Cambodia’s success in tuberculosis control

16 October 2012 -- Twenty years ago, Cambodia had one of the world’s highest tuberculosis (TB) rates and a health system weakened by decades of conflict and economic hardship. Over the past decade, however, new approaches providing universal access to TB care through primary health centres have halved the number of new cases and helped the country meet global targets for detection and treatment.

• Read the feature story on Cambodia’s success in TB control

11 October 2012—Today the world marks the first ever International Day of the Girl Child. The theme of the day is ending child marriage. The number one cause of death among girls aged 15-19 is death during pregnancy and childbirth. Early marriage also increases exposure to violence and abuse, and can increase the risk of HIV infection.

• Read the fact sheet on adolescent pregnancy

9 October 2012 -- Globally, more than 350 million people have depression. Many people fail to acknowledge that they are ill with depression and do not seek treatment. On World Mental Health Day, 10 October, WHO is calling for an end to the stigmatization of depression and other mental disorders and for better access to treatment for all people who need it.

• Read the note for media on depression
• View the video on depression
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4 October 2012 -- A new approach to routine immunization in the rural Afar region in north-eastern Ethiopia nearly quadrupled the numbers of children vaccinated against measles, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and other diseases in 2010. This success feature focuses on the strategies used to take vaccination coverage from as low as 22% to nearly 80% coverage in the target area.

• Read the feature story on the new immunization approach in Ethiopia