WHO | Week Ahead for media | 19 June 2021

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Friday 06.18.21 | Issue 115

© WHO / Rada Akbar

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) updates

Virtual press briefings with simultaneous translation in all UN languages with the participation of the WHO Director-General are planned for this week. Media advisories with Zoom links/dial-in details will be emailed in advance. For the latest news from WHO on COVID-19 and other breaking health stories, read WHO's news updates.

Monday 21 – Friday 25 June

World Local Production Forum – Enhancing access to medicines and other health technologies

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of the global pharmaceutical supply system. With knowhow, data and technologies in the hands of a few, the world has not been able to deliver effective health tools to everyone in need. But the problem of access to vaccines, medicines and other health tools is much older than COVID. It is present in all areas of health, and will persist for decades to come, unless we take decisive action now.

The World Local Production Forum aims to kickstart a movement to strengthen pharmaceutical production capacity where it exists, and to build it where it is lacking, to ensure that all regions have a manufacturing base for health products. It comes one month after the World Health Assembly passed a resolution on strengthening local production, endorsed by more than 100 countries.

The Forum will bring together ministers, experts, representatives from UN and international organizations and from the pharmaceutical industry. Media are welcome to follow the Forum by registering here. Agenda available soon.

Tuesday, 22 June

Initiative on Health-Promoting Schools

For the Making every school a health-promoting school initiative, this global launch webinar will introduce the Initiative on Health-Promoting Schools and present the newly developed guidance package consisting of four publications:

Global and country-level stakeholders, including representatives from government and school communities will present their perspectives and experiences in implementing school health and health-promoting school approaches. Starts 13:00 CEST, register here.

The role of Primary Health Care in the COVID-19 pandemic response and leading equitable recovery

In November 2020, countries adopted the Operational Framework for Primary Health Care (PHC), which provides four strategic and 10 operational levers to transform global commitments into practical actions and strengthen PHC at the country level. The Operational Framework will help countries to implement the Declaration of Astana and build sustainable health systems based on PHC.

The High-level event: The role of Primary Health Care in the COVID-19 pandemic response and leading equitable recovery aims to:

Happening 12:00–14:00 CEST., and streaming live on the event page.

Thursday, 24 June

Self-Care Month

Thursday is the start of Self-Care Month at WHO, leading up to Self-Care Day on 24 July. Pivotal guidelines will be launched Thursday, showing how health systems can promote self-care interventions and advance health and well-being for all, including in sexual and reproductive health and rights and prevention and management of non-communicable diseases.

Among other areas, these guidelines cover innovative, evidence-based self-care diagnostics, devices, drugs and digital technologies such as self-sampling for human papillomavirus to improve screening for cervical cancer, self-administration of injectable contraceptives to reduce unintended pregnancy and self-monitoring of blood pressure to manage hypertension.
WHO will also share daily tips to improve your health.

Friday, 25 June

WHO global conference on communicating science during health emergencies -- closing

Join the WHO Information Network for Epidemics (WHO EPI-WIN) for the public closing session of the global conference on communicating science during health emergencies. The session will feature 5 innovative keynote presentations illustrating how the science behind the COVID-19 pandemic can be made relevant and accessible to all. A panel discussion will report back on the insights of the expert discussions held with researchers, media representatives, decision-makers and professionals working in health, education and culture over the past three weeks.

The audience will have the opportunity to submit questions to the keynote speakers and experts. Friday at 13:00 CEST. Please register.

COVID-19 in Africa: the role of research (Global Health Matters podcast episode #3)

Africa has not experienced the same scale of devastation from COVID-19 seen in other regions. Join host Garry Aslanyan as he and his guests explore some of the reasons why African countries have been able to deal with the pandemic so effectively. Listen to episode 3, COVID-19 in Africa: the role of research, of the Global Health Matters podcast, available now.

This episode features:
· Thabi Maitin, Division Manager at the South African Medical Research Council
· Paul Kazyoba, Director of Research at the Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research

Follow @TDRnews on Twitter, TDR on LinkedIn and @ghm_podcast on Instagram for updates. Contact TDR@who.int for further information.

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Check out the WHO series, Science in 5.

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