Ageing populations pose health-care challenges

7 February 2012 - Shrinking fertility rates and longer lives are changing demographics of countries worldwide increasing the proportion of elderly people. This challenges not only the health-care funding for older people, but also attitudes towards ageing itself. This article from the WHO Bulletin focuses on ageing and health which will be the theme of World Health Day on 7 April 2012.

3 February 2012 -- Cancer is responsible for close to 13% of deaths worldwide, accounting for 7.6 million deaths in 2008. On World Cancer Day (4 February) this year, WHO is focusing on screening and vaccination. Increased access to cost-effective vaccinations to prevent infections associated with cancers and cost-effective cancer-screening programmes can help to reduce the number cancer deaths.

30 January 2012 -- WHO has produced overwhelming evidence to show that the burden of NTDs - which affects over one billion people worldwide - can be controlled, and in many cases eliminated or even eradicated. A new roadmap shows how this can be achieved. "Once considered inevitable companions of poverty, many NTDs are now being brought to their knees, with stunning speed" said WHO's Director-General Dr Margaret Chan in London today.

• Read more about the roadmap to end NTDs
• Read WHO's Director-General's speech

13 February 2012 -- This WHO Bulletin article discusses how the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health has highlighted strengthening accountability as an essential strategy for improving women’s and children’s health and reducing maternal mortality. The Independent Expert Review Group is asking all stakeholders to submit documentation for good practices and obstacles for achieving accountability in women's and children's health.

• Bulletin article on maternal mortality accountability
• Call for submissions of good practices and obstacles