World Heart Day 2014: salt reduction saves lives

On World Heart Day, held 29 September, WHO is calling on countries to take action on the overuse of salt by implementing WHO’s sodium reduction recommendations to cut the number of people experiencing heart disease and stroke, and, in turn, save lives.

Target: 30% salt reduction by 2025

Noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are the leading causes of premature death in the 21st century. WHO is supporting governments to implement the "Global action plan to reduce noncommunicable diseases" that comprises nine global targets, including one to reduce global salt intake by a relative 30% by 2025. read more: http://who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2014/salt-reduction/en/

Consultation on potential Ebola therapies and vaccines: 4-5 September 2014, Geneva, Swizerland

Consultation on potential Ebola therapies and vaccines

Place: Geneva, Swizerland
Date: 4-5 September 2014

The current west African Ebola outbreak is unprecedented in size, complexity and the strain it has imposed on health systems. There is intense public interest in, and demand for, anything that offers hope of definitive treatment. A range of unproven interventions-blood products, immune therapies, drugs and vaccines are under different stages of development but none have yet been licensed for standard use.

Suicide can be prevented...

Every 40 seconds someone dies due to suicide and many more attempt suicide – it can happen to anyone anywhere in the world. However, suicides are preventable and everyone can play a role. This can be a family member, friend or colleague who listens closely or encourages help seeking, a health worker who openly asks about suicidal thoughts or previous attempts, the community who identifies people at risk and provides support. It can also be a policy maker who takes leadership and brings different stakeholders together. WHO’s first World Suicide Report calls upon individuals, communities and countries to act now for preventing suicide.