Public health programmes need to work together so that all families have access to a continuum of care that extends from pregnancy (and even before) through childbirth and on into childhood instead of the often fragmented services available at present . - Dr LEE Jong-wook Director-General WHO The World Health Report 2005 - Make Every Mother and Child Count examines the reasons why so many children under five years of age and women in pregnancy during childbirth or soon after continue to die from causes that are largely preventable - and how the annual toll can be reduced. This year almost 11 million children under five years of age will die. Among them are 4 million babies who will not survive the first month of life. On top of that 3.3 million babies will be stillborn. At the same time about half a million women will die in pregnancy childbirth or soon after. The report contains an expert analysis of the obstacles to progress in maternal newborn and child health and a comprehensive series of recommendations aimed at overcoming them. It says that the interventions exist today to transform the lives of millions of mothers and children and to prevent millions of tragically premature deaths. To put an end to widespread exclusion countries must guarantee access to care for each and every mother and child - through a continuum that extends from pregnancy through childbirth the neonatal period and childhood. The report says that universal access for mothers and children requires health systems to be able to respond to the needs and demands of the population and to offer them protection against the financial hardship that results from ill-health. The report argues that maternal newborn and child health should constitute the core of health entitlements protected and funded through public funds and social health insurance systems. Children are the future of society and their mothers are guardians of that future.

Each year, almost 11 million children under five years of age die from largely preventable causes, whilst about half a million women die in pregnancy, childbirth or soon after. This year's report focuses on maternal, newborn and child health issues as an integral part of progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals targets and promoting poverty reduction. It identifies exclusion as a key feature of inequity as well as a barrier to progress, and sets out strategies required to ensure universal access to health care and social health insurance systems for every mother and child, through a continuum that extends from pregnancy through childbirth, the neonatal period and childhood.

In response to the call of the 48th World Health Assembly for a substantial revision of the International Health Regulations, this new edition of the Regulations will enter into force on June 15, 2007. The purpose and scope of the Regulations are "to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade." The Regulations also cover certificates applicable to international travel and transport, and requirements for international ports, airports and ground crossings.

The Pocket Book is for use by doctors nurses and other health workers who are responsible for the care of young children at the first level referral hospitals. This second edition is based on evidence from several WHO updated and published clinical guidelines. It is for use in both inpatient and outpatient care in small hospitals with basic laboratory facilities and essential medicines. In some settings these guidelines can be used in any facilities where sick children are admitted for inpatient care. The Pocket Book is one of a series of documents and tools that support the Integrated Managem.

"This World Health Report was produced under the overall direction of Carissa Etienne ... and Anarfi Asamoa Baah ... The principal writers were David B. Evans ... [et al] -- t.p. verso.

The World health statistics 2020 report is the latest annual compilation of health statistics for 194 Member States. It summarizes trends in life expectancy and causes of death and reports on progress towards the health and health related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and associated targets. Four indicators of emerging public health importance relating to poliomyelitis, hypertension and obesity in adults and school age children have been included. These are part of the WHO's Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019-2023 (GPW13), which the 71st World Health Assembly approved in May 2018. The GPW13 is largely based on the SDGs and sets out WHO's strategic direction until 2023