World Health Organization Podcast

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.