Development finance is at a turning point, as the macroeconomic environment has changed profoundly and the financing gap for low- and middle-income countries has widened. The events that led to this new situation are the multiple crises that the global economy is facing, such as the climate crisis, ...the COVID-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine. As a
result, interest rates have risen sharply over the past year and are not expected to decline anytime soon. High interest rates further restrict low- and middle-income countries’ access to international financial markets by making borrowing more expensive. At the same time, debt
levels in several countries are rising to levels that are almost impossible to repay. Poorer countries find themselves in a trap where financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) becomes a distant goal for them.
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Zambia is facing a severe economic crisis marked by high inflation, increasing poverty and a heavy debt burden that is straining both its fiscal stability and progress in health outcomes. By 2020, the country's external debt reached United States dollars (USD) 12.7 billion, representing 108% of the ...country's gross domestic product (GDP). In 2020, Zambia sought assistance through the G20 Common Framework and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Credit Facility (ECF), securing a USD 1.7 billion loan over 5 years. IMF loans, however, come with austerity measures that prioritise fiscal discipline but could potentially exacerbate social inequalities. These measures, which include increasing consumer taxes on goods and services (value added taxes - VATs), electricity tariffs and fuel prices, disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, raising concerns about their long-term effects on essential services, especially accessible and good quality healthcare services.
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Le plan stratégique de la RBM Partnership to End Malaria pour 2021-2025 présente les priorités stratégiques du partenariat mondial visant à éliminer le paludisme. Le document se concentre sur trois objectifs stratégiques principaux : optimiser les programmes régionaux et nationaux, maximiser... le financement et faciliter le déploiement de nouveaux produits et stratégies. Le plan met l'accent sur la collaboration multisectorielle, en exploitant les partenariats au niveau mondial, régional et national pour lutter efficacement contre le paludisme. Il souligne également l'importance du partage de données, du plaidoyer et de la communication pour garantir que le paludisme reste une priorité en matière de santé. Le document met aussi en lumière les défis posés par la pandémie de COVID-19 et la nécessité de maintenir l'élan dans la lutte contre le paludisme.
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Zambia has completed the implementation of the National TB Strategic Plan (2017-2021) that set in motion the TB elimination agenda in Zambia through coordinated and accelerated TB response. During this period, the National TB and Leprosy Programme (NTLP) registered tremendous success.
The NTLP is ...poised to attain the ambitious goal pronounced by the government of eliminating TB by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Health Organization End TB Strategy. The programme exponentially increased TB notifications from as low as 35,922 people with TB in 2018 to 40,726 in 2020 and in 2021 the TB notifications rose to 50,825 (a 25% increase against 2020 performance). The NTLP also registered incredible success in sustaining high TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) initiations among persons living with HIV and a high TB treatment success rate among drug-susceptible TB cases. New and relapse TB notifications in children below 15 years increased by 43%, from 2,724 in 2020 to 3,890 in 2021. TB notifications ratio between children aged 0-4 and 5-14 was 0.9, an improvement from what we achieved in 2018 (the ratio was 0.7). The proportion of TB patients who are HIV positive continued to decrease, reaching 34% in 2021 from 39% in 2020. Sustained increases in TB notifications, treatment success rate, and TPT initiations have resulted in a rapid decrease in the TB incidence rate that reached 307 per 100,000 population in 2021 against a rate of 391 in 2015.
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Three billion people – 40 per cent of the world’s population – do not have a place in their homes to wash their hands with water and soap. Three quarters of those who lack access to water and soap live in the world’s poorest countries and are amongst the most vulnerable: children and familie...s living in informal settlements, migrant and refugee camps, or in areas of active conflict. This puts an estimated 1 billion people at immediate risk of COVID-19 simply because they lack basic handwashing facilities.
The Hand Hygiene for All initiative aims to move the world towards this goal: supporting the most vulnerable communities with the means to protect their health and environment. It brings together international partners, national governments, public and private sectors, and civil society to ensure affordable products and services are available, especially in disadvantaged areas, and to enable a culture of hygiene.
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Benchmarking is a strategic process often used by businesses and institutes to standardize performance in relation to the best practices of their sector. The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have developed a tool with a list of benchmarks and corresponding suggested actions that can be a...pplied to implement the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR) and strengthen health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience capacities.
The first edition of the benchmarks was published in 2019 to support countries in developing, implementing and documenting progress of national IHR or health security plans (e.g. national action plan for health security (NAPHS), national action plan for emerging infectious diseases, public health emergencies and health security and other country level plans for health emergencies). The tool has been updated to incorporate lessons from COVID-19 and other health emergencies, to align with the updated IHR monitoring & evaluation framework (IHR MEF) tools and the health systems for health security framework, and to support strengthening health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR) capacities and the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative.
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Briefing Note 8.
Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is a strategy for adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change by harnessing nature and the services it can provide. This strategy is crucial for cities and peri-urban areas, threatened by a multitude of climate hazards and home to more than ha...lf the human population as of 2018. Despite some outmigration from the largest cities during the COVID-19 pandemic, urbanization will continue, and by 2035, 62.5 percent of the world’s population is expected to reside in urban areas. However, given the need to retrofit, replace and upgrade deteriorating urban infrastructure, and to meet the challenges of climate change, including the urban heat island effect, droughts and more intense flooding, many experts and policymakers see in these demands an opportunity to reinvent cities as greener, less prone to pandemics, and more liveable.
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Children in refugee situations face many potential dangers, such as violence, abuse, exploitation, discrimination, separation from their families, trafficking and military recruitment. The impact of these experiences can be devastating and long-lasting. Children have different needs from adults and ...these needs can only be identified and met if they are approached in a way that is specific to children.
The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic has exacerbated the dangers faced by children in refugee situations and laid bare the need for their protection and for ensuring that all their human rights are upheld all the time.
The goal of this publication is to share examples of approaches by members of the Initiative that have proven effective for children.
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In recent decades, there have been concerted efforts to improve mental health services for youths alongside the challenges of rising healthcare costs and increasing demand for mental health needs. One important phenomenon is the shift from traditional clinic-based care to community based mental heal...th services to improve accessibility to services and provide patient-centred care. In this article, we discuss the child and adolescent community mental health efforts within the Asia-Pacific region.
Brain Sci.2017,7, 126; doi:10.3390/brainsci7100126
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Los trastornos del comportamiento disruptivo son frecuentes, y están asociados a un impacto negativo tanto para los niños como para sus familias, y a un rango de peores resultados adaptativos a lo largo del desarrollo. Los problemas del comportamiento disruptivo también están asociados a un mayo...r coste para la sociedad: se estima que los costes generados por
los individuos con conductas antisociales en la infancia son al menos 10 veces más altos que los individuos que no presentan conductas antisociales, cuando alcanzan los 28 años de edad.
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Azraq refugee camp located in Zarqa governorate was established in April 2014. As of June 2023, the camp continues to hosts 40,600 Syrian refugees, with 61% of the population children, and 25% of all households female-headed (UNHCR, 2023).
The water supply system in Azraq has been operational sin...ce 2017 across the four villages of the camp and consists of 300 tap stands, two boreholes and two storage locations (each with 16 T-95 steel tanks).
Based on data from UNICEF (2022), the community is provided on average 2100 cubic meters of safe, treated water a day, which is distributed across the camp via a gravity flow system. A distribution schedule is in place, with water pumped during two shift times each day in the morning and evening. Monthly data reported through ActivityInfo (2023) shows a range 53.5-76.3 million liters per month provided through the network in 2022 for an average of 57 liters/person/day – well above the locally agreed minimum standard of 35 liters/person/day and the SPHERE standard of 15 liters/person/day.
Latrine and shower facilities in the camp are organized through communal WASH blocks shared typically between three households and connected to water and greywater networks. However, based on an ACF and World Vision assessment (2022), 60% of the surveyed households are using private latrines (50% self-constructed latrines, and 10% constructed by WASH actors), 24% of households used communal latrines as private latrines not shared with other families, and 16% reported the use of communal latrines shared with other families.
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Africa’s health sector is facing an unprecedented financing crisis, driven by a sharp decline of 70% in Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 2021 to 2025 and deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities. This collapse is placing immense pressure on Africa’s already fragile health systems as ODA ...is seen as the backbone of critical health programs: pandemic preparedness, maternal and child health services, disease control programs are all at
risk, threatening Sustainable Development Goal 3 and Universal Health Coverage. Compounding this is Africa’s spiraling debt, with countries expected to service USD 81 billion by 2025—surpassing anticipated external financing inflows—further eroding fiscal space for health investments. Level of domestic resources is low. TThe Abuja Declaration of 2001, a pivotal commitment made by African Union (AU) member states, aimed to reverse this trend by pledging to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to the health sector. However, more than two decades later, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cabo Verde—have
consistently met or exceeded this target (WHO, 2023). In contrast, over 30 AU member states remain well below the 10% benchmark, with some allocating as little as 5–7% of their national budgets to health.
In addition, only 16 (29%) of African countries currently have updated versions of National Health Development Plan (NHDP) supported by a National Health Financing Plan (NHFP). These two documents play a critical role in driving internal resource mobilisation. At the same time, public health emergencies are surging, rising 41%—from 152 in 2022 to
213 in 2024—exposing severe under-resourcing of health infrastructure and workforce. Recurring outbreaks (Mpox, Ebola, cholera, measles, Marburg…) alongside effects of climate change and humanitarian crises in Eastern DRC, the Sahel, and Sudan, are overwhelming systems stretched by chronic underfunding. The situation is worsened by Africa’s heavy dependency with over 90% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics being externally sourced—leaving countries vulnerable to global supply chain shocks. Health worker shortages persist, with only 2.3 professionals
per 1,000 people (below the WHO’s recommended 4.45), and fewer than 30% of systems are digitized, undermining disease surveillance and early warning. Without decisive action, Africa CDC projects the continent could reverse two decades of health progress, face 2 to 4 million additional preventable deaths annually, and a heightened risk of a pandemic emerging from within. Furthermore, 39 million more
Africans could be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to intertwined health and economic shocks. This is not just a sectoral crisis—it is an existential threat to Africa’s political, social, and economic resilience, and global stability. In response, African leaders, under Africa CDC’s stewardship, are advancing a comprehensive three-pillar strategy centered on domestic resource mobilization, innovative financing, and blended finance.
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По данным ВОЗ профилактика и борьба с инфекциями (ПКИЗ) –это научный подход и практическое решение, призванное предотвратить вред, который может быть причин...н инфекцией пациентам и медицинским работникам. Он основывается на исследовании инфекционных заболеваний, эпидемиологии, социологии и укреплении системы здравоохранения. ПКИЗзанимает уникальное положение в области обеспечения безопасности пациентов и общего охвата качественными услугами по охране здоровья, поскольку касается медицинских работников и пациентов при каждом контакте с системой здравоохранения.
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Заданими ВООЗ профілактика та контрольз інфекційними захворюваннями(ПКІЗ) –це науковий підхід та практичне рішення, покликане запобігти шкоді, яка може бути ...заподіянаінфекцією пацієнтамта медичнимпрацівникам. Вінґрунтується надослідженніінфекційних захворювань, епідеміології, соціологіїта зміцненні системи охорони здоров’я. ПКІЗзаймає унікальне положенняв галузі забезпечення безпеки пацієнтів та загальногоохоплення якісними послугами з охорони здоров’я, оскільки стосується медичних працівників та пацієнтів прикожному контакті з системою охорониздоров’я.
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Mehrsprachige Aufklärung zu Symptomen und Prävention
Bebilderte Informationsbroschüre zum Coronavirus mit Symptomen, vorbeugenden Maßnahmen, Infektion und Quarantäne sowie Hände waschen.
Ideal für die Beratungssituation und zum Verteilen in Gemeinschaftsunterkünften. Aufgrund der dynamisch...en Lage wird die Broschüre schrittweise angepasst. Eine einzige Broschüre für alle Bundesländer gleichermaßen passend ist leider nicht möglich. Tippen Sie im Gespräch auf die Begriffe, die für Sie gerade am passendsten sind.
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Mehrsprachige Aufklärung zu Symptomen und Prävention
Bebilderte Informationsbroschüre zum Coronavirus mit Symptomen, vorbeugenden Maßnahmen, Infektion und Quarantäne sowie Hände waschen.
Ideal für die Beratungssituation und zum Verteilen in Gemeinschaftsunterkünften. Aufgrund der dynamisch...en Lage wird die Broschüre schrittweise angepasst. Eine einzige Broschüre für alle Bundesländer gleichermaßen passend ist leider nicht möglich. Tippen Sie im Gespräch auf die Begriffe, die für Sie gerade am passendsten sind.
Sprachen: Deutsch, Albanisch, Arabisch, Bulgarisch, Englisch, Farsi, Französisch, Kurdisch, Polnisch, Rumänisch, Russisch, Serbisch, Tigrinya und Türkisch
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Mehrsprachige Aufklärung zu Symptomen und Prävention
Bebilderte Informationsbroschüre zum Coronavirus mit Symptomen, vorbeugenden Maßnahmen, Infektion und Quarantäne sowie Hände waschen.
Ideal für die Beratungssituation und zum Verteilen in Gemeinschaftsunterkünften. Aufgrund der dynamisch...en Lage wird die Broschüre schrittweise angepasst. Eine einzige Broschüre für alle Bundesländer gleichermaßen passend ist leider nicht möglich. Tippen Sie im Gespräch auf die Begriffe, die für Sie gerade am passendsten sind.
Sprachen: Deutsch, Albanisch, Arabisch, Bulgarisch, Englisch, Farsi, Französisch, Kurdisch, Polnisch, Rumänisch, Russisch, Serbisch, Tigrinya und Türkisch
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Mehrsprachige Aufklärung zu Symptomen und Prävention
Bebilderte Informationsbroschüre zum Coronavirus mit Symptomen, vorbeugenden Maßnahmen, Infektion und Quarantäne sowie Hände waschen.
Ideal für die Beratungssituation und zum Verteilen in Gemeinschaftsunterkünften. Aufgrund der dynamisch...en Lage wird die Broschüre schrittweise angepasst. Eine einzige Broschüre für alle Bundesländer gleichermaßen passend ist leider nicht möglich. Tippen Sie im Gespräch auf die Begriffe, die für Sie gerade am passendsten sind.
Sprachen: Deutsch, Albanisch, Arabisch, Bulgarisch, Englisch, Farsi, Französisch, Kurdisch, Polnisch, Rumänisch, Russisch, Serbisch, Tigrinya und Türkisch
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Mehrsprachige Aufklärung zu Symptomen und Prävention
Bebilderte Informationsbroschüre zum Coronavirus mit Symptomen, vorbeugenden Maßnahmen, Infektion und Quarantäne sowie Hände waschen.
Ideal für die Beratungssituation und zum Verteilen in Gemeinschaftsunterkünften. Aufgrund der dynamisch...en Lage wird die Broschüre schrittweise angepasst. Eine einzige Broschüre für alle Bundesländer gleichermaßen passend ist leider nicht möglich. Tippen Sie im Gespräch auf die Begriffe, die für Sie gerade am passendsten sind.
Sprachen: Deutsch, Albanisch, Arabisch, Bulgarisch, Englisch, Farsi, Französisch, Kurdisch, Polnisch, Rumänisch, Russisch, Serbisch, Tigrinya und Türkisch
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Mehrsprachige Aufklärung zu Symptomen und Prävention
Bebilderte Informationsbroschüre zum Coronavirus mit Symptomen, vorbeugenden Maßnahmen, Infektion und Quarantäne sowie Hände waschen.
Ideal für die Beratungssituation und zum Verteilen in Gemeinschaftsunterkünften. Aufgrund der dynamisch...en Lage wird die Broschüre schrittweise angepasst. Eine einzige Broschüre für alle Bundesländer gleichermaßen passend ist leider nicht möglich. Tippen Sie im Gespräch auf die Begriffe, die für Sie gerade am passendsten sind.
Sprachen: Deutsch, Albanisch, Arabisch, Bulgarisch, Englisch, Farsi, Französisch, Kurdisch, Polnisch, Rumänisch, Russisch, Serbisch, Tigrinya und Türkisch
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