Decades of health gains at risk in Brazil due to COVID-19

Health
© UNFPA Brazil

Although COVID-19 cases are declining in Brazil, the pandemic is putting decades of public health gains there at risk, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. 

Unsplash/Mihály Köles

Europe: COVID must spark rethink to prioritize ‘human lives’ over economic policies 

The devastating impact of COVID-19 serves as a stark reminder that the European Union must “put human lives” above economic policy considerations, that privilege competition between EU Member States, an independent UN human rights expert said on Friday. 

© UNICEF/Esiey Leul Kinfu

Ethiopia: ‘Unpredictable security’ in Tigray, hindering aid delivery

A “complex and unpredictable security situation” in Tigray continues to impede the delivery of life-saving assistance to Ethiopia’s northern region, the Deputy UN Spokesperson told journalists on Thursday.   

© WHO/Blink Media - Chiara Luxardo

Vaccinated Europeans now outnumber those infected by COVID, but ‘threat remains present’

Just over 460 days since the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Europe, more citizens living in the region have now been vaccinated, than the number infected, and although new cases and hospitalizations are falling, “the threat remains present”, a senior UN health official said on Thursday.
 

UN Photo/Violaine Martin

UN chief pledges to fight for all Cypriots, as impasse remains

UN Secretary-General António Guterres pledged on Thursday that he would continue to represent the interests of all Cypriots in future talks on the divided Mediterranean island, as an informal effort to break the impasse ended, without finding common ground.  

UNICEF/Catherine Ntabadde

UK’s 85% family planning aid cut will be devastating for women and girls says UNFPA, while UNAIDS also 'deeply regrets' cuts

The United Kingdom’s intention to cut 85 per cent of its contribution to a flagship UN family planning programme this year, will have devastating consequences for women and girls and their families across the world, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) said on Thursday.

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