World Health Organization (WHO)

Today, #Kenya discharged its final #Ebola patient. The 42-day countdown to being declared Ebola-free starts tomorrow. Kenya reported nine cases caused by the Bundibugyo virus, linked to an imported case from the DRC, including two deaths. My congratulations to Kenya’s health workers, responders and government for their preparedness, surveillance, swift response and continued vigilance. xitter-newx.xyz-mikolabs.workers.dev/moh_kenya/status/21204…

Insecurity is now one of the greatest obstacles to the #Ebola response in the #DRC. During an attack on the town of Cantine-Aloya last week, 66 civilians were killed, including three health workers, and three health facilities were looted and burned. More than 1000 contacts have been lost to follow up, and three confirmed cases are unaccounted for. This appalling attack represents both a major humanitarian emergency and a significant setback to the response. And it’s not the only one. Two weeks ago a nurse was killed and another health worker badly injured when they were attacked while responding to an Ebola alert in Tshopo province. Other attacks have included a grenade found near a health zone office; gunfire near an Ebola treatment centre; an arson attempt on a treatment centre; stones thrown at a vehicle conducting safe and dignified burials; threats against health workers – and more. These incidents restrict humanitarian access, disrupt operations, make it harder to reach communities quickly, and give the virus an advantage. My full briefing on the response to the @WHO Member States today: bit.ly/4iOHpnW

If we can mobilise billions for military spending, we must find the will to invest in our children. It is a question of priorities. At the @ParisPeaceForum, I joined a panel calling for a global commitment to child wellbeing. I urged world leaders to strike a better balance between investments priorities. President @EmmanuelMacron highlighted decades of progress in child health. We cannot afford to lose these gains. I thank him for putting children at the heart of #PPF2026 and hosting the #ChildSummit.

Science is one of humanity’s most powerful tools and has always been a driving force for better health. At the @ParisPeaceForum, we launched the Together for Science and Health movement, bringing @WHO and partners together to champion evidence, trust and innovation as foundations of healthier societies: bit.ly/4k7hcU7 My thanks to Minister @CaroitEleonore and the government of #France for their partnership and support.

Technology must serve humanity, not exploit our vulnerabilities. As #AI advances, protecting children's health and future must come first. At the #ChildSummit working meeting on “Growing Up in the Digital Age,” hosted by President @EmmanuelMacron, I called for three actions: 1. Global rules that make child safety the default for tech companies, everywhere. 2. Investment in international research so laws are driven by evidence, not fear. 3. Capacity for every country, rich or poor, to protect its children. No country can do this alone. Global cooperation is essential.

The test of #COP31 won't be the commitments made in Antalya. It will be whether a clinic stays open in the next flood, and whether a health worker gets warning before the next heatwave. @WHO stands ready to help every country meet that test.

Climate change is not a future threat. It is a health crisis happening right now. At #COP31 Health Day in Antalya, @WHO is calling on world leaders to prioritize health resilience. Investing in climate-smart health systems today saves millions of lives tomorrow.

The Climate Crisis is fuelling disease outbreaks. The Climate Crisis is driving higher rates of heart and lung disease. The Climate Crisis is driving higher rates of cancer and asthma. The Climate Crisis is making healthy diets less affordable. I call on leaders ahead of #COP31 to put people's health at the centre of negotiations. @WHO recommendations are here: bit.ly/4A8LPgm

Science drives progress in health and is the foundation of everything @WHO does. Next Tuesday, we launch the global Together for Science and Health movement to: -Strengthen information integrity -Make evidence more accessible and relevant -Build trust through transparency, credible voices and genuine community engagement Join us: who.int/initiatives/together…

Viruses know no borders. Neither should our resolve to stop them. In a joint commentary @ministerBHOS Sjoerd Sjoerdsma and I make the case for stronger international cooperation and sustainable, flexible financing to protect global health security. I thank the #Netherlands for its €7 million contribution to the Ebola response and an additional €10 million in flexible funding to @WHO for future emergencies. Investing in health security abroad is investing in health security at home. allafrica.com/stories/202611…

Another attack on health in #Myanmar, on 4 November, has reportedly killed at least five health workers in Kawling township, Sagaing region, bringing the total number of attacks on health in 2026 to 65 with 63 deaths. With 4 million people displaced by conflict and disasters, Myanmar's health system is already struggling with recurrent outbreaks, resurgent malaria and other vector-borne diseases, and many unvaccinated children at risk of measles and polio. Continued attacks deprive people of lifesaving care. I cannot say it loudly enough: health care is #NotATarget. It must be protected at all times.

Physical activity helps prevent heart disease, some cancers and diabetes, and promotes healthy weight and mental wellbeing. Inactivity increases disease risk. Yet the latest @WHO estimates show almost no progress in getting young people moving over the past 15 years, with girls furthest behind: bit.ly/4sG1L7r. This is worrying. The answer is not to tell adolescents to try harder. I call on parents, teachers and schools to #BeActive and help children move regularly, and on leaders to build schools, streets and communities where being active is safe, easy and normal. Now, #LetsMove with commitments and action!

When climate-related disasters, disease outbreaks or conflicts overwhelm health systems, Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) are ready to step in and support in providing lifesaving care when people need it the most. Today, 77 teams from 42 countries are internationally classified, including Ethiopia’s national team, which is the first civilian team in the African Region to achieve classification. Investing in EMTs is not only about responding when crisis strikes. I thank Health Minister @MekdesDaba for hosting the 7th Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting.

Attacks on health care in #Ukraine continue. The latest verified by @WHO took place in Kharkiv and Dnipro on 3 November, and Komyshuvakha on 2 November. In Kharkiv, two health facilities were damaged, affecting their neurology, cardiology, trauma, surgical and hospice departments, and forcing the evacuation of patients. A health worker was also injured. In Dnipro, a hospital's hospice and surgical departments sustained damage to windows and the roof. Patients were evacuated. In Komyshuvakha, a shelter was struck while four health workers were providing care to people inside. The health workers remain missing, and search and rescue operations are ongoing. @WHO stands with all health workers who continue caring for patients, including in shelters. Since February 2022, WHO has verified over 3400 attacks on health care in Ukraine. Hospitals, patients and health workers must never be targets of war. The best medicine is peace.

In #Myanmar, a newborn baby was among five people reportedly killed when an attack in Rakhine State destroyed a maternity ward and neonatal unit of a community clinic, where the baby was receiving care. Health care workers were also among the casualties. The incident is not isolated. So far this year, @WHO has verified 62 attacks on health care that resulted in 53 deaths in Myanmar. Due to insecurity and communication blockages, our ability to verify attacks is limited. Therefore, the total number of the attacks may be higher. The continued rise in attacks on health care around the world is deeply alarming. People are losing their lives in places where they should be receiving lifesaving care. We urge all parties to conflicts to respect international humanitarian law and protect health facilities, health workers and patients everywhere. Health care must never be a target!

Hospitals are running out of fuel, medicines and oxygen in Taiz, #Yemen, while roads are closed. Essential supplies must be allowed through. I echo @UNReliefChief's call for urgent humanitarian access, and the protection of civilians and humanitarians. The death of a second @UN colleague in detention is deeply distressing and unacceptable. All detained humanitarians, including one @WHO colleague, must be released! xitter-newx.xyz-mikolabs.workers.dev/UNReliefChief/status/2…