Call for Experts
Call for Proposal, EOI & RFPInternational Jobs & OpportunitiesPublic Health OpportunitiesPublic Health Opportunity

Call for applications to support the finalization of the WHO Abortion Care Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Purpose of the APW

WHO seeks a qualified supplier with expert knowledge of abortion care monitoring and evaluation, to support the finalization of the WHO Abortion Care Guideline Monitoring and Evaluation framework text and supporting materials, including Abortion Care Monitoring and Evaluation Conceptual Framework, Indicator library with metadata, and Support for country-specific abortion care monitoring and evaluation. The APW is proposed for a duration from 27 March 2023 to 15 December 2023. 

Background

The World Health Organization’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH) includes the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP). Located in Geneva, HRP is the main instrument within the United Nations system for identifying research priorities on sexual and reproductive health and rights; for promoting, conducting, evaluating and coordinating related interdisciplinary research; for collaborating with countries to build national capacity to conduct research; and for promoting the use of research results in policy making and sexual and reproductive health programmes. The Department draws on research and global expertise to set norms and standards and develop global guidelines on sexual and reproductive health and rights. More information about SRH and HRP.

The Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Unit (PUA) is responsible for research and development, innovation, evidence synthesis, development of guidance and implementation tools, provision of specialized technical support, and dissemination of information on evidence-based practices on prevention of unsafe abortion, including safe and quality abortion services and post-abortion care. 

WHO/HRP is currently developing the Abortion Care Guideline Monitoring and Evaluation framework and indicators, a derivative product of the new Abortion Care Guideline (2022), to update the Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Improvement Guidance from the Safe Abortion: Technical and Policy Guidance (2012). 

In addition to aligning with the Abortion Care Guideline, updated Abortion Care Guideline Monitoring and Evaluation materials will align with the WHO and UNICEF Primary Health Care Measurement Framework and Indicators (2022). The M&E guidance will build on HRP’s existing abortion M&E portfolio.

Work to be performed

Objectives:

  • Prepare Abortion Care Guideline Monitoring and Evaluation framework and supporting materials for initial and final expert review on-line meetings 
  • Prepare Abortion Care Guideline Monitoring and Evaluation framework and supporting materials for final expert document review 
  • Finalize Abortion Care Guideline Monitoring and Evaluation framework and supporting materials by responding to expert comments and recommendations 
  • Support organization and implementation of expert review meetings and expert document review 

Expected outputs: 

  • Finalized WHO Abortion Care Guideline Monitoring and Evaluation framework text and supporting materials for publication 

Specific requirements 

Qualifications required: 

  • Qualification in public health, demography, epidemiology, social sciences, or related field.  
  • Extensive experience in sexual and reproductive health, specifically abortion, monitoring and evaluation
    • Experience monitoring and evaluation abortion programs in low- and/or middle-income countries, including development of monitoring and evaluation plans, implementing evaluation activities, analysing and reporting monitoring and evaluation data;  
    • Experience in qualitative and quantitative indicator development, testing and implementation,  
    • Experience in metadata development, including indicator-specific instructions for data analysis and output 
  • Familiarity with WHO tools and guidelines on abortion care.  
  • Demonstrated skills in coordinating with multiple stakeholders in an international environment;  
  • Being adept at working in a fast-paced environment, working with multiple teams   
  • Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable 
  • Strong planning and organizational capability, demonstrated ability to manage converging priorities and deliver high-quality products under tight deadlines. 
  • Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with counterparts, and with the international constituency with which the project relates.   

Place of assignment 

Support will be provided remotely at a location at the discretion of the service provider. 

Travel 

No travel is expected. 

Application Process 

Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV by 15 March 2023 to: srhpua@who.int. 

Applications received after this date will not be accepted. In the email subject line, please put “Abortion Care Guideline Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and Indicators”.   Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. 

Deadline for application: 15 March 2023 at 18:00 Geneva Switzerland time (CET)

Official Link

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Call for Experts
Call for Proposal, EOI & RFPEnvironmental Health & Climate ChangeInternational Jobs & OpportunitiesPublic Health OpportunitiesPublic Health Opportunity

Call for Experts: WHO Technical Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members one of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health. This “Call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.

Background

Exposure to environmental, climatic and occupational risk factors causes an estimated 13.3 million deaths globally each year. The economic recovery from the ongoing crises of the Covid-19 pandemic, violent conflicts, environmental pollution and anthropogenic climate change must be healthy, green and fair. Countries, sub-national governments and international organizations are making significant efforts to reduce environmental pollution, curb climate change, ensure decent work, and design economic stimuli while ensuring health for all. The economic case for investments in interventions addressing environmental, climatic and occupational risk factors comprises a heath economic argument, as well as economic co-benefits within and across the environment, climate and labour sectors.

The World Health Organization and its Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECH) look to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary action and influence public policies in all sectors, to address the root causes of environmental threats to health. ECH develops and promotes preventive policies and interventions based on an in-depth, scientific analysis of the evidence base for environmental determinants of human health. ECH is guided and mandated by the WHO Global Strategy on Health, Environment and Climate Change.

ECH has established a new and dedicated work stream of environmental health economic evaluation and analysis. This work stream seeks to develop a standard approach for conducting and reporting environmental health economic evaluation and analysis, produce a set of official environmental health economic estimates, and deliver a case for global investment in environment, climate change and health. This will include the conduct of global cost-benefit analyses of selected intervention packages, such as improved infrastructure for water, sanitation and hygiene; cleaner cooking stoves; phase out of selected fossil fuel subsidies; and regulation of working time to healthy limits.

Functions of the Technical Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health

  • To provide independent evaluation of the scientific technical and strategic aspects of the economics for environment, climate change and health, with a focus on the global Investment Case for Health, Environment and Climate Change;
  • To recommend priority topics related to economic evaluation and analysis for environment, climate change and health for consideration within the Organization and/or relevant technical unit;
  • To advise WHO on its economic evaluation and analysis for environment, climate change and health, especially as it relates to the global Investment Case for Health, Environment and Climate Change; and
  • To review and make recommendations to WHO on disease and intervention priorities, economic models and estimates (e.g., of cost of inaction, intervention costs, economic benefits, and cost-benefits), and economic arguments for interventions addressing environmental, climatic and occupational risk factors.

Operations of the Technical Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health

The Technical Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health. All AG meetings will be held virtually, but interim teleconferences with selected group members may also be required. The WHO Secretariat will share products with the AG by email for the members to review and provide advice in a timely manner (to be specified for each task). The working language of the group will be English.

Who can express interest?

The Technical Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health  will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to health and environmental economics. Approximately 15 individual experts may be selected.

WHO welcomes expressions of interest from scientists, healthcare professionals and healthcare regulators with expertise in the following areas:

  • health economics
  • environmental economics
  • climate change economics
  • labour economics
  • public financing
  • investment cases
  • cost-benefit analysis

Submitting your expression of interest

To register your interest in being considered for the Technical Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health , please submit the following documents by 29 March 2023 to pegaf@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the Technical Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health“:

  • A cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria. Please note that, if selected, membership will be in a personal capacity. Therefore do not use the letterhead or other identification of your employer);
  • Your curriculum vitae; and
  • A signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts, available at https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest.

After submission, your expression of interest will be reviewed by WHO. Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed. 

Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment

Members of WHO advisory groups (AGs) must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, applicants are required to complete the WHO Declaration of Interests for WHO Experts, and the selection as a member of a AG is, amongst other things, dependent on WHO determining that there is no conflict of interest or that any identified conflicts could be appropriately managed (in addition to WHO’s evaluation of an applicant’s experience, expertise and motivation and other criteria).

All AG members will serve in their individual expert capacity and shall not represent any governments, any commercial industries or entities, any research, academic or civil society organizations, or any other bodies, entities, institutions or organizations. They are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts (https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest). AG members will be expected to sign and return a completed confidentiality undertaking prior to the beginning of the first meeting.

At any point during the selection process, telephone interviews may be scheduled between an applicant and the WHO Secretariat to enable WHO to ask questions relating to the applicant’s experience and expertise and/or  to assess whether the applicant meets the criteria for membership in the relevant AG.

The selection of members of the AGs will be made by WHO in its sole discretion, taking into account  the following (non-exclusive) criteria: relevant technical expertise; experience in international and country policy work; communication skills; and ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations .The selection of AG members will also take account of the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, especially from low and middle-income countries, and for gender balance.

If selected by WHO, proposed members will be sent an invitation letter and a Memorandum of Agreement. Appointment as a member of a AG will be subject to the proposed member returning to WHO the countersigned copy of these two documents.

WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest , to annul the open call process and reject all expressions of interest at any time without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or applicants and without any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the grounds for WHO’s action. WHO may also decide, at any time, not to proceed with the establishment of the AG, disband an existing TAG or modify the work of the AG.

WHO shall not in any way be obliged to reveal, or discuss with any applicant, how an expression of interest was assessed, or to provide any other information relating to the evaluation/selection process or to state the reasons for not choosing a member.

WHO may publish the names and a short biography of the selected individuals on the WHO internet.

AG members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the AG or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of AG members to participate in AG meetings will be covered by WHO in accordance with its applicable policies, rules and procedures.

The appointment will be limited in time as indicated in the letter of appointment.

If you have any questions about this “Call for experts”, please write to pegaf@who.int well before the applicable deadline.

Deadline: 29 March 2023

OFFICIAL LINK

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Public Health Update | Up to date public health info & Opportunities
Call for Proposal, EOI & RFPDrug and MedicineNotice

WHO 2023 data call is now open for antibacterials in the preclinical development pipeline

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Developers of traditional and nontraditional agents intended against pathogens on the WHO BPPL and against other medically important pathogens are encouraged to submit their data

Introduction 

In January 2020 WHO published its first global analyses of the preclinical antibacterial pipeline, based on publicly available data. The data were primarily gathered through an open data call, with planned annual updates.

The antibacterial pre-clinical pipeline was reviewed again in 2021, and the updates were published in 2022. The updated data are available on the open source WHO Global Health R&D Observatory, and the full updated analyses was also published in the WHO report entitled:  2021 antibacterial agents in clinical and preclinical development: an overview and analysis. 

WHO 2023 data call for antibacterial agents in preclinical development pipeline aims to collect data on traditional and non-traditional antibacterial agents candidates intended against the WHO bacterial priority pathogens (WHO BPPL) and other antibacterial resistant pathogens of public health importance.

This year WHO is collecting information on antimicrobials relevant for AMR including other medically important resistant pathogens, that are not included in the 2017 WHO BPPL.

The 2023 preclinical data updates and analyses will feed into the open WHO source Global Health R&D Observatory and will be available for all stakeholders.

We would like to thank those who have responded to previous WHO data calls and encourage your participation in this year’s data call. 

Scope and definitions

For this data call/review, the term “preclinical products” refers to all products* from lead-optimization (post hit expansion), preclinical candidate, to formal CTA/IND enabling studies prior to the commencement of human testing.  

  • Lead optimization: iterative in vitro and in vivo screens of lead compounds to generate suitable pharmacological, safety and pharmacokinetic profiles of one or more candidates to progress into preclinical development.   
  • Preclinical candidate: a lead compound, or a shortlist of compounds that are being actively compared, that have been evaluated in initial toxicology tests and demonstrates the required safety profile which when combined with a suitable understanding of pharmacological efficacy warrants advancement. 
  • CTA/IND-enabling studies: studies including detailed ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) studies and GLP (good laboratory practice) toxicology, as well as formulation and manufacturing development necessary to obtain the permission from regulatory authorities to begin human clinical testing. 


* Note: For any given program, if a medicinal chemistry backup program is ongoing in parallel with advancement of a lead compound(s) in the same chemical series then the development phase of the most advanced compound being actively studied should be recorded. Inclusion criteria and scope of WHO analysis for antibacterial agents in preclinical development

Products that are active against WHO bacterial priority pathogens, M. tuberculosis, C. difficile or other medically important bacterial pathogens should be included in the preclinical pipeline analysis.  These include: 

  1. Directly and indirectly acting small molecule antibacterial agents (including antimycobacterial drugs)
  2. Anti-virulence agents and biofilm disruptors 
  3. Potentiators or enablers that improve activity of existing products (e.g., resistance modulating agents, BLI, penetration enablers, efflux inhibitors)
  4. Large molecules (natural products, e.g., antimicrobial peptides, biologics, e.g., antibodies, bacteriophages and bacteriophages derived products)
  5. Microbiome modifying agents
  6. Immunomodulators
  7. Repurposed non-antibiotics
  8. Repurposed from animal to human use antibiotics
  9. De-colonization agents
  10. Combination therapies

Companies, institutions, and individuals are invited to submit data on their products that are in the preclinical pipeline that fulfil the above inclusion criteria. Data submitted should be non-confidential and will be made available publicly on the WHO Global Health R&D Observatory. 

Exclusion criteria (for antibacterial agents in preclinical development)

Products excluded from this analysis are diagnostics, vaccines, antivirals, antiparasitics and antifungals as they are covered through other WHO programmes/publications.

In addition, wound care products, unspecific supportive treatments, topical or locally administered products targeting mild skin or local infections, medical devices, industrial or animal use are also not included. 

Data collection form links

WHO 2023 survey on antibacterial agents in the preclinical developmental pipeline.

Opening date: 6 March 2023 at 12:00 Geneva time

Closing date: 17 April 2023 at 23:30 Geneva time

Official link

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Call for Experts
Call for Proposal, EOI & RFPInternational Jobs & OpportunitiesMaternal, Newborn and Child HealthPublic Health OpportunitiesPublic Health Opportunity

Call for experts: Technical Advisory Group on WHO Maternal and Perinatal Health Guidelines

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Technical Advisory Group on WHO Maternal and Perinatal Health Guidelines. This “Call for experts” provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.

Background

The WHO is the normative entity of the United Nations tasked to develop and disseminate evidence-based guidance to improve health outcomes. The Maternal Perinatal Health (MPH) Team of the WHO Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and HRP (the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction) maintains a portfolio of over 300 recommendations related to maternal/perinatal care. As part of its commitment to addressing global and country-level needs for up-to-date guidance on interventions to improve maternal/perinatal health, the MPH Team instituted a “living guideline approach” to optimize updates of recommendations.  More information about HRP.

Regular and systematic assessment of contextual factors across all existing recommendations and consideration for the need to issue recommendations for emergent issues in maternal perinatal health are required to ensure that the published recommendations remain valid in the context of available evidence. This role was previously performed by the Executive Guideline Steering Group which maintained a leadership role in the guideline updating procedures and supported WHO on priorities for updates to the guidance portfolio.

This Technical Advisory Group will provide continuity in the work previously undertaken by the Executive Guideline Steering Group.

Functions of the Technical Advisory Group on WHO Maternal and Perinatal Health Guidelines

  1. To recommend to WHO priority guideline recommendations or questions for updating existing maternal perinatal recommendations (or guideline questions) for updating;
  2. To identify and recommend new questions that should be addressed within the context of updating maternal and perinatal health thematic areas already covered by existing WHO guidelines;
  3. To recommend to WHO a scope for new guidelines within maternal and perinatal health thematic areas, including specific issues that need to be addressed in future WHO guidelines;
  4. To support WHO in maintaining an up-to-date and balanced portfolio of evidence-based recommendations in maternal and perinatal health.

Operations of the Technical Advisory Group on WHO Maternal and Perinatal Health Guidelines

The Advisory Group (AG) shall normally meet at least once each year. In-person meetings are held for approximately 3-4 days each time. However, WHO may convene additional meetings. AG meetings may be held in person  (at WHO headquarters in Geneva or another location, as determined by WHO) or virtually, via video or teleconference.

AG meetings may be held in open and/or closed sessions, as decided by the Chairperson in consultation with WHO.

(a) Open sessions: Open sessions shall be convened for the sole purpose of the exchange of non-confidential information and views, and may be attended by Observers (as defined in paragraph III.3 below).

(b) Closed sessions: The sessions dealing with the formulation of advice to WHO shall be restricted to the members of the AG and essential WHO Secretariat staff.

The quorum for AG meetings shall be two-thirds of the members.

Members of the Advisory Group may be requested to review documents in between meetings (virtual or in-person). Interim teleconferences may be required of the members.

The Advisory Group may establish sub-groups to work on specific issues. The deliberations of these groups will be by virtual tele- or video conference. No quorum requirement will apply.

The working language for the group will be English.

Who can express interest?

The Technical Advisory Group on WHO Maternal and Perinatal Health Guidelines will be multidisciplinary, with members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience  relevant to maternal, perinatal, and newborn health. Approximately [15] may be selected.

WHO welcomes expressions of interest from:

  • Scientists, healthcare professionals, and consumer representatives, with expertise in the following areas:
    • Clinical practice as related to the screening, prevention, diagnosis, and management of maternal, perinatal, and newborn health conditions; as related to pregnancy, childbirth,  and the postnatal periods
    • Maternal, perinatal, and newborn health research,
    • Policy and programme development in maternal, perinatal, and newborn health
    • Health systems and programme delivery; and/or
    • Ethics, equity, human rights and gender in public health and sexual and reproductive health.
    • Perspectives of affected individuals

Submitting your expression of interest

To register your interest in being considered for the [name of the advisory group, please submit the following documents by 5 April 2023, 12:00h (noon) Geneva time to srhmph@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the Technical Advisory Group on WHO Maternal and Perinatal Health Guidelines”.

  • A cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and how you satisfy the selection criteria.
  • Please note that, if selected, membership will be in a personal capacity. Therefore do not use
  • the letterhead or other identification of your employer);
  • Your curriculum vitae; and
  • A signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts, available here.

After submission, your expression of interest will be reviewed by WHO. Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed.

Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment

Members of WHO advisory groups (AGs) must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, applicants are required to complete the WHO Declaration of Interests for WHO  Experts, and the selection as a member of an AG is, amongst other things, dependent on WHO determining that there is no conflict of interest or that any identified conflicts could be appropriately  managed (in addition to WHO’s evaluation of an applicant’s experience, expertise and motivation and other criteria).

All AG members will serve in their individual expert capacity and shall not represent any governments, any commercial industries or entities, any research, academic or civil society organizations, or any other  bodies, entities, institutions or organizations. They are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts. AG members  will be expected to sign and return a completed confidentiality undertaking prior to the beginning of the first meeting.

At any point during the selection process, telephone interviews may be scheduled between an applicant and the WHO Secretariat to enable WHO to ask questions relating to the applicant’s experience and expertise and/or to assess whether the applicant meets the criteria for membership in the relevant AG.

The selection of members of the AGs will be made by WHO in its sole discretion, taking into account the following (non-exclusive) criteria: relevant technical expertise; experience in international and country policy work; communication skills; and ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations. The selection of AG members will also take into account the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, especially from low and middle-income countries, and for gender balance.

If selected by WHO, proposed members will be sent an invitation letter and a Memorandum of Agreement. Appointment as a member of an AG will be subject to the proposed member returning to  WHO the countersigned copy of these two documents.

WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest, to annul the open call process and reject all expressions of interest at any time without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or  applicants and without any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the grounds for WHO’s action. WHO may also decide, at any time, not to proceed with the establishment of the AG,  disband an existing TAG or modify the work of the AG.

WHO shall not in any way be obliged to reveal, or discuss with any applicant, how an expression of  interest was assessed, or to provide any other information relating to the evaluation/selection process or to state the reasons for not choosing a member.

WHO may publish the names and a short biography of the selected individuals on the WHO internet.

AG members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the AG or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of AG members to participate in AG meetings will be covered by WHO in accordance with its applicable policies, rules and procedures.

The appointment will be limited in time as indicated in the letter of appointment. If you have any questions about this “Call for experts”, please write to choud@who.int well before the applicable deadline.

Official Link

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World Health Organization (WHO) Global report on sodium intake reduction
International Plan, Policy & GuidelinesNon- Communicable Diseases (NCDs)Public Health NewsReports

Massive efforts needed to reduce salt intake and protect lives

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

WHO, 9 March 2023, News release

A first-of-its-kind World Health Organization (WHO) Global report on sodium intake reduction shows that the world is off-track to achieve its global target of reducing sodium intake by 30% by 2025. 

Sodium, an essential nutrient, increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death when eaten in excess. The main source of sodium is table salt (sodium chloride), but it is also contained in other condiments such as sodium glutamate. The report shows that only 5% of WHO Member States are protected by mandatory and comprehensive sodium reduction policies and 73% of WHO Member States lack full range of implementation of such policies.

Implementing highly cost-effective sodium reduction policies could save an estimated 7 million lives globally by 2030. It is an important component of action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing deaths from noncommunicable diseases. But today, only nine countries (Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uruguay) have a comprehensive package of recommended policies to reduce sodium intake.

“Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of death and disease globally, and excessive sodium intake is one of the main culprits,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This report shows that most countries are yet to adopt any mandatory sodium reduction policies, leaving their people at risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems. WHO calls on all countries to implement the ‘Best Buys’ for sodium reduction, and on manufacturers to implement the WHO benchmarks for sodium content in food.”

A comprehensive approach to sodium reduction includes adopting mandatory policies and WHO’s four “best buy” interventions related with sodium which greatly contribute to preventing noncommunicable diseases. These include:

  1. Reformulating foods to contain less salt, and setting targets for the amount of sodium in foods and meals
  2. Establishing public food procurement policies to limit salt or sodium rich foods in public institutions such as hospitals, schools, workplaces and nursing homes
  3. Front-of-package labelling that helps consumers select products lower in sodium
  4. Behaviour change communication and mass media campaigns to reduce salt/sodium consumption

Countries are encouraged to establish sodium content targets for processed foods, in line with the WHO Global Sodium Benchmarks and enforce them though these policies.

Mandatory sodium reduction policies are more effective, as they achieve broader coverage and safeguard against commercial interests, while providing a level playing field for food manufacturers. As part of the report, WHO developed a Sodium country score card for Member States based on the type and number of sodium reduction policies they have in place. 

“This important report demonstrates that countries must work urgently to implement ambitious, mandatory, government-led sodium reduction policies to meet the global target of reducing salt consumption by 2025,” said Dr Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, a not-for-profit organization working with countries to prevent 100 million deaths from cardiovascular disease over 30 years. “There are proven measures that governments can implement and important innovations, such as low sodium salts. The world needs action, and now, or many more people will experience disabling or deadly—but preventable—heart attacks and strokes.”

The global average salt intake is estimated to be 10.8 grams per day, more than double the WHO recommendation of less than 5 grams of salt per day (one teaspoon). Eating too much salt makes it the top risk factor for diet and nutrition-related deaths. More evidence is emerging documenting links between high sodium intake and increased risk of other health conditions such as gastric cancer, obesity, osteoporosis and kidney disease.

WHO calls on Member States to implement sodium intake reduction policies without delay and to mitigate the harmful effects of excessive salt consumption. WHO also calls on food manufacturers to set ambitious sodium reduction targets in their products.

WHO global report on sodium intake reduction

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END TB
Call for Proposal, EOI & RFPCommunicable DiseasesConsultantInternational Jobs & OpportunitiesPublic Health OpportunitiesPublic Health OpportunityTraining

Call for Applications for TB training consultants on epidemiological and programme

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

7 March 2023 | Geneva The Global TB Programme at WHO is pleased to launch a call for applications to expand its global pool of consultants providing technical assistance to National TB Programmes throughout the strategic planning process.

Successful candidates will be invited to attend a five-day workshop held from 5 to 9 June 2023 in Europe (specific location TBD) for training on TB surveillance and programmatic activities related to Epidemiological Reviews and Programme Reviews. These activities play an important role in the situational analysis and generate evidence for informing programme improvement as part of routine monitoring and supervision. Therefore, training on both activities will take place in parallel with cross-cutting components to highlight their complementarity.

Consultants will develop their capacity to conduct epidemiological and programme reviews in different settings according to WHO guidance. Participants who successfully complete the training and demonstrate the relevant skills and competencies to undertake epidemiological or programme reviews may have the opportunity to be placed on a global roster of consultants managed by WHO. Consultants on the WHO global roster of consultants may then be contacted for future collaboration on TB surveillance and programmatic activities by different entities.

Transportation costs and daily per diem during the workshop will be covered by WHO.

Details relating to the objectives and expected outcomes of the workshop, as well as candidate profiles can be found at the link below:

Building capacity on national strategic planning for TB: expanding WHOs global pool of consultants in epidemiological and programme reviews

Questions related to this call can be sent to TSC_TB@who.int.

Interested candidates should submit their updated CV and a letter of interest that responds to the candidate profile (listed in the document above) for training on either Epidemiological Reviews or Programme Reviews.

Interested candidates should submit their online application to TSC_TB@who.int, no later than Wednesday, 22 March 2023.

Please include either “Stream A – Epidemiological Reviews” or “Stream B – Programme Reviews” in the subject line of your e-mail to clearly indicate for which training stream the application should be considered.

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TDR
Grants and Funding OpportunitiesImplementation ResearchInternational Jobs & OpportunitiesPublic Health OpportunitiesPublic Health OpportunityResearch & Project GrantsResearch & Project Grants

WHO Western Pacific Region/TDR Impact Grants for Implementation Research for Regional Priorities

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Call for applications! 2023–2024 Joint WHO Western Pacific Region/TDR Impact Grants for Implementation Research for Regional Priorities

This call is for applications to conduct implementation research that will inform policy and public health practice for reaching the unreached, with a focus on communicable diseases.

The call is open to principal investigators who are based in an institution located in low- and middle-income countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region including: American Samoa, Cambodia, China, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.

This call aims to facilitate and strengthen public health-oriented implementation research focused on reaching unreached populations, primarily through integrated health service delivery in the Western Pacific Region. Implementation research activities supported by this call may be complementary to those supported by other stakeholders interested in these research areas.

The focus of this call is on the following priorities, with illustrative research areas below. Additionally, specific gaps in knowledge related to priority communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), malaria, dengue and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and their risk factors and exogenous factors are of interest in this call. Note that this is not an exclusive list of submission possibilities:

  • Promoting integrated service delivery
  • Promoting innovations and systems approach to reach the unreached
  • Promoting multisectorial and One Health approaches

Proposals will be selected on a competitive basis by external reviewers and WHO staff in the WHO Western Pacific Region and TDR. Applications will be evaluated on their scientific merit, relevance, feasibility and public health impact of the project. 

Deadline for applications: : 3 May 2023 (23:59 PHT)

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Interim Guidance on Clinical Management of Mpox (Monkeypox) 2079
National Plan, Policy & GuidelinesOutbreak NewsResearch & Publication

Interim Guidance on Clinical Management of Mpox (Monkeypox) 2079

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Overview

The Curative Service Division (CSD), DoHS has released a new guideline on Clinical Management of Mpox (Monkeypox), aims to provide a scientific guidance to healthcare providers. This interim guidance was developed based on the learnings of endemic countries and recent scientific evidences.

This document will provides a summary of the diseases etiology, preventive measures, infection, prevention and control and clinical case management. As ongoing outbreak of mpox is declared as the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 23rd July 2022 by WHO, this guideline will facilitate policy makers and healthcare providers to prevent, treat and manage Mpox in local context of Nepal.

Table of contents

  • Natural History and Disease Severity
  • Epidemiology
  • Clinical features
  • Laboratory diagnosis
  • Case definitions for mpox outbreak in non-endemic countries
  • Management
  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • Surveillance
  • Antivirals and Vaccines
  • Risk Management
  • Preventive Measure
  • Living Guidance for Integrating Gender, Equity and Human Rights (GER)

Download Guideline

Download Guideline

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International Women's Day
Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH)Global Health NewsMaternal, Newborn and Child HealthPH Important DayPublic Health NewsPublic Health Update

International Women’s Day: Achieve access for all women and girls to digital innovations and technologies

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

By Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia

On International Women’s Day, WHO is calling for intensified action in the South-East Asia Region and across the world to ensure that every woman and girl, everywhere has timely and equitable access to digital innovations and technologies that can protect, promote and support health and well-being, and accelerate gender equality.

For both women and men, digital innovations and technologies hold immense potential to increase access to essential health services, and to improve health and well-being. However, gender inequality constraints the ability of women and girls to benefit, compounding existing inequities in health outcomes. An estimated 61% of women in the Asia Pacific use the internet, compared to 75% of men. Women are about 12% less likely to own mobile phones than men, and among those not owning mobile phones, women outnumber men by 39%.

Women are under-represented in tech sector jobs and leadership roles, which could lead to unconscious bias in the design and development of new digital products, including for health and well-being. In 2022, women comprised 33% of the workforce in the 20 largest global technology companies. However, they held just one in four leadership positions.

Similar disparities exist in the health workforce. Women comprise about 70% of the global health workforce but hold just 25% of senior roles. This could impact the design and delivery of digital health and other interventions, as well as health policies and systems more broadly. WHO analysis shows that women leaders often expand the health agenda, strengthening health for all and targeting health inequities.

Despite these and other challenges, countries of the Region have in recent years developed bold, innovative uses for digital technologies, with the aim of advancing the health and well-being of women and girls, as well as supporting female health workers. Since 2013, Timor-Leste has connected pregnant women and their health providers through health-related text messages and conversations, reaching over 100 000 pregnant women. Since 2014, India’s Kilkari application has delivered weekly, time-sensitive audio information about reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health directly to families’ mobile phones nationally.

In 2019, Bangladesh launched a web-based e-learning module on clinical management of rape, with the aim of building the capacity of health workers to respond to the needs of survivors of gender-based violence. In Thailand, the ‘AorSorMor’ online mobile application functions as a social network tool that provides relevant up-to-date information to connect health care staff among primary health care units and village health workers, most of whom are women.

In all countries of the Region, gaps in digital access, use and skills must be closed, and inequities in digital leadership and decision-making overcome. Countries must continue to strengthen gender analysis, which can reveal the reasons for gender differences in health and health policies, programmes and interventions, including digital health interventions.

Digital health solutions must specifically address the underlying and interlinked causes of the gender digital divide, such as poverty, lack of empowerment, gender inequality and weak health, education and social protection services. Emerging forms of online violence – for example stalking, abuse, trolling and even trafficking – must be urgently addressed to avoid adverse health outcomes and ensure all women and girls can use the internet safely.  

Gender-sensitive assessments and gender-responsive interventions should be applied to enhance health and health equity, and an increased role for women in the digital health space should be actively pursued to accelerate health for all and gender equality more broadly.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing gender inequalities, and by one estimate, has increased the time it will take to achieve gender equality globally, from 100 years to 132 years. However, new digital tools in health and other sectors can help close the gap and accelerate progress towards gender equality – but only if they are appropriately designed and delivered, and accessible to all women and girls.

On International Women’s Day, WHO reiterates its commitment to support all countries of the Region to ensure that every woman and girl, everywhere has timely and equitable access to digital innovations and technologies, for a healthier, more just and gender-equal Region and world.

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Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator | Calculate Your Body Mass Index
DashboardLife Style & Public Health NutritionPublic HealthPublic Health Tools

Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator | Calculate Your Body Mass Index

by Public Health Update
written by Public Health Update

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2).

BMI is derived from a person’s weight in kilograms, divided by height (squared) in centimetres. The recommended levels are adapted from the global WHO recommendation of 18.5–24.9 as a normal BMI.

For adults over 20 years old, BMI falls into one of the following categories.

Nutritional status

BMINutritional status
Below 18.5Underweight
18.5–24.9Normal weight
25.0–29.9Pre-obesity
30.0–34.9Obesity class I
35.0–39.9Obesity class II
Above 40Obesity class III
BMI: Nutritional status

BMI Calculator

BMI Calculator
World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for a healthy lifestyle

To ensure a healthy lifestyle, WHO recommends eating lots of fruits and vegetables, reducing fat, sugar and salt intake and exercising. Based on height and weight, people can check their body mass index (BMI) to see if they are overweight. WHO provides a series of publications to promote and support healthy lifestyles.

12 steps to healthy eating
  1. Eat a nutritious diet based on a variety of foods originating mainly from plants, rather than animals.
  2. Eat bread, whole grains, pasta, rice or potatoes several times per day.
  3. Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits, preferably fresh and local, several times per day (at least 400g per day).
  4. Maintain body weight between the recommended limits (a BMI of 18.5–25) by taking moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity, preferably daily.
  5. Control fat intake (not more than 30% of daily energy) and replace most saturated fats with unsaturated fats.
  6. Replace fatty meat and meat products with beans, legumes, lentils, fish, poultry or lean meat.
  7. Use milk and dairy products (kefir, sour milk, yoghurt and cheese) that are low in both fat and salt.
  8. Select foods that are low in sugar, and eat free sugars sparingly, limiting the frequency of sugary drinks and sweets.
  9. Choose a low-salt diet. Total salt intake should not be more than one teaspoon (5g) per day, including the salt in bread and processed, cured and preserved foods. (Salt iodization should be universal where iodine deficiency is a problem)
  10. WHO does not set particular limits for alcohol consumption because the evidence shows that the ideal solution for health is not to drink at all, therefore less is better.
  11. Prepare food in a safe and hygienic way. Steam, bake, boil or microwave to help reduce the amount of added fat.
  12. Promote exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, and the introduction of safe and adequate complementary foods from the age of about 6 months. Promote the continuation of breastfeeding during the first 2 years of life.

Source of info: WHO

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