World Health Organization Podcast

Infectious disease outbreaks are no longer just about bacteria and viruses, but also the social and economic world we create.

Research can put a human face on health emergencies and help us respond to them more effectively.

Evidence is not enough to shape health policy and practice. We also need to consider bioethics to take the right action for society.

Is microcephaly just the tip of an enormous iceberg? Dr Vanessa van der Linden was the first doctor to make the connection between Zika virus infection and babies born with microcephaly.

How can epidemiology help solve some of the mysteries around Zika virus transmission and the rare but serious neurological disorders associated with it, in particular Guillain-Barr頳yndrome and microcephaly?

One in four people develop some kind of mental illness at some point in their lives. WHO's Mental health atlas 2011 examines the extent of mental health needs and services around the world.

World Health Organization has declared the 28th July as World Hepatitis Day. The slogan for this first year is "Know it. Confront it. Hepatitis affects everyone, everywhere".

In New York this week, the World Health Organization, together with the World Bank, launched the first ever World report on disability.

This year's World Health Day focuses on the dangers of resistance to today's infection-fighting wonder drugs. The world is on the brink of losing these miracle cures.

New and comprehensive study on the consumption of alcohol reveals worrying trends on alcohol use around the world.

Low levels of physical activity are associated with a high risk of colon cancer and breast cancer.

A newly formed Commission on Information and Accountability for Women's and Children's Health will track resources pledged to actual results. The Commission will provide evidence of which programmes are most effective in saving the lives of women and children and ensure that the money doesn't get swallowed up through inefficiency or corruption.

The World health report 2010 focuses on how to pay for health care. The report looks at how to raise sufficient funds, how to raise funds fairly and how to get better value for money by becoming more efficient.

Three-quarters of cancer deaths occur in developing countries where the resources needed to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer are severely limited. As a result WHO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have created a Joint Programme on Cancer Control focusing on the needs of developing countries.

WHO estimates that over 75% of people living in developing countries do not receive any mental health treatment or care. A new, easy-to-use guide to identify and provide care for mental health disorders will help expand care at a cost that is affordable, even for low- and middle-income countries.

The floods in Pakistan have had an enormous consequences for the health of millions of people. They have also impacted the ability to deliver emergency and routine health care across the country.

Thousands of humanitarian workers, either with local organizations or international bodies like WHO, strive during crises, to ensure survivors have access to the most basic human rights, including health, shelter and food.

Many young people engage in behaviours that are dangerous not only to their current state of health, but also puts their health at risk for years to come.

Demand for organs outstrips supply in almost every country of the world. In many places the wait for an organ can be measured in years. One way to improve the situation is by donors making sure their families understand their wishes, which allows doctors to proceed with the donation process.

High-income countries are increasingly dependent on doctors and nurses who have been trained abroad. But the migration of health workers weakens the health systems in the countries of origin. WHO's Code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel aims to achieve a balance between the interests of health workers, source countries and destination countries.

Polio eradication is at a critical juncture. While the world is close to stamping out polio, this will require renewed commitment. Specifically it will entail renewed political, financial and scientific commitment.

A statue was erected to mark the 30th anniversary of smallpox eradication. In this podcast past members of the Smallpox Eradication Programme explain challenges they faced in eradicating the disease.

World No Tobacco Day 2010 draws particular attention to female smokers. Women and girls are a major target for the tobacco industry.

In contrast to many other serious health conditions, a highly effective treatment to snakebites exists. Most deaths and serious consequences from snakebites are entirely preventable by making antivenom more widely available.

The WHO "Save lives: clean your hands" campaign invites healthcare workers, hospitals and organizations around the world to actively promote improved hand hygiene to reduce infections.

Better diagnostic testing may be a key to count malaria cases and help defeat the disease. Also better tests will more accurately identify who actually has the disease, make sure people get the correct medicines and prevent the misuse of malaria drugs.

With the majority of the world's population living in cities and towns, this podcast marking World Health Day addresses ways to build healthy and safe urban environments.

This episode marking International Women's Day looks at women through the themes of education, health care and armed conflict.

The fifth anniversary of worlds first global public health treaty, the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provides a time to reflect on its achievements.

This episode focuses on how new technology is helping to strengthen Africa's health workforce to address the enormous public health challenges there.

As we mark World Cancer Day, this episode focuses on cancer prevention. Each year, over 12 million people are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer kills more people than AIDS, malaria, and TB combined but the good news is that approximately two out of five cancers are potentially preventable.

Haiti's earthquake ranks among the most devastating and logistically challenging in recent history. Before the earthquake, Haiti already suffered from high rates of maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition. Listen to what WHO and others are doing for the huge numbers of people needing surgery and other medical treatment.

The severe earthquake that struck Haiti and the Dominican Republic has inflicted large-scale damage, including to hospitals and health facilities. In this episode we talk to WHO experts about the situation and the emergency health response.

The headline that dominated the year was easily the H1N1 pandemic. On 11 June, 2009, WHO declared the start of the first influenza pandemic since 1968. In this episode we listen to WHO's Director-General Dr Margaret Chan, discuss the successes and challenges of 2009.

We now know that climate change aggravates health problems, most of which are concentrated in the developing world. This episode discusses the impact on human health of climate change.

This episode focuses on the damage caused by second-hand smoke, and what some countries are doing to mitigate its harmful effects.

The Convention is the key piece of international law for the protection and fulfilment of the health, developmental, social, economic, and cultural needs of all children. WHO uses the CRC and works with countries to get the right laws and policies in place so that all kids get the food they need, the right treatment when they get sick, and grow up to be healthy adults.

A new report recently launched - Women and health: today's evidence tomorrow's agenda - provides a baseline of data about the health of women and girls throughout the life-course, in different parts of the world, and in different groups within countries.

October is Breast cancer awareness month and in this episode we look at how a disease once considered a close companion of affluent societies has moved to the developing world.

To mark the United Nations International Day for Disaster Reduction, we look at why hospitals must be ready to provide health care in times of crisis.

More than four million HIV-positive people are now receiving life-saving treatment. In this episode we look at a new report that shows progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS as well as some of the challenges that lie ahead.

Violence kills as many people as tuberculosis and approximately one and a half times as many people as malaria. In this episode, we look at the magnitude of the problem and what some countries are doing to prevent violence.

A recent WHO study shows that young people are often at risk, and that suicide is the second largest cause of mortality in the 10-24 age group. However, there are different risk factors in different cultures.

Battered by conflict and flooding, hundreds of thousands of people in the Philippines have been displaced and face multiple health risks. In this episode we look at how WHO is working to respond to the enormous health challenges they face.

For the first ever World Humanitarian Day, this podcast focuses on how WHO works in the world's most dangerous regions to save lives.

This year the focus of World Breastfeeding Week is on the importance of breastfeeding during emergencies such as war or natural disasters. Emergencies jeopardize the health and survival of large populations, with infants being the most vulnerable. But breastfeeding in emergency situations can be a lifesaver.

Drug studies are showing that treatment for onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, could help to eliminate this debilitating skin disease. River blindness affects 37 million people, mostly living in poor, rural African communities.

Two million people have been displaced by the conflict in northwest Pakistan, putting the region's health services under siege. In this episode, we report on how WHO and its partners in Pakistan are facing the challenge.

Road traffic crashes around the world take the lives of 1.2 million people every year. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are most at risk, finds the first global assessment of road safety.

About 10 percent of the world's population have a disability. In this episode, we look at why they are particularly vulnerable to HIV and AIDS.

WHO is urging that governments require tobacco companies to put pictures on their products to make people aware of the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use.