Our work: communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and mental health (original) (raw)
WHO/Tom Pietrasik
Nurses treat HIV positive patients in Nepal.
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We provide leadership and the evidence base for international action on surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of communicable diseases, noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions.
We help countries to reduce the burden and threat of communicable and noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions, which together constitute a major challenge for development in the 21st century, undermine socio-economic development throughout the world and threaten the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We develop innovative global frameworks of policy, legislative and regulatory measures to encourage governments to establish ambitious national, multisectoral responses against these diseases and conditions. We engage leaders, civil society, the private sector and people living with these diseases or conditions to promote increased and sustained investments in countering them and in delivering essential services and interventions through health systems.
Areas of work
Noncommunicable diseases
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – mainly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases – are the leading cause of death worldwide. They represent 7 of the 10 main causes of death equivalent to 74% of all deaths globally. This includes more than 15 million people who die prematurely every year from a major NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years; 85% of these premature deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Only 6% of countries are on track to achieve the related SDG target 3.4. NCDs hinder social and economic development and can pose significant threats to international health security, as is illustrated by the increased case fatality and health systems disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Global leadership, increased technical assistance, research and innovation, strengthening primary health care and the inclusion of NCDs into Universal Health Coverage will be crucial to reach the SDG target and to achieve the 9 global voluntary NCD targets by 2025.
Areas of work
Communicable diseases
Communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), are among the leading causes of death and disability in low-income countries and marginalized populations. HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed 36.3 million lives so far. 1.5 million people die from TB each year – making it the world’s second top infectious killer after Covid-19. Children aged under 5 years accounted for 77% (487.000) of all malaria deaths worldwide in 2020. In the same year, more than 1 billion people were treated for at least 1 of the five 5 NTDs amenable to prevention, control and elimination. COVID-19 is further reversing many hard-fought gains in the fight against these diseases.
In addition to the high proportion of deaths and suffering that they cause, communicable diseases hinder social and economic development and can pose significant threats to international health security, as is illustrated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In recognition of the high burden of communicable diseases, the SDGs include a specific target to end the epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and NTDs and to combat hepatitis and other communicable diseases.
Areas of work
Mental health
Exacerbated by, but also preceding, the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing appreciation of the value of mental health and its contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Mental health conditions – including anxiety, depression and psychosis, as well as neurological and substance use disorders – account for a quarter of all non-fatal disease burden, and more than 700 000 people die as a result of suicide each year.
Despite progress in some countries, people with mental health conditions, including those with psychosocial disabilities, continue to experience discrimination and human rights violations across the world. WHO works to promote a rights-based, person-centred and intersectoral approach to mental health policy, planning and legislation, and to enhance access to evidence-based, quality care for people with mental health conditions.
Universal Health Coverage Day
Annually 12 December
Featured activities
Featured disease publications
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Each year, WHO’s World malaria report offers in-depth information on the latest trends in malaria control and elimination at global, regional...
Each year, the WHO Global TB Report provides a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the TB epidemic, and of progress in prevention, diagnosis and...
The Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly, consisting of Ministers of Health of 194 Member States, adopted the WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action...
Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021−2030 was prepared through an extensive...
These consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring bring together existing and new clinical and...
This report provides accountability for the 3 Global Health Sector Strategies (2016-2021) on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and the STIs. The report assesses the...
Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a framework for monitoring and evaluating progress of the road map for neglected...
Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a sustainability framework for action against neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030...
The Global NCD Investment Case, as the report is also known, outlines the health and economic benefits from investing in the 16 NCD Best Buys in low-...
New data from the World malaria report 2018 shows that progress in the global malaria response has levelled off and, in some countries, the disease...