It is profoundly heartbreaking to witness another surge of xenophobic violence in #SouthAfrica this week. Hundreds have marched on Parliament, thousands of families have been displaced, and lives have been tragically cut short.
These include at least five Ethiopians killed earlier in the attacks, and five Mozambicans who died in Mossel Bay. Thousands more are now fleeing for their lives.
To see South Africa turn to xenophobia is a tragic betrayal of the country's struggle for independence and freedom. African nations stood united to dismantle apartheid. Ethiopia proudly supported "Madiba," Nelson Mandela, in 1962 and issued him a passport so he could travel the continent. Other countries helped in many ways, including with political and financial support.
Disagreements and grievances must be addressed by the justice system and the rule of law, never through vigilante violence and collective punishment.
South Africa deserves better. Africa deserves better.
Stop the hate. Protect the vulnerable. Uphold our shared humanity.
🏘 “Being present with your child, that’s the greatest gift that you can give to any child, your attention”. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham shares his experience as a dad and his favourite times with his children.
David wishes for every parent to be able to bring up their children in a safe environment, and for them to be able to give their children food and clean water every day.
New 3-year regional project launched in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to improve #diabetes care & prevent complications. The project will focus particularly type 2 diabetes & high blood sugar during pregnancy. Financed and supported by World Diabetes Foundation and @WHO
Today, we launched a 3-year WHO–World Diabetes Foundation initiative to improve diabetes care and prevent complications in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Grateful to 🇰🇬 Health Minister Damirbek Osmonov, 🇹🇯 First Deputy Health Minister Salomuddin Yusufi, 🇺🇿 First Deputy Health Minister Otabek Imamov, and Sanne Frost Helt from the World Diabetes Foundation for joining this important launch.
The initiative comes at a critical moment: more than 85 million adults live with diabetes in the WHO European Region, and in some countries fewer than 1 in 3 people with diabetes receive treatment.
It will strengthen primary health care (PHC), support earlier diagnosis, bring care closer to home, reduce complications and financial hardship, and help countries move from fragmented services to coordinated, trusted care.
This integrated approach is at the heart of our new European Programme of Work, with PHC as a cross-cutting platform for delivering better health.
@MFA_Kyrgyzstan | @MOFA_Tajikistan | @uzbekmfa | @KyrgyzMissionUN | @TajikistanUN | @uzbekistanun
"by adding fruit flavors tobacco industry is trying to remove the bitterness".
"sometimes you wonder where the world is heading when you see 12-15 year old children smoking these".
Abdukhakimov Shakhbozbek, Central Asian University student
#WNTD2026#TobaccoExposed
Ending the #Ebola outbreak in eastern #DRC’s Ituri Province will depend on the role of local leaders who best know their communities, the challenges and the solutions that can be taken in such a complex context.
I deeply appreciated the chance to meet with and listen to community leaders from faith, women’s, youth, business and other sectors last night in the Ituri capital, Bunia.
We discussed the critical importance of community ownership of the response to Ebola. This is essential to building the trust needed to life-saving behaviors, including urging people to report early for medical care, safe and dignified burials and fighting misinformation.
DRC has strong experience in ending Ebola outbreaks, and doing so has relied heavily on community action. I committed @WHO’s unwavering support to local leaders to end the outbreak as rapidly as possible.
Together with SanEpidCom we did a ToT on how to design and conduct SimEx using @WHO methods. Now 🇺🇿 has a network of trainers ready to lead future exercises across the country. SimEx helps health and emergency teams prepare for outbreaks and public health criseses.
40 specialists from 16 childhood cancer facilities across UZB 🇺🇿gathered for practical training under the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines.
By the end of 2025, over 1,200 children in 🇺🇿 have received medicines supplied by #theGlobalPlatform. @StJude
How prepared are we for the next respiratory pandemic?
On 12–13 May, WHO convened health, veterinary, emergency, education, customs, border control and law enforcement sectors in Tashkent for the PanPRET simulation exercise.
A strong signal from Central Asia today: all five countries are ready to adopt the subregional Roadmap for Health and Well-being 2026–2030 (CARM2).
At our meeting in Geneva, ministers and senior health officials showed clear enthusiasm for CARM2 as both a political framework for regional cooperation and a financial instrument to attract partnerships and investment for health.
I am grateful to Turkmenistan for its readiness to support the Roadmap's endorsement at the highest political level, including through the CIS Heads of State Summit.
I also welcome Kazakhstan’s proposal to connect CARM2 with international financial forums, particularly via the Astana International Financial Centre.
WHO/Europe stands ready to support countries as they take this work forward.
#Hantavirus update: As of 12 May, no new deaths have been reported since 2 May. Of the 11 total cases reported to @WHO, eight have been laboratory-confirmed as Andes virus infections. One remaining case is undergoing further testing.
WHO continues to assess the risk to the global population as low.
We remain in close contact with experts from all involved countries and continue to receive weekly reports on the health and well-being of passengers and crew through official IHR channels. International coordination continues to support efforts to protect public health.
Proud to celebrate the 1st graduates of the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP) in #Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
Over 2 years, WHO & national partners trained 18 lab professionals to strengthen quality, biosafety & surveillance for effective responses to public health emergencies.
Thank you, #Geneva, for illuminating the Jet d’Eau to mark #WorldImmunizationWeek.
The greatest gift we can offer any people at any age is protection from disease through vaccines, helping them safeguard themselves, their loved ones, and generations to come.
For every generation, vaccines work.
Good meeting with Dr Asilbek Anvarovich Khudayarov, #Uzbekistan Minister of Health, and his Cabinet and colleagues on the progress of the country’s health system reform to ensure universal health coverage by focusing on primary health care expansion, health workforce development, health insurance strengthening and digital health.
Uzbekistan is also making great progress in cancer control, from early detection of cancer in children and providing all the needed medical and social support, to protecting women’s health through scaling up early detection of breast and cervical cancer.
@WHO is committed to continue supporting the Ministry to deliver on its health sector objectives, including on the ongoing development of Uzbekistan’s 2030 health strategy.
Today’s event was not just about discussion. It was about decisions. I signed 4 important documents with:
▶️the ministries of health of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, to strengthen cooperation for a healthier future in the Aral Sea region
▶️ the Akimat of Atyrau Region and the 🇰🇿Ministry of Health, to advance joint research on the links between environment and health
▶️ the Akimat of Kyzylorda Region and the 🇰🇿Ministry of Health, to help shape an Aral Sea environment and health programme
▶️ the health ministers of the Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan, to build shared regional commitment for action in both the Aral Sea region and the Caspian basin
I am confident these agreements will not remain on paper.
2/3
Met with my @WHOUzbekistan colleagues to thank them for their support of national efforts to promote and protect #HealthForAll Uzbeks. We also discussed collaboration with national partners to help ongoing health reforms and strengthen key health system pillars, including primary health care, noncommunicable disease control and digital health.
#ProudToBeWHO
Inspiring meeting with the First Lady of #Uzbekistan, Her Excellency Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, a champion for childhood cancer control and improving the lives of children diagnosed with cancer.
The Zamin Foundation, chaired by Mrs Mirziyoyeva, plays a pivotal role in advancing pediatric oncology services and providing hospital-based education through the Republican Children’s Oncology and Hematology Centre in the capital Tashkent, and the “Mehrli Maktab” school operating out of the centre and across the country.
Through these facilities, the First Lady and all health workers and educators involved are giving children living with cancer the medical and social support they need to overcome their illnesses and realize their dreams.
I was pleased to meet many young Uzbeks being provided care and hope thanks to the facilities. They included Samira, a young cancer survivor who participated with the First Lady and I at a side event on childhood cancer at last year’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, and Dilnavoz (another cancer survivor), a talented artist whose goal is to be an interpreter in the future.
I also committed @WHO’s ongoing support to help them reach their targets and collaborate with regional and international partners to help more children succeed in their battles with cancer.
Held a very constructive meeting yesterday with His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan. I commended the President for Uzbekistan's extensive health system reforms, hallmarked by investment in its health workforce, primary health care strengthening, health financing, national insurance and digital technology.
I reiterated @WHO’s continued collaboration on these fronts as part of our overall commitment to advancing universal health coverage.
I also reaffirmed that WHO will keep working side-by-side with Uzbekistan to address the health impacts of synthetic drugs and other illicit narcotics, and supporting the government's efforts to prevent and control cancer in children and adults.
https://t.co/JI4XPN7qMp