively. WHO remains committed to achieving the World Health Assembly target of reducing child wasting to less than 5% by 2030, contributing to global goals to eliminate malnutrition in all its forms under the Sustainable Development Goals.