Addis Ababa – The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared loneliness as a “pressing health threat” globally, initiating a new commission dedicated to fostering social connection as a priority in all countries, as reported this week.
According to World Economic Forum, the commission, co-chaired by US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and African Union Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba, will run for three years. Its focus will be to analyze the relationship between social connection and health and propose solutions for building social connections at scale. The WHO emphasizes that loneliness and social isolation affect not only older people in high-income countries but also a significant percentage of adolescents globally.
In other significant health news, UNICEF warns that a third of children, amounting to 739 million globally, face high or extreme water scarcity, a situation exacerbated by climate change. This scarcity, coupled with inadequate sanitation, poses severe risks to children’s mental and physical health.
Additionally, a man in the US has become the world’s first recipient of a whole-eye implant. Although he did not regain sight, the groundbreaking surgery is hoped to advance transplant medicine. The surgery was necessary due to a severe work-related accident.
In the realm of sustainable healthcare, experts are advocating for the electrification of healthcare facilities in poorer nations using solar energy. This proposition, expected to be discussed at COP28, could significantly reduce the death toll caused by power outages or lack of supply and would cost under $5 billion.
The WHO and the International Labour Organization report that working outdoors under the sun accounts for nearly a third of non-melanoma skin cancer deaths. In 2019, 1.6 billion people of working age were exposed to harmful solar ultraviolet radiation, leading to almost 19,000 deaths globally.
Further alarming statistics reveal an 18% increase in measles cases and a 43% rise in deaths between 2021 and 2022. This surge is attributed to disruptions in vaccination programs, with 33 million children missing a measles dose in 2022.
In a positive development, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has invested $23.6 million in needle-free vaccine technology, which could enhance vaccine uptake due to its ease of transport and administration.
Research from the University of British Columbia suggests that genetic testing to determine the most effective antidepressant for patients could save healthcare systems millions. In British Columbia alone, pharmacogenomic testing could save $956 million over 20 years.
Additionally, 20 EU countries have collectively called for expanded tracking of extreme weather threats, following over 60,000 heat-related deaths across Europe last summer, to improve health system preparedness.
The report concludes with a review of health advancements, including the centennial of insulin invention and strides made in combating cervical cancer and antimicrobial resistance.