Tuesday, May 24, 2011

WHOSIS: World Health Statistics 2011

 

 


# 5570

 

 

The World Health Organization’s 64th World Health Assembly, being held in Geneva (May 16–24), ends today (see WHO Media Centre).

 

One of the resources released to their 193 member nations, and to the public, during the past week is a compilation of global health statistics put together by WHOSIS (WHO Statistical Information System).

 

 

World Health Statistics 2011

World Health Statistics 2011 contains WHO’s annual compilation of health-related data for its 193 Member States, and includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and associated targets.


    Fact sheet N°290

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT
Available in 3 languages
 

 

This report provides a comprehensive summary of the current status of national health and health systems in the following nine areas:

  • life expectancy and mortality
  • cause-specific mortality and morbidity
  • selected infectious diseases
  • health service coverage
  • risk factors
  • health workforce, infrastructure and essential medicines
  • health expenditure
  • health inequities
  • demographic and socioeconomic statistics.

 

 

You’ll find most of the information provided in tables, charts, graphs and maps.

 

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While this report cites modest improvements in global health on a number of fronts (malnutrition, vaccines, lower child and material mortality rates, stabilization of number of new HIV infections), progress varies from country-to-country, and many significant challenges remain.

 

You’ll find an overview of some of the progress that has been made in the following Millennium Development Goals FAQ sheet.

 

Millennium Development Goals: progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals

Fact sheet N°290
May 2011


Key facts
  • Fewer children are dying. Annual global deaths of children under five years of age fell to 8.1 million in 2009 from 12.4 million in 1990.
  • Fewer children are underweight. The percentage of underweight children under five years old is estimated to have dropped from 25% in 1990 to 16% in 2010.
  • More women get skilled help during childbirth. The proportion of births attended by a skilled health worker has increased globally, however, in the WHO Africa and South-East Asia regions fewer than 50% of all births were attended.
  • Fewer people are contracting HIV. New HIV infections have declined by 17% globally from 2001–2009.
  • Tuberculosis treatment is more successful. Existing cases of TB are declining, along with deaths among HIV-negative TB cases.
  • More people have safe drinking-water, but not enough have toilets. The world is on track to achieve the MDG target on access to safe drinking-water but more needs to be done to achieve the sanitation target.

(Continue . . . )

 

 

 

The 2011 World Health Statistics report provides us with some sorely needed good news, and serves as a reminder of how much more needs to be done.