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As you know, the working group was established by the EB in January last year, in order to enable the WHO to have the robust structure needed to fulfil the Member States expectations. Already at the start of this long journey, there were a general notion, that there is a huge discrepancy in between what the world expects from WHO and its de facto financial capacities. We have highlighted, that WHO’s budget is to 86 % dependent on generous donors and that only roughly 14 % of WHO’s finances are truly predictable. This situation has put WHO at severe risk, including its independence, its integrity, its agility and certainly also its mandated role to be the world’s leading and coordinating authority in global health.

A set of questions parents can ask their school to learn more about their COVID-19 precautions. This page also includes answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) CDC is hearing from parents and caregivers.

Operational guidance on COVID-19 prevention for K-12 schools and Early Care and Education (ECE)/childcare programs

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) to provide additional detail and context for directors of overnight youth camps.

Clinicians, learn how you can best care for your patients with a confirmed infection caused by novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

Clinicians, learn about reinfection when caring for patients with a confirmed COVID-19.

Clinicians, learn about considerations for people diagnosed with COVID-19 who are pregnant and recently pregnant, children, and people who are immunocompromised, people with MIS, and people with post-COVID-19 conditions.

Clinicians, learn about the clinical course of COVID-19, including the progression, managements, and treatment, when caring for patients with a confirmed COVID-19.

Clinicians, learn about testing for current COVID-19, laboratory testing considerations, radiographic considerations, and risk factors for severe illness when caring for patients with a confirmed COVID-19.

Clinicians, learn about the clinical presentations, including uncommon presentations, and transmission of COVID-19 when caring for patients with a confirmed COVID-19.

Schools & Childcare: Guidance for School Settings

Use this interactive tool to see how particle levels change as you adjust ventilation settings in your school, and how to decrease particle levels.

 

Resolution on "Health emergency in Ukraine"

In a vote (with 88 yes, 12 no, 53 abstentions), delegates at the World Health Assembly agreed a resolution on the “Health emergency in Ukraine and refugee receiving and hosting countries, stemming from the Russian Federation’s aggression." 

Among other issues, the resolution brings attention to the direct and indirect health impacts in Ukraine, in the region and beyond; condemns attacks on health care, as documented by WHO’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care; and urges the Russian Federation to immediately cease any attacks on hospitals and other healthcare facilities. 

Resolution

Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care 

 Extension of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for the WHO Health Emergencies Programme 

The Director-General renewed the mandate of the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC) for the World Health Organization for two years. The Committee was created in 2016 to provide oversight and monitoring of the development and performance of the WHO Emergencies Programme, and to guide the Programme’s activities. It reports annually to the Health Assembly.

Delegates encouraged the Secretariat to adopt the recommendations in this year’s report.

The Director-General thanked the co-chairs and members for their work over the past years, and welcomed Professor Walid Ammar, Director of the Doctorate and Research in Public Health Program at St. Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon, as the new Chair.

The IOAC report

More on IOAC

 

 

 

 

Six prizes were presented to seven remarkable individuals and health institutions from across the globe, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to public health and development.

Mabel Woghiren is originally from Lagos, Nigeria, and is part of the Benin tribe. Mabel loves to cook, travel, and host people in her home. "Part of the Nigerian culture is singing, dancing, being with family, and being happy," she said.

Learn about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), including symptoms, complications, transmission, prevention, treatment, and summary updates of the outbreak.

Preparing cities and urban centres for emergencies

Concurring on the need for cities and urban settings to be better prepared to respond to health emergencies, delegates at the Seventy-Fifth World Health Assembly agreed a resolution calling for more action and resources in these unique settings.

Cities and local authorities have an important role in preventing, preparing for and responding to health emergencies, in part because cities can be uniquely vulnerable, due to population density, the movement of people in and out, and the vulnerability of some communities themselves.

The resolution called for better funding, planning, cooperation across regions and between cities, and a better overall understanding and focus on unique issues faced by people living in these areas.

Resolution 

Urban health 

Improving the quality, efficiency and capacity of clinical trials

Delegates also passed a resolution for improving clinical trial capabilities in all countries, as a central aspect of strengthening countries’ health systems.

Clinical trials have been recognized as indispensable for generating high-quality evidence on the safety and efficacy of medicines, vaccines and other health interventions, which is critical for informing health policy and clinical practice.

The resolution calls for greater efficiency, funding, timely data and results sharing, improved public-private collaboration and better coordination as well as for stronger regulatory and ethical frameworks in countries.

During public health emergencies of international concern, the delegates called for greater speed and transparency in conducting and sharing the results of clinical trials, while safeguarding the well-being of trial participants.

Resolution

Clinical trials

A multi-country outbreak of monkeypox is ongoing since early May. As of 25 May 2022, a total of 219 confirmed cases have been reported worldwide, with most of cases being detected in young men, self-identifying as men who have sex with men (MSM).

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is a disease caused by the newly emerged coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. To prevent further spread of SARS-CoV-2 and to collect information to better understand the virus and its impact on health outcomes, CDC has developed a form that provides a standardized approach to reporting COVID-19 cases (individuals with at least one respiratory specimen that tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19). These data are needed to track the impact of the outbreak and inform public health response.

New sustainable financing model

Following the re-election of Dr Tedros Adhanhom Ghebreysus as WHO Director-General, delegates at the World Health Assembly agreed a landmark decision on sustainable financing for WHO, adopting a series of recommendations from a Sustainable Financing Working Group made up of WHO Member States.

The recommendations aim to make WHO’s funding more predictable and flexible, and less dependent on voluntary contributions. Amongst the recommendations is a request to the Secretariat to develop budget proposals for an increase in assessed contributions (membership dues) to 50% of WHO’s core budget by 2030. In the last budget cycle, assessed contributions made up only 16% of the approved Programme Budget.

Other recommendations include that the Secretariat explores the feasibility of a replenishment mechanism to further broaden WHO's financing base and the establishment of a Member States task group on strengthening WHO budgetary, programmatic and financing governance to analyze challenges in governance for transparency, efficiency, accountability and compliance.

Related links

Sustainable financing of WHO: report of the Working Group (Document A75/9) 

Working toward a sustainably financed WHO

 

Programme Budget revision approved

Delegates had previously approved a revised Programme Budget for WHO for the work of the biennium 2022-2023. The revision approved today reflects the rapidly changing health situation of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, amongst other issues. The revised Programme Budget incorporates learnings and recommendations from a number of internal and external reviews, notably on the Secretariat’s response to COVID-19.

The total estimated budget increase for the biennium 2022–2023 is US$ 604.4 million (a 13% increase over the earlier budget presented), bringing the total budget for WHO’s work for 2022-2023 to US$ 4.968 billion. The previously approved 2020-2021 Programme Budget amounted to US$ 3.769 billion).

Delegates also agreed to extend the current Global Programme of Work to 2025, in light of the findings contained in WHO’s Results Framework as well as the report presented by the Secretariat on operational efficiencies. The extension is designed to help WHO support countries’ efforts to address disruptions to health services linked to the pandemic, recover from the pandemic and renew efforts to achieve the triple billion and Sustainable Development Goal targets .

This extension brings alignment between WHO’s strategic planning cycle and that of the wider United Nations family.

Related links

Proposed revision to the Programme Budget 2022–2023 (Document A75/6) 

Reporting on operational efficiencies (Document A75/7)

Programme budget 2022–2023: revision
Extending the Thirteenth General Programme of Work, 2019–2023 (Dcoument A75/8)

WHO Programme Budget web portal 

How WHO is funded 

 

Working group on international health regulations (IHR) amendments

Delegates welcomed the final report of the Working Group on strengthening WHO preparedness and response to health emergencies which, among other things, proposed a process for taking forward potential amendments to the IHR (2005). They agreed to continue the group, with a revised mandate and name (the “Working Group on IHR amendments” (WGIHR)) to work exclusively on consideration of proposed IHR amendments. Member States also requested the Director-General to convene an IHR Review Committee to make technical recommendations on the proposed amendments that may be submitted. The Working Group will propose a package of targeted amendments for consideration by the Seventy-seventh Health Assembly.

Related links

Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies Report by the Director-General (Document A75/17)