16 May 2012 — One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure – a condition that causes around half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease, according to the World health statistics 2012 report released today. One in 10 adults has diabetes.

4 May 2012 – On Hand Hygiene Day (5 May), more than 15 000 health-care facilities from 156 countries are participating in the WHO Save Lives: Clean Your Hands Initiative by committing to improve patient safety by practicing better hand hygiene

2 May 2012 — Over one million of preterm babies die shortly after birth and countless others suffer some type of lifelong physical, neurological, or educational disability. An estimated 75% of preterm babies who die could survive without expensive care if a few proven and inexpensive treatments and preventions were available worldwide.

24 April 2012 — On the eve of World Malaria Day 2012, WHO hails global progress in combating malaria but highlights the need to further reinforce the fight. WHO’s new initiative, T3: Test, Treat, Track, urges malaria-endemic countries and donors to move towards universal access to diagnostic testing and antimalarial treatment, and to build robust malaria surveillance systems.

24 April 2012 — Announcing a new global strategy aimed at reducing measles deaths and congenital rubella syndrome to zero. The announcement comes with the publication of new data using a state-of-the-art methodology showing that efforts to reduce measles deaths have resulted in a 74% reduction in global measles deaths, from 2000 to 2010.

23 April 2012 – The first World Immunization Week is being held from 21 to 28 April 2012 with activities in over 180 countries. The theme of the week, ‘Protect your world: Get vaccinated’, aims to reinforce the importance of immunization and encourage people everywhere to vaccinate themselves and their children against serious diseases.

11 April 2012 — Worldwide, nearly 35.6 million people live with dementia which affects people in all countries. More than half (58%) live in low- and middle-income countries. A new WHO report, Dementia: a public health priority, recommends improving early diagnosis; raising public awareness about the disease and reducing stigma; and providing better care and more support to caregivers.

5 April 2012 — New sources of funding are needed to encourage health research specifically for diseases that affect people in developing countries.

4 March 2012 — By agreeing to the protocol, governments have reiterated their commitment to tackling illicit trade in tobacco products.

03 April 2012 — In the next few years, for the first time, there will be more people in the world aged over 60 than children aged less than five. On World Health Day (7 April), WHO is calling for urgent action to ensure that people reach old age in the best possible health.