WHO celebrates 75th anniversary with news of increased global life expectancy

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that global life expectancy for both sexes has increased from 46 to 73 years, with the biggest gains in the poorest countries. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus made this statement during an online media conference, as the organization marked the 75th anniversary of the day the WHO Constitution came into force.

Ghebreyesus stated that the WHO’s vision was to achieve the highest possible standard of health for all people and to work together for a healthier and safer world. The WHO Constitution was the first document in history to formally recognize health as a human right.

Since then, the world has made significant progress towards realizing that vision, according to Ghebreyesus. Smallpox has been eradicated, polio is on the brink of eradication, 42 countries have eliminated malaria, and the epidemics of HIV and TB have been pushed back. In addition, 47 countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease.

In the past 20 years, smoking has fallen by a third, maternal mortality has fallen by a third, and child mortality has halved. New vaccines for Ebola and malaria have been developed and licensed. The WHO has also coordinated the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic for the past three years.

Despite these achievements, Ghebreyesus highlighted the challenges that still exist. People around the world face vast disparities in access to health services, with at least half the world’s population lacking access to one or more services like family planning, basic sanitation, or access to a health worker. Non-communicable diseases account for more than 70% of all deaths globally, and rates of diabetes and obesity have increased dramatically. Progress against malaria and TB has stalled, and antimicrobial resistance threatens to unwind a century of medical progress.

Ghebreyesus emphasized that the world needs WHO now more than ever to tackle these challenges and work towards a healthier and safer world.