BLESSING TAIWO
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a wider reach in the adoption and usage of scientific innovations for human health globally.
According to a press release by the organization on its official website to commemorate the world health day on Tuesday, scientific interventions have saved many lives.
The World Health Day 2026 theme: ‘Together for health. Stand with science,’ emphasises the impact of science on health which has led to safer medicines, accelerated research and tools.
WHO enjoined all and sundry to renew their commitment to working together and supporting science as the twin engines driving better health.
“Human health has been profoundly transformed over the past century, largely due to scientific progress and international collaboration. The global maternal mortality rate has fallen by more than 40% since 2000, and deaths among children under five have been reduced by over 50%.
“Advances in technology, scientific knowledge and skills, and collaboration between different disciplines, sectors and countries continue to turn once-life-threatening health challenges – such as elevated blood pressure, cancer diagnoses or HIV infection – into manageable health issues, extending and improving lives worldwide.
“Yet, health threats continue to grow, fuelled by climate impacts, environmental degradation, geopolitical tensions and shifting demographics.
“These challenges include persistent diseases and strained health systems as well as emerging diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential. Across the globe, thousands of scientists – together with organizations such as WHO – are accelerating research and developing policies, tools and innovations needed to protect communities today and safeguard the health of future generations,” the statement said.
The Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described science as one of humanity’s most powerful tools for protecting and improving health.
“People in every country live longer and healthier lives on average today than their ancestors did, thanks to the power of science. Vaccines, penicillin, germ theory, MRI machines and the mapping of the human genome are just some of the achievements that science has delivered that have saved lives and transformed health for billions of people,” Ghebreyesus stated.
The health organization noted that every success in improving human health reflects the collective work and collaboration of scientific organizations, policy- makers, heath workers and the public.
“Before modern anesthesia, surgery meant unimaginable pain. Today, safer medicines, affordable technologies and trained specialists allow life-saving operations to be performed while patients sleep comfortably.
“Scientific progress has helped democratize these advances, making safe surgical care accessible across the world, including in many resource-limited communities; over the past 50 years, global immunization efforts have saved over 154 million children from infectious diseases.
“Vaccines have contributed to a 40% reduction in infant mortality, with just one vaccine – the measles vaccine – saving over 90 million children; and progress in early screening technologies is transforming health outcomes. From electronic blood pressure monitors to breast cancer screening through mammography, these tools have become life-saving interventions for millions,” WHO stated.
For a better society
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
