Join us on 5 March 2026 for a special #IWD2026 webinar assessing progress & driving action across the European Region.
Women's right to the highest levels of health is not just a health priority; it's a societal one.
Info and registration 👉 https://bit.ly/47dwfnI
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
Nehmen Sie am 5. März 2026 an einem speziellen #IWD2026-Webinar teil, in dem Fortschritte bewertet und Maßnahmen in der gesamten Europäischen Region vorangetrieben werden.
Das Recht der Frauen auf ein Höchstmaß an Gesundheit ist nicht nur eine gesundheitliche Priorität; Es ist eine gesellschaftliche Angelegenheit.
Infos und Anmeldung 👉 https://bit.ly/47dwfnI
In my meeting with Dr @CarrollJennifer, 🇮🇪 Ireland’s Minister of Health, we discussed Ireland’s priorities for its forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union (July-December 2026) and how @WHO_Europe can best support.
I also briefed the Minister on our next steps in 2026 and reaffirmed the strong partnership we have built with Ireland across shared priorities, including the health workforce and mental health.
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
RT von @WHO_Europe: Bei meinem Treffen mit Dr. @CarrollJennifer, 🇮🇪 Irlands Gesundheitsministerin, besprachen wir Irlands Prioritäten für seine bevorstehende Präsidentschaft im Rat der Europäischen Union (Juli-Dezember 2026) und wie @WHO_Europe es am besten unterstützen kann.
Ich habe den Minister auch über unsere nächsten Schritte im Jahr 2026 informiert und die starke Partnerschaft bekräftigt, die wir mit Irland bei gemeinsamen Prioritäten aufgebaut haben, einschließlich des Gesundheitspersonals und der psychischen Gesundheit.
Women represent 51% of our Region—yet spend a greater share of life in poor health.
On 5 March 2026, join @WHO_Europe to mark #InternationalWomensDay under the theme:
Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.
Open to all.
🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/47dwfnI
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
51 % der Bevölkerung unserer Region sind Frauen – allerdings verbringen sie einen größeren Teil ihres Lebens in einem schlechten Gesundheitszustand.
Begleiten Sie @WHO_Europe am 5. März 2026 zum #InternationalWomensDay unter dem Motto:
Rechte. Gerechtigkeit. Aktion. Für ALLE Frauen und Mädchen.
Offen für alle.
🔗 Registrieren: https://bit.ly/47dwfnI
Today in Nicosia 🇨🇾, I spent the day with the 27 EU health ministers and European Commission officials at the informal meeting hosted by @CY2026EU.
What stood out was the strength of our partnership - frank, solutions-focused and centered on results people can feel. I was encouraged to hear high-level participants commend @WHO_Europe’s work on mental health and the responsible use of AI.
We also discussed how to ensure timely and inclusive access to effective treatments, strengthen mental health policies, and make better use of health data to improve care while protecting privacy.
I thanked Cyprus and Health Minister @NeophytosGC for putting mental health and inclusion at the heart of the Presidency’s agenda, because it touches every age group, from adolescents to older adults.
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
RT von @WHO_Europe: Heute habe ich in Nikosia 🇨🇾 den Tag mit den 27 EU-Gesundheitsministern und Beamten der Europäischen Kommission beim informellen Treffen verbracht, das von @CY2026EU ausgerichtet wurde.
Was herausragte, war die Stärke unserer Partnerschaft – offenherzig, lösungsorientiert und ergebnisorientiert, die die Menschen spüren können. Es hat mich ermutigt zu hören, wie hochrangige Teilnehmer die Arbeit von @WHO_Europe zur psychischen Gesundheit und zum verantwortungsvollen Einsatz von KI lobten.
Wir diskutierten auch darüber, wie wir einen zeitnahen und umfassenden Zugang zu wirksamen Behandlungen sicherstellen, die Richtlinien zur psychischen Gesundheit stärken und Gesundheitsdaten besser nutzen können, um die Versorgung zu verbessern und gleichzeitig die Privatsphäre zu schützen.
Ich habe Zypern und dem Gesundheitsminister @NeophytosGC dafür gedankt, dass sie psychische Gesundheit und Inklusion in den Mittelpunkt der Agenda der Präsidentschaft gestellt haben, da sie alle Altersgruppen betreffen, von Jugendlichen bis zu älteren Erwachsenen.
Responding to the needs of refugees displaced by war would challenge any health system.
It can be done in a manner where everyone benefits, and that’s what these countries chose.
Our joint project w/@EU_Health, @IOM_ECA
http://bit.ly/WHO-IOM-EU
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
Auf die Bedürfnisse der durch den Krieg vertriebenen Flüchtlinge einzugehen, würde jedes Gesundheitssystem vor eine Herausforderung stellen.
Es kann auf eine Weise geschehen, von der alle profitieren, und genau dafür haben sich diese Länder entschieden.
Unser gemeinsames Projekt mit @EU_Health, @IOM_ECA
http://bit.ly/WHO-IOM-EU
Tobacco causes over 1.1 million deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCD) in the European Region each year.
Many of these deaths are preventable.
Are current policies strong enough—and fully enforced?
10 new factsheets reveal the Region’s progress: https://bit.ly/4behmD9
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
Tabak verursacht in der Europäischen Region jedes Jahr über 1,1 Millionen Todesfälle durch nichtübertragbare Krankheiten (NCD).
Viele dieser Todesfälle sind vermeidbar.
Sind die aktuellen Richtlinien stark genug – und werden sie vollständig durchgesetzt?
10 neue Faktenblätter offenbaren die Fortschritte der Region: https://bit.ly/4behmD9
Today, Romania’s Health Minister Alexandru-Florin Rogobete and I signed the Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) - setting out how we will work together in 2026–2027.
We will focus on 4 priorities: improving access and quality of care, strengthening the health and care workforce, advancing digital health, including the responsible use of AI, and boosting emergency preparedness.
This agreement builds on our partnership under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and marks a shift from recovery to innovation and sustainability.
I commended Minister Rogobete for his leadership in health reforms, including modernizing infrastructure through NRRP funds and strengthening outpatient care to reduce pressure on hospitals and expand equitable access – including to screening, palliative and home-based care.
@MAERomania | @RomaniaUN_NY
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
RT von @WHO_Europe: Heute haben der rumänische Gesundheitsminister Alexandru-Florin Rogobete und ich die Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) unterzeichnet, die darlegt, wie wir im Zeitraum 2026–2027 zusammenarbeiten werden.
Wir werden uns auf vier Prioritäten konzentrieren: Verbesserung des Zugangs und der Qualität der Gesundheitsversorgung, Stärkung des Gesundheits- und Pflegepersonals, Förderung der digitalen Gesundheit, einschließlich des verantwortungsvollen Einsatzes von KI, und Stärkung der Notfallvorsorge.
Diese Vereinbarung baut auf unserer Partnerschaft im Rahmen des National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) auf und markiert einen Wandel von der Erholung hin zu Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit.
Ich lobte Minister Rogobete für seine Führungsrolle bei Gesundheitsreformen, einschließlich der Modernisierung der Infrastruktur durch NRRP-Mittel und der Stärkung der ambulanten Versorgung, um den Druck auf Krankenhäuser zu verringern und den gleichberechtigten Zugang zu erweitern – einschließlich Screening, Palliativpflege und häuslicher Pflege.
@MAERumania | @RomaniaUN_NY
Four years of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Four years of attacks on health care that continue to rise.
Yet Ukrainian health workers have not stopped. Their resilience is what keeps the system standing.
Health care is not a target. It must be protected. Always.
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
Vier Jahre ausgewachsener Krieg in der Ukraine. Vier Jahre Angriffe auf das Gesundheitswesen, die immer weiter zunehmen.
Doch das ukrainische Gesundheitspersonal hat nicht aufgehört. Ihre Widerstandsfähigkeit ist es, die das System aufrechterhält.
Die Gesundheitsversorgung ist kein Ziel. Es muss geschützt werden. Stets.
🚨 4 million adolescents aged 13–15 in the European Region use tobacco products.
Girls in the Region now have the highest tobacco use prevalence globally among their peers.
This reflects policy gaps—and industry targeting.
Find out more 👉 https://bit.ly/4behmD9
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
🚨 4 Millionen Jugendliche im Alter von 13–15 Jahren in der Europäischen Region konsumieren Tabakprodukte.
Mädchen in der Region haben mittlerweile unter Gleichaltrigen weltweit die höchste Prävalenz des Tabakkonsums.
Dies spiegelt politische Lücken wider – und die Ausrichtung auf die Branche.
Erfahren Sie mehr 👉 https://bit.ly/4behmD9
62 million women in our Region smoke - that’s > 40% of the world’s adult female smokers.
The WHO European Region is the only region not on track to meet the global target to reduce #tobacco use among women by 30%.
10 new factsheets reveal our progress: https://bit.ly/4behmD9
🇩🇪 Übersetzung
62 Millionen Frauen in unserer Region rauchen – das sind > 40 % aller erwachsenen Raucherinnen weltweit.
Die Europäische Region der WHO ist die einzige Region, die nicht auf dem Weg ist, das globale Ziel, den #Tabakkonsum bei Frauen um 30 % zu reduzieren, zu erreichen.
10 neue Factsheets verraten unsere Fortschritte: https://bit.ly/4behmD9
Four years of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Four years of attacks on health care that continue to rise.
Yet Ukrainian health workers have not stopped. Their resilience is what keeps the system standing.
Health care is not a target. It must be protected. Always.
As Ukraine enters the fifth year of the full-scale invasion, pressure on the health system has not eased.
Attacks on healthcare affect both medical facilities and the people who work in them. This infographic outlines the scale of the impact.
Health care access in Ukraine remains challenged by damaged facilities, insecurity, and distance.
Where fixed facilities are no longer accessible, health workers deliver care in prefab clinics.
Their voices show what it takes to keep health services running during war.
📢 Live in one hour!
WHO/Europe invites you to a deep-dive mini-conference on scaling up mental health services in PHC – our first major online event of 2026.
Join today: https://bit.ly/3ZihhZh
#PHC4UHC #MentalHealth #PHC #PrimaryHealthCare
1️⃣Human mobility is not new, nor is it going away.
2️⃣Displacement and #migration impacts health.
3️⃣When #migrants and #refugees have access to quality health care, everyone wins.
Hear our panel of experts on the importance of providing health care to everyone.
@EU_Health
On a typical day in any given European & Central Asia city, health workers encounter patients from a range of countries. And those health workers are quite likely to be foreigners themselves.
Listen in to learn why #migrant health is such a big public health issue.
@EU_Health
Milana, a 12 y.o. #refugee from 🇺🇦, received her #HPV💉vaccine thanks to free access to health services in🇲🇩.
“Vaccination is a simple gesture, but it has enormous power. Don’t let time decide for you.” – Lyudmila, Milana’s mother
👉 http://bit.ly/WHO-IOM-EU
@EU_Health @IOM_ECA
📢 Join us on 11 March 2026 | 11:00 CET
We’re launching the French version of WHO’s free online course for informal caregivers 🇫🇷
💡 Self-care & well-being
💙 Practical care skills
🌐 Trusted resources
@Eurocarers
🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/4apFwv1
Did you know alcohol causes at least 7 types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer? 🧬
The more alcohol you drink, the higher the risk. It may not be on the label, but it’s a fact.
#RedefineAlcohol #LessAlcohol #EVIDAction
A December 2025 @WHO assessment shows a deepening health crisis: 59% of people in frontline areas report poor health, 72% experienced anxiety or depression, 1 in 4 has dangerously high blood pressure, and 8 in 10 struggle to access the medicines they need.
Ukrainian health workers face this reality first - every shift, every day. I want to pay tribute to their courage and lifesaving work, and thank my colleagues at @WHOUkraine who continue to deliver vital support under extremely difficult conditions.
Read more in our press release: https://bit.ly/4aLPKVz
3/3
Despite the attacks, in 2025 @WHO supported Ukraine’s health system to reach 1.9 million people by:
▶️ delivering trauma care and medical supplies to 954 health facilities
▶️ supporting 1,200+ medical evacuations
▶️ training 2,500+ health workers
▶️ providing 284 generators to health facilities across 23 oblasts – and more.
For 2026, we launched a $42 million Humanitarian Appeal to help protect access to health care for 700,000 people.
Read more in our press release: https://bit.ly/4aLPKVz
2/3
As Ukraine enters the 5th year of war, attacks on health care continue to climb. In 2025, @WHO documented nearly 20% more attacks than in 2024, with 2,858 attacks recorded since February 2022.
As I have said many times: attacks on hospitals, health workers, ambulances and patients are unacceptable and breach int'l humanitarian law. They must stop.
Read more in our press release: https://bit.ly/4aLPKVz
1/3
@WHO_Europe
@KubanOmurali
RT
von @WHO_Europe 23.02 15:38
Pleased to meet with Dr. @hans_kluge, Regional Director of @WHO_Europe in #Copenhagen and to sign the 2026–2027 Action Plan for the implementation of the OTS–WHO/Europe MoU.
This new phase of cooperation advances health security, emergency preparedness, digital health, non-communicable disease prevention, sustainable healthcare systems, climate-health initiatives, and healthy aging across the Turkic World.
Moving from framework to concrete regional impact through structured multilateral partnership.
@Turkic_States @WHO_Europe
#OTS #TurkicWorld #HealthDiplomacy #GlobalHealth #SustainableDevelopment
I was glad to have Türkiye’s Ambassador to Denmark, Mr Rıza Hakan Tekin, with us today.
I thanked 🇹🇷 for its commitment to strengthening regional health cooperation, and for hosting the @WHO European Centre for Preparedness for Humanitarian and Health Emergencies – an essential hub that has been instrumental in delivering a number of joint projects involving @Turkic_States.
3/3
I thanked Ambassador @KubanOmurali for keeping health high on the political agenda, and for translating that commitment into concrete decisions through @Turkic_States summit outcomes and ministerial processes, including the #Bishkek Declaration.
We also discussed ways to support OTS Member States in addressing climate-related health challenges in the Aral Sea and Caspian Sea regions, and I look forward to continuing this conversation at the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in April in #Astana.
2/3
Today at @UNCityCPH, Ambassador @KubanOmurali and I signed the 2026–2027 Action Plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between @Turkic_States and @WHO_Europe.
It sets out practical cooperation - from strengthening emergency preparedness and response to addressing tuberculosis, noncommunicable diseases, healthy ageing, digital health and innovation, and the climate–health link.
1/3
@azmissiongeneva | @KazakhPM_UNOG | @KGMissiontoUNOG | @TC_BMCenevreDT | @uzbekistanun
The WHO/Europe–EUPHA partnership is built on action: supporting professionals, defending evidence, and driving momentum amid funding cuts and growing health needs.
In my meeting with EUPHA Executive Director Charlotte Marchandise and Deputy Director Julian Hein, I thanked @EUPHActs and its members for being trusted and committed partners in shaping the future of public health in the European Region.
Together, we are strengthening public health leadership, workforce development, and expanding meaningful youth engagement - while accelerating action on mental health and noncommunicable diseases.
Next, we will deepen our partnership on mental health, healthy ageing, tackle mis- and dis-information, apply behavioural insights and engage more closely with countries.
#HealthForAll
The signing ceremony took place as part of Minister Sala’s visit to the WHO Regional Office and celebration of the Albania Country Day at @UNCityCPH. It was a good chance to connect her delegation directly with our technical teams and agree on the first practical next steps for delivery.
We also explored Albania’s proposal to host a public health knowledge centre in Tirana – to support shared learning and technical cooperation across the Western Balkans, in line with our regional priorities.
I look forward to continuing this dialogue with Minister @EvisSala and to visiting 🇦🇱 to review progress together.
2/2
Today, I signed a Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) with Dr @EvisSala, Albania’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, setting our joint priorities for the next two years.
We will work together on:
▶️ 🇦🇱’s health priorities linked to EU accession
▶️ Strengthening primary health care
▶️ Addressing noncommunicable diseases, including better cancer prevention and early detection
▶️ Advancing digital health and health information
▶️ Strengthening mental health
▶️ Improving preparedness for health emergencies and pandemics
▶️ Taking stronger action to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG) online.
I welcomed Minister Sala’s readiness to take a subregional leadership role in preventing VAWG in the digital space.
1/2
Long COVID hasn’t disappeared.
People continue to develop it after new infections—yet the myth that it’s “over” still persists.
Bára’s story shows the reality: after her 3rd COVID‑19 infection in 2025, she became house‑bound with severe fatigue and heart issues.
📢 Join us on 11 March for the launch of the French version of WHO’s free online course for informal caregivers
💡 Self-care & practical care skills
🌐 Trusted resources
🤝 Developed with EU support & Eurocarers
Caregivers deserve support, too.
Register https://bit.ly/4apFwv1
🚶♀️🚴♂️ Active school journeys = healthier minds!
Teens who walk or cycle to school are less likely to experience depressive symptoms compared with those who rely on cars or buses.
🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4jQYCgB
#EHP #ECEHBonn #THEPEP #LetsGetMoving #7MCEH #EPW2
Vaccines reduce a person’s risk of severe disease and of developing long COVID.
Yet, myths twist this fact.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4jQYCgB
Ongoing preventable deaths, armed conflicts, and forced displacement & migration - these are 3 reasons why the European Region should still worry about tuberculosis (TB).
In a joint commentary with Prof Madhukar Pai, Chair of the Global & Public Health Department at @mcgillu, for @TheLancet, we call to:
▶️ Strengthen prevention, early detection & treatment, esp. for drug-resistant TB.
▶️Sustain financing, invest in TB services & the health workforce – every $1 invested in TB is estimated to yield $46 in benefits.
▶️Stay engaged globally, because TB anywhere is TB everywhere.
Cutting funds, withdrawing from multilateralism, and looking inward is not the solution.
Read the commentary here: https://bit.ly/4awB6Bm
Submit your abstract to the HEPA EUROPE 2026 conference: https://bit.ly/4rTvNmw
Deadline: 15 March 2026
Kazakhstan continues to lead PHC reform.
On 17 February, Advisor Alexey Tsoy met with the Centre’s team to discuss next-generation PHC priorities, from multidisciplinary teams to AI-enabled solutions.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4tIce2m
Today we issued the first-ever policy brief on safe nurse staffing – setting out concrete actions to ease the pressure from nurse shortages, rising care needs and burnout.
As nurses make up 56% of the health workforce in the European Region, their safe staffing is critical for patient safety and for the entire health system.
Backed by global evidence and real examples from 21 countries in the EU-funded Nursing Action project, the brief identifies 8 policy actions – from improving staffing and workload data, to investing in education & training, strengthening monitoring & transparent reporting, and supporting nurse leadership.
Read the brief: https://bit.ly/4rZ66B7
Our press release: https://bit.ly/4atDeK0
Where a child lives should never determine whether they survive cancer!
Yet survival rates still vary widely across countries. The solution is not fear—it’s policy, partnership and preparedness.
#GICC #ChildhoodCancer #HealthEquity