Defusing the demographic “time-bomb” in Germany

9 January 2012 -- Germany is one of only four countries with a dedicated insurance system for long-term care. With an ageing population and a low birth rate, this issue of the WHO Bulletin examines how the system can be sustainable in the future.

6 January 2012 -- WHO recognizes the progress of six Gulf States in adopting a strategy for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates laid out details in a strategy to prevent and control diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory disease which cause more than 60% of all deaths in these countries. The Gulf Cooperation Council is the first regional entity to respond to, at a heads of state level, the UN's Declaration to tackle NCDs.

3 January 2012 -- There was important progress in a number of areas in 2011; AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria all indicated fewer deaths and fewer new infections. However, natural disasters and conflict took their toll, such as the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant damage in Japan. Furthermore, there was an increasing emphasis on how social conditions influence health inequities. This photo feature presents a selection of some of the major health issues in 2011.

13 December 2011 -- Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25% globally since 2000 according to the World malaria report 2011, issued today. This is the result of a significant scaling-up of malaria prevention and control measures in the last decade, including the widespread use of bed nets, better diagnostics and a wider availability of effective medicines to treat malaria.

• Read the press release on the World malaria report 2011
• More information on malaria