The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 2.2 billion people globally still lack access to safely managed drinking water, a challenge that is growing increasingly urgent as demand for this essential resource rises. This issue is the focus of the 35th World Water Week, currently taking place in Stockholm from 24 to 28 August,… [Read More]
WHO
African Health Ministers Approve New Framework to Fast-Track Oral Health Progress
African health ministers at the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Lusaka, Zambia, have endorsed a new framework aimed at accelerating progress in oral health across the continent. The initiative addresses the widespread prevalence of oral diseases affecting around 42% of the African population and sets ambitious targets, including providing at… [Read More]
Health Communication Network Enhances Emergency Response Capabilities in Angola
Angola has taken a significant step to strengthen public health communication by organizing a national training session focused on the role of the media in responding to health emergencies. The training, supported by the Ministry of Health (MINSA), the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technology, and Social Communication (MINTTICS), the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF,… [Read More]
African Health Ministers Launch Regional Forum to Strengthen Healthcare Collaboration
African health ministers convened in Lusaka, Zambia, to open the Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, the continent’s highest decision-making body on health. From 25 to 27 August 2025, representatives from all 47 WHO African Region countries will discuss measures to tackle pressing health challenges and endorse key resolutions… [Read More]
UN Experts Urge Immediate and Unconditional Release of Malian Activist Clément Mamadou Dembélé
UN experts have called for the immediate and unconditional release of Malian civil society activist Clément Mamadou Dembélé, who remains in detention despite being cleared of all charges by a court. They urged Malian authorities to comply with the order issued on 17 April 2025 by the investigating judge of the first chamber of the… [Read More]
AB Charity Foundation Donates $1 Million to Jet Li’s Come Together Foundation
The AB Charity Foundation (AB Foundation) has announced a donation of US$1 million to the Come Together Foundation, established by internationally acclaimed actor Jet Li（李连杰）, to support its ongoing philanthropic initiatives. This contribution underscores the shared commitment of both foundations to global public welfare and humanitarian support. Founded in May 2025 in Ireland, the AB… [Read More]
Save the Children Opens First National Office in Syria to Expand Support for Children
Save the Children has opened its first national office in Syria, marking a major shift after 13 years of being managed from neighbouring countries. The organisation now operates exclusively from within Syria through hubs in Damascus, Aleppo, Raqqa, and Qamishli, employing more than 1,050 staff—96% of whom are Syrian nationals. This move places decision-making and… [Read More]
CommBank’s Can4Cancer Campaign Reaches $20 Million Fundraising Milestone
Over the past decade, Commonwealth Bank (CommBank) employees have dedicated themselves to walking, cycling, running, and swimming thousands of kilometres to raise funds for cancer research. Now in its 11th year, the Can4Cancer initiative has surpassed a major milestone, raising more than $20 million for Tour de Cure. These funds have supported 189 cancer projects… [Read More]
Ethiopia’s Controversial Draft Civil Society Law Faces Global Criticism
Human Rights Watch has issued a warning that Ethiopia’s proposed amendments to its civil society law pose a severe threat to civic freedom and democratic accountability. Marketed as regulatory reform, the draft legislation would consolidate authoritarian control while eliminating independent civic voices, obstructing public scrutiny, and suppressing electoral accountability ahead of the 2026 national elections…. [Read More]
Highland Park Allocates $2M in State Funds for Sheridan Road Sidewalk Amid Tree Removal Debate
The Highland Park City Council has unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement to use state funds for constructing a new sidewalk along a half-mile stretch of Sheridan Road near Rosewood Beach. The project, first presented to the council in 2016, aims to address long-standing safety concerns and is now scheduled to begin in 2026. The sidewalk… [Read More]
South Africans Face HIV Medication Shortages Following U.S. Aid Cuts
The sudden announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump to cut foreign aid has left South Africa’s most vulnerable populations struggling to access HIV services. In Johannesburg, nonprofit clinics providing free HIV treatment were forced to close within 24 hours, affecting tens of thousands of people who relied on these services for life-saving medication. While some… [Read More]
UK Pledges £1.33 Million Humanitarian Aid for Pakistan’s Monsoon Relief Efforts
The United Kingdom has announced £1.33 million in humanitarian aid to support Pakistan’s response to the severe impacts of the 2025 monsoon season. This assistance will reach more than 223,000 people across seven flood-affected districts in Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The funding is enabling a wide range of emergency and early recovery measures, including… [Read More]
WHO and WMO Release New Report to Protect Workers from Rising Heat Stress
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have released a joint report and technical guidance addressing the rising global threat of workplace heat stress. The report underscores how climate change, by driving more frequent and severe heatwaves, is already affecting the health and productivity of workers, particularly those in agriculture, construction,… [Read More]
The Humans Behind Human Rights: Stories and Voices Driving Change
The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has launched a new crowdfunding campaign, The Humans in Human Rights, to highlight the critical importance of supporting human rights work amid funding shortfalls. The campaign features a video series that showcases the personal stories of staff and beneficiaries, providing a human perspective on the challenges and impacts… [Read More]
Nigeria Launches Integrated Health Services to Improve Care for Vulnerable Communities
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMHSW) has launched a strategic initiative to integrate sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services with interventions for communicable diseases. This collaborative approach aims to strengthen the country’s health system, enhance access to essential care, and provide a more people-centered approach to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable… [Read More]
Unitaid Launches Flagship Investments to Boost Local Manufacturing of Diagnostics and Medicines in Africa
Unitaid has announced a foundational investment of nearly US$50 million in two flagship programs designed to strengthen Africa’s capacity to manufacture its own medical diagnostics and treatments. This initiative is part of Unitaid’s broader commitment to building regional manufacturing infrastructure and improving access to quality-assured health products for priority global health challenges, including HIV, malaria,… [Read More]
UK Government Extends £45 Million Scheme to Support Thousands More Young People with Training and Work Opportunities
The UK Government has announced a £45 million extension to the Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme, enabling thousands more young people to receive tailored support to access training and employment opportunities. The scheme aims to ensure that all 18- to 21-year-olds have the chance to earn or learn, providing innovative local approaches to identify those most… [Read More]
Japan’s NEC Digital Technologies to Empower Small-Scale African Farmers in Partnership with IFAD
Japan’s NEC Corporation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have announced a partnership to deploy high-end digital technologies tailored to the needs of vulnerable small-scale producers in Africa. Signed during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), the initiative aims to enhance farm productivity, build resilience to climate and economic shocks,… [Read More]
Strengthening Climate Resilience in Northern Ghana Through Early Warning and Anticipatory Action
Across Africa, climate change is reshaping the conditions for farming communities, increasing the frequency and severity of climate-related shocks. The FAO Regional Office for Africa Resilience Team supports countries by providing strategic and technical assistance to strengthen emergency response and resilience programming, helping communities better withstand and manage these climate-induced risks. In Ghana’s northern regions,… [Read More]
TICAD9: Japan and African Development Bank Sign $5.5 Billion Agreement for Sixth Phase of Enhanced Private Sector Assistance
The government of Japan and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding launching the sixth phase of the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA6) initiative. The agreement, signed during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, provides a framework for resource mobilization and development partnerships to support African… [Read More]
Tsunami of Water Poverty Looms as Low-Income Older People Cut Back on Usage
A new YouGov poll commissioned by the charity Independent Age reveals that almost half of older adults living on a low income in England and Wales are cutting back on their water usage in an attempt to reduce household bills. The survey found that 46% of people aged 65 and over reported reducing their spending… [Read More]
New Report Reveals How Corporal Punishment Harms Children’s Health
A new World Health Organization (WHO) report warns that corporal punishment remains widespread globally and poses serious risks to children’s health and development. An estimated 1.2 billion children aged 0–18 years experience physical punishment at home each year. Data from 58 countries reveal that 17% of children subjected to corporal punishment in the past month… [Read More]
Northwest Nigeria Faces Severe Malnutrition Crisis: Key Facts and Interventions
An estimated two million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), yet only 20% are currently receiving treatment. Recent primary data collected in July 2025 by the Nigerian Red Cross (NRCS) indicates that in three local government areas—Zango and Kankara in Katsina state, and Wamako in Sokoto state—between 47% and 47.8% of assessed… [Read More]
