WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has made a statement today regarding the situation unfolding in the Middle East ⬇️ “I am deeply troubled by the situation unfolding today across the Middle East. My heart goes out to the civilians trapped in the crossfire. Regardless of borders, everyone deserves to live without the threat of violence around them. Today, we urge leaders to choose the challenging path of dialogue over the senseless route of destruction. The world is watching and hoping for wisdom to prevail over weapons. Peace is the best medicine.”

👁️✨ A 15-minute surgery can restore sight — but millions are still waiting. 👀 Cataracts — a clouding of the eye’s lens — affect 94 million people worldwide and remain a leading cause of avoidable blindness. Yet nearly half of people who are blind from cataract still don’t have access to surgery. 🙌 Cataract surgery is simple, safe and highly cost-effective — often taking just 15 minutes and restoring vision almost immediately. 📈 Progress is happening, with global coverage increasing by 15% over the past two decades. But it’s not fast enough. To meet global targets by 2030, countries must accelerate action. ⚠️ In Africa, 3 in 4 people who need surgery remain untreated. Women are also less likely than men to receive care. *What’s needed:* 🔹Vision screening in primary health care 🔹More trained eye specialists 🔹Affordable access, especially in rural areas Restoring sight means restoring independence, dignity and opportunity. Let’s make avoidable blindness a thing of the past. Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4rlq9tA

💪Obesity is a complex health condition, not just a matter of willpower. It is also largely preventable and manageable with the right support. *Prevention starts early:* 👶 During pregnancy: healthy weight gain supports long-term child health. 🍼 In infancy: exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months helps reduce future risk. 🏃 In childhood: encourage daily movement, balanced diet and good sleep habits. *For adults, prevention includes:* 🧁 Limit fats and sugars 🥗 Eat more vegetables and fruit 🚰 Drink enough water 🚶‍♀️ Regular physical activity (any is better than none!) 📵 Limit screen time 🛌 Get enough sleep Creating supportive communities where healthy choices are accessible and affordable is essential. Learn more ➡️ bit.ly/46enmKl

🌼 March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Did you know that 1 in 10 women of reproductive age live with endometriosis? ❤️‍🩹Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation and pain. *Symptoms can include:* 💥 severe period pain 🩸 heavy bleeding 😣 chronic pelvic pain 🤰 difficulty getting pregnant 🤢 bloating and nausea For many, it affects daily life — from school and work to relationships and mental health. Yet diagnosis can take 4 to 12 years on average, because symptoms are often misunderstood or dismissed. 🏥 While there is currently no cure, treatments such as pain medicines, hormonal therapy and sometimes surgery can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. *What can help?* 🔹Learn the symptoms 🔹Talk openly about menstrual health 🔹Seek medical advice if pain disrupts daily life Greater awareness and earlier diagnosis can make a real difference. Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4biw9ww

🏥 *Attacks on health care in Ukraine rose by 20% in 2025* ⚠️ As the war enters its 5th year, health care facilities, workers and patients continue to come under fire. Since February 2022, WHO has verified 2,881 attacks on health care, killing 233 people and injuring 930. 💥 In 2025 alone, attacks intensified, with 184 attacks in just one quarter, leaving hospitals damaged and supply chains disrupted. *The human toll is staggering:* 💔 72% of people report anxiety or depression ❤️ 1 in 4 has dangerously high blood pressure 💊 4 in 5 struggle to access medicines ❄️ Millions have faced winter without heat or electricity WHO reached 1.9 million people in 2025 with medical supplies, evacuations and support, and installed 284 generators to keep hospitals running. 🙏🏼 Health care must never be a target. Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4kY2MUD

💉 Better flu vaccines could save millions of lives. 🤧 Every year, seasonal influenza causes about 1 billion cases worldwide, with up to 650,000 deaths from respiratory complications. 📊 Now, WHO says next-generation flu vaccines — offering broader and longer-lasting protection — could make a game-changing difference. *If widely used between 2025 and 2050, improved vaccines could:* ✔ Prevent up to 18 billion flu cases ✔ Save up to 6.2 million lives ✔ Reduce antibiotic use by 1.3 billion doses, helping fight antimicrobial resistance 👶👵Current flu vaccines protect for just one season and can vary in effectiveness. Next-generation vaccines aim to protect against more strains, last longer, and better shield people at highest risk — including older adults, young children and pregnant women. *There are already 46 new vaccines in clinical development.* 🌎✨Stronger flu vaccines mean fewer hospital visits, fewer antibiotics, and better pandemic preparedness. Prevention matters — for you and for the world. Learn more about the next generation flu vaccines ➡️ https://bit.ly/4az625q

📱 Online bullying is real — and it can deeply affect children’s mental health. 🌧️ Cyberbullying doesn’t leave visible bruises, but the harm can last a long time. Today, more than 30% of children worldwide say they have experienced online bullying, and many never tell anyone. *Online bullying can include:* ⚠️ Threatening messages ⚠️ Sexual harassment ⚠️ Rumours or lies spread online ⚠️ Hurtful comments or exclusion *Parents and caregivers play a key role in protecting children online. You can help by:* ✔️ Knowing which apps and platforms your child uses ✔️ Setting strong privacy and safety settings ✔️ Teaching children to think before they post or share ✔️ Helping them recognize harmful behaviour ✔️ Showing them how to block or report abuse ✔️ Encouraging them to support friends who may be targeted ❤️Most importantly, make sure your child knows they can always talk to you. Watch the video on X ➡️https://bit.ly/4lwZjNe

🦻Over 430 million people worldwide live with disabling hearing loss, including millions of children. 💡 But up to 60% of hearing loss in children is preventable. *When unaddressed, hearing loss can affect:* 🗣️ Communication and speech development 🤝 Social connection and confidence 🎓 Learning and educational opportunities *Watch for early signs:* 🔹 Frequently asking for repetition 🔹 Struggling with attention or school performance 🔹 Ear pain or ear discharge 🔹 Delayed speech or language development *Many causes can be prevented through:* ✅ Safe listening habits ✅ Immunization against infections ✅ Good maternal and child care ✅ Early treatment of ear infections ✅ Protection from loud noise and harmful medicines Prioritize hearing health—prevention starts today. Learn more ➡️ http://who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2026

💙 March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Colorectal cancer affects the colon or rectum and is the 3rd most common cancer worldwide, responsible for about 10% of all cancer cases. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. 📈 The risk increases after age 50, but cases are rising among younger adults in some countries. Early stages often have few or no symptoms, which makes awareness and screening important. *Possible warning signs include:* 🩸 blood in the stool 🥲 persistent abdominal pain or bloating 📉 unexplained weight loss 🥱 fatigue 💩 changes in bowel habits *The good news? Many cases can be prevented or detected early.* 🥦 Eat more fruits and vegetables 🏃 Stay physically active 🚭 Avoid tobacco ⚖️ Maintain a healthy weight 🍷 Limit alcohol If symptoms appear, talk to a health professional early. Detecting colorectal cancer early greatly improves survival. Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4rlek61

WHO’s top news of the week 🚨 Denmark becomes first country in the European Union to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, read more ➡️ https://www.who.int/news/item/27-02-2026-denmark-becomes-first-country-in-the-european-union-to-eliminate-of-mother-to-child-transmission-of-hiv-and-syphilis Recommendations for influenza vaccine composition for the 2026-2027 northern hemisphere season, read more ➡️ https://www.who.int/news/item/27-02-2026-recommendations-for-influenza-vaccine-composition-for-the-2026-2027-northern-hemisphere-season WHO Director-General visits Jordan to recognize strong collaboration on health system delivery, emergency relief and advancing mental health, read more ➡️ https://www.who.int/news/item/25-02-2026-who-director-general-visits-jordan-to-recognize-strong-collaboration-on-health-system-delivery--emergency-relief-and-advancing-mental-health Newly released scorecard unveils progress and setbacks on health and gender equality across Southern Africa, read more ➡️ https://www.afro.who.int/news/newly-released-2025-scorecard-unveils-progress-and-setbacks-health-and-gender-equality-across