The Year In Review
Key health issues in 2012
The year 2012 is marked with some glorious achievements and released new crucial data in terms of health. At the end year 2012, we would like to highlight some of theses milestones to respect sincere endeavours behind these achievements and encourage people to do more in the coming year. MDG target on drinking water met
On 6 March, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Unicef announced that the world had met the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halving the number of people without access to safe drinking water. Between 1990 and 2010, more than two billion additional people gained access to improved drinking water sources, such as piped supplies and protected wells. Progress on child survival
An estimated 6.9 million children died before their fifth birthday in 2011, compared to around 12 million in 1990, according to data released by WHO and partners. Progress is speeding up: over the last decade, the annual rate of reduction in child deaths was almost double that of the previous decade. While significant, progress is still insufficient to achieve MDG 4 of reducing under-five mortality by two-thirds by 2015. New data reveal increases in hypertension and diabetes
The World Health Statistics 2012 report released on 16 May highlighted the growing problem of noncommunicable diseases. It showed evidence of a dramatic increase in the conditions that trigger heart disease and other chronic illnesses, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure â€" a condition that causes around half of all deaths from stroke and heart disease â€" and one in 10 adults has diabetes. 15 million babies born too soon every year
Each year, some 15 million babies in the world â€" 4 out of 100 in Bangladesh â€" are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed, according to a report by WHO and partners. The 'Born Too Soon' report provided the first-ever national, regional and global estimates of preterm birth. It revealed that preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn deaths worldwide, and that it is on the rise in most countries. Three-quarters of the 1.1 million annual preterm deaths could be avoided using existing, cost-effective interventions such as kangaroo mother care. First guidance on use of antiretrovirals by HIV-negative people to prevent infection
On 20 July, just before the XIX International AIDS Conference, WHO issued its first guidance to countries considering offering HIV medication, known as antiretrovirals (ARVs), to HIV-negative people at high risk to protect them from infection. The recommendations were based on clinical trials indicating that a daily dose of ARVs taken by HIV-negative people, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is both safe and effective in preventing HIV. Studies showed that PrEP can reduce HIV infection by up to 75% among people who take their medicine regularly.
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