Every year, millions more road victims are added to the current toll of over 50 million killed and hundreds of millions injured since the first road death. When people are killed or severely injured in road traffic collisions, the world loses more than just individuals — it loses potential, ideas and future impact on society. They become lost talents. On World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (16 November) we encourage all road safety stakeholders to honor those who have died on the world’s roads, advocate for better support for victims and bereaved families and promote action to save lives.

In 2025, after a decades-long fight against malaria, Suriname was certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization. Hear the voices from the front lines.

Diabetes can impact people across all life stages, including childhood, the reproductive years, working age and older adulthood. The theme of this year’s WHO World Diabetes Day, "Diabetes across life stages,” recognizes that every person living with diabetes should have access to integrated care, supportive environments and policies that promote health, dignity and self-management. This campaign emphasizes the importance of a life-course approach to diabetes prevention, management and overall well-being.

This year’s International Day of Care and Support (29 October) aims to consolidate progress and momentum in global and regional discourses and action. The campaign highlights: key global discussions on care and support held in 2025 in Geneva, New York, and worldwide; perspectives of diverse stakeholders—including rights-holders, employers and workers’ organizations—on progress and gaps in advancing gender equality and ensuring no one is left behind in sustainable development; and major progress made by Member States across regions in transforming care and support systems.

Did you know that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of infant hospitalization worldwide? Each year it claims over 100,000 young lives. In this episode of Science in 5, WHO’s Dr Daniel Feikin shares how new immunization options can protect your baby.

Crises like disasters, conflicts, and health emergencies cause emotional distress, with one in five individuals experiencing a mental health condition. Supporting the mental well-being of individuals during such crises is not just important – it saves lives, gives people the strength to cope, the space to heal and to recover and rebuild not only as individuals but as communities. World Mental Health Day (10 October) reminds us: there is no health without mental health. This year’s campaign highlights the urgent need to support mental health and psychosocial needs in humanitarian emergencies.

Misinformation about contraception poses serious risks. Just ask Evaline Chepkemol from rural Kenya, where maternal death rates are high. Many women fear contraceptives, believing they lead to loss of children or infertility. Evaline, however, received accurate information from a UNFPA-supported hospital, allowing her to space her pregnancies safely. Unfortunately, global funding shortages threaten contraceptive availability, potentially resulting in unintended pregnancies and maternal deaths. The spread of myths, such as the idea that contraceptives can induce miscarriage, contributes to this issue, despite being factually incorrect.

On World Patient Safety Day, Amiya’s story highlights why children need specialized, safe, and collaborative health care from day one.

World Sexual Health Day is celebrated annually on September 4 to raise awareness about the importance of sexual health, rights, justice, and pleasure for all. The theme for 2025 is Sexual Justice: What Can We Do? This year, the observance has four focus areas under the main theme of sexual justice: sexual rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ adolescents, and access to information. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) support initiatives in these areas to make sexual health a reality for everyone, everywhere.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare and fatal disease that affects muscle function in children. This year’s World Duchenne Awareness Day (7 September) highlights the role that family members play in people living with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. Living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a journey marked by both physical challenges and emotional resilience, with family at its heart. Their love, support, and daily involvement play a vital role—not just in caregiving, but in shaping the quality of life and emotional well-being of those living with DMD.

Air pollution is a major environmental health risk that worsens climate change, harms economies, and reduces agricultural productivity. It affects everyone, highlighting the need for a collective approach to protect our atmosphere. By working across borders, sectors, and communities, we can reduce pollution through shared efforts and investment. On International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (7 September), we urge governments, corporations, civil society, and individuals to act. By tackling air pollution proactively, we can achieve significant change and ensure healthy air for all.

Leaders from African governments and partners are gathering this week in Japan for the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), highlighting the importance of Universal Health Coverage as essential for all. With a rapidly growing youth population in West and Central Africa, investing in health and nutrition is vital for economic potential. Strong health systems are necessary for resilience against crises like COVID-19. Despite progress, challenges remain, including limited access to care and low health spending. The World Bank aims to support health services for 1.5 billion people worldwide by 2030 – including 200 million in West and Central Africa- and is working on strategies to enhance local health systems and boost medical manufacturing across the continent.

As we approach the end of the second phase of the Safety + Health for All flagship programme, the ILO highlights some of the main achievements made so far, which have touched the lives of over 200 million workers!

When war erupted in Sudan in April 2023, it tore a deadly path through the capital, Khartoum. In the years since, fighters have brutally targeted civilians across the country, resulting in the world’s largest displacement crisis with some 12 million people forced from their homes. Today, as families begin to return to Khartoum, the scars of conflict remain painfully visible, especially in the shattered health system. UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, is part of the effort to restore what has been lost.

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in the first week of August, championed by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Ministries of Health and civil society partners around the globe. It’s a time to recognize breastfeeding as a powerful foundation for lifelong health, development, and equity. Breastfeeding delivers a hopeful future not only for children, but for societies. It reduces healthcare costs, boosts cognitive development, strengthens economies, and sets children up with healthy beginnings.