The UN describes the past year as pivotal for global health. Marked by the adoption of the first agreement on pandemics. Which strengthens international cooperation and multilateralism in the face of health threats.
Approved at the 78th World Health Assembly, the Pandemic Agreement, along with amendments to the International Health Regulations. Aims to ensure a faster, more equitable, and more effective response to future health emergencies. And promotes fairer access to vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics.
2025 also solidified its position as a period of significant progress and complex challenges for global health. For the World Health Organization (WHO), according to its General-Director, Tedros Adhanom. The WHO responded to 48 emergencies in 79 countries and territories. Including conflict zones and protracted crises such as Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine.
These interventions included support for overwhelmed health systems, emergency care, and international coordination. To protect the most vulnerable populations, according to data from the health agency. During this period, several countries were also validated for eliminating diseases. Brazil was recognized for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Becoming the most populous nation in the Americas to achieve this goal.
In addition, Georgia, Suriname, and Timor-Leste were certified as malaria-free. While seven other African nations introduced the malaria vaccine. Bringing the total to 24 countries and benefiting more than ten million children each year.
With WHO support, countries expanded immunization programs against diseases. Such as meningitis, polio, rotavirus, and human papillomavirus (HPV). With 86 million girls already vaccinated against the latter. Data from the World Health Statistics 2025 report shows that 1.4 billion people are now living healthier lives thanks to reduced tobacco use, cleaner air, and improvements in water and sanitation.
Decreases in HIV and tuberculosis rates were also recorded. As well as a reduced need for treatment for neglected tropical diseases. In parallel, 2025 was a key year for the agenda on noncommunicable diseases and mental health, according to the UN. More than 75 percent of non-pandemic-related deaths are due to these conditions. Also which disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries.
Before the year ended, the WHO reinforced its focus on traditional medicine with the adoption of the Global Strategy for Traditional Medicine 2025–2034. Which aims to integrate these practices into health systems based on scientific evidence, safety, and quality. The WHO director stated that, despite these advances, the year was also marked by difficulties. Also cuts in international aid threatened to reverse decades of progress.
Despite this, Tedros emphasized that the organization remains committed to its founding mission: to ensure the highest possible level of health.
With information from Prensa Latina
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