WHO report: COVID-19 threatens global health progress

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that while global life expectancy and healthy life expectancy have increased, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to disrupt recent advances and slow progress toward Sustainable Development Goals.

Significant gains were noted in low-income countries, where life expectancy rose by 21% between 2000 and 2016, driven by improved access to treatments for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as better maternal and child healthcare. However, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the rate of progress is currently too slow to meet global targets.

Challenges include stalling immunization coverage, potential reversals in malaria control gains, and a general shortage of health services. The WHO emphasizes the urgent need for countries to invest in strong health systems and primary healthcare to defend against outbreaks and ongoing health threats.