The plan sets important new directions for mental health including a central role for provision of community based care and a greater emphasis on human rights.

The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 prepared by WHO addresses the eradication of all polio disease, whether caused by wild poliovirus or circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, while planning for the backbone of the polio effort to be used for delivering other health services to the world’s most vulnerable children.

World Health Statistics 2013 contains WHO’s annual compilation of health-related data for its 194 Member States, and includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and associated targets.

The Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea launched by the WHO and UNICEF has the potential to save up to 2 million children every year from deaths caused by these diseses, some of the leading killers of children under five globally.

WHO has developed a global monitoring framework to enable global tracking of progress in preventing and controlling major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) - cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases and diabetes - and their key risk factors.

The earthquake and tsunami in Japan on 11 March 2011 led to releases of radioactive material into the environment from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

WHO reports unprecedented progress against 17 neglected tropical diseases, thanks to a new global strategy, a regular supply of quality assured, cost-effective medicines and support from global partners.

The malaria burden is concentrated in 14 endemic countries, which account for an estimated 80% of malaria deaths and India is the most affected country in South-East Asia, reveals this World Malaria Report 2012 released recently

The WHO has released a guideline for project managers in health-related adaptation to climate change, providing information, tools and recommendations for effective gender mainstreaming, including gender analysis of health vulnerability, adverse health impacts of climate change, and design of gender-responsive adaptation programmes and actions.

These guidelines provide recommendations on the diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes and the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care in low-resource settings.