WHO

A team of health workers provide vaccination outreach service to remote villages in Fiji.

WHO representative in Lebanon Dr Abdinasir Abubakar visits a shelter for IDPs. Over the past weeks, Lebanon has witnessed large internal displacement of civilians from the areas being attacked to other stable areas.

On 15 March 2023, Kulsoom and her son Ayaz receive a mosquito net during a door-to-door campaign against malaria in Sohbatpur, Balochistan. The 2022 floods resulted in the worst malaria outbreak in Pakistan since 1973. In response, international health organizations such as WHO and the Global Fund came together with local governments and NGOs to combat the malaria outbreak and help address the extraordinary scale of need. The response drew on both the oldest and newest interventions in the anti-malaria tool kit. In the makeshift refugee camps, nets were distributed, tents (and what houses remained) were sprayed with insecticides, and mass drug administration campaigns were conducted to quickly treat as many people as possible. Related: https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/It-was-just-the-perfect-storm-for-malaria-pakistan-responds-to-surge-in-cases-following-the-2022-floods

Elderly residents exercise, assisted by a physical therapist, at Bishkek social center for the elderly and disabled in Kyrgyzstan, 29 March 2022. The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks, and provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations.

Resma is treated for complications from dengue at Mugda Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 20 September 2023. Since April 2023 Bangladesh has been experiencing its most severe outbreak of dengue on record. The outbreak is putting huge pressure on the health system. The higher incidence of dengue is taking place in the context of an unusual episodic amount of rainfall, combined with high temperatures and high humidity, which have resulted in an increased mosquito population throughout Bangladesh. WHO is supporting the authorities to strengthen surveillance, laboratory capacity, clinical management, vector control, risk communication and community engagement, and has trained doctors and deployed experts on the ground. WHO has also provided supplies to test for dengue and to support care for patients. Read more : https://www.who.int/bangladesh/emergencies/dengue-update-2023

Different views of the headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Statue commemorating the 30th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox. The cast bronze and stone statue depicts four persons, one of whom is a girl about to be vaccinated in the arm.

North Darfur, Sudan - 25 April 2022: Midwife Bahja in her home in Abu Gaw with one of her children. Before the construction the new health care centre in her village, pregnant women used to have to go to Bahja’s house for consultations, and sometimes ended up giving birth in her home. Now they can visit her at the new clinic. “We are very happy, our health is better, the health centre is beautiful and people are standing with us,” she said. The village’s previous health care centre was destroyed and residents of Abu Gaw, including Bahja, fled during the war in Darfur in 2004. Since 2018, about 8000 people have returned to the village from displacement camps. The community identified rebuilding the health centre as a priority through a series of community health dialogues facilitated by the WHO with North Darfur health authorities. Community dialogues empower disadvantaged populations to take an active role deciding on their health priorities, proposing solutions for their health needs, and holding local health authorities accountable. The dialogues in Abu Gaw provided guidance for the community about how and where to advocate for the health services they needed most. Sudan is one of the 115 countries and areas supported by the Universal Health Coverage Partnership, WHO’s largest platform for international cooperation on delivering universal health coverage through a primary health care approach. Primary health care-oriented health systems maximize the quality of the health system, while also enhancing equity and solidarity, thus improving social cohesion.

On 20 September 2022, Intore (left) is screened for malnutrition by a member of a mobile health team in Korr, Marsabit. Millions in the greater Horn of Africa are facing acute hunger as the region faces one of the worst droughts in recent decades. M any people have left their homes in search of food and water, and pasture for animals. Large-scale displacement is often accompanied by a deterioration in hygiene and sanitation. Outbreaks of infectious diseases are a major concern, especially when combined with low existing vaccination coverage and health service availability. As people become increasingly food insecure, they also must make the impossible choice between food and healthcare, even as nutritional deficiencies make them increasingly vulnerable to disease. This is particularly true for children, for whom the combination of malnutrition and disease can prove fatal. WHO and partners are working to counter the consequences of malnutrition, respond to disease outbreaks, and ensure that essential health services can continue.

Every month a WHO supported mobile health clinic visits Sienna village, close to the Sharia collective town in the Duhok region of northern Iraq. About 1,500 Yazidi live in the village, many of them in unfinished buildings. They’ve been displaced from Sinjar mountain since 2014. The medical staff, which consists of a doctor, two nurses, a pharmacy assistant, a nurse practitioner and a driver, typically sees between 100-150 patients each visit. WHO supports six mobile clinics in the region and they serve about 40,000 people who do not live in camps. Four are wholly supported by WHO and two run by the national NGO Heevie have a separate operation with vehicles donated by WHO. The Duhok Directorate of Health also contributes to the clinics. They visited Sumer Zahko, Amedi and Shikhan districts. Because of the financial constraints facing the Kurdish region, which mean many public servants are not receiving their full salary, four of the mobile teams receive a monthly financial incentive of $1,000 for doctors and $550 for nurses. - The Mobile Clinic driving on the road.

A WHO staff visits Island Food Community of Pohnpei (IFCP), a small local non-profit organization that promotes local and healthy food. The IFCP initiative promotes locally available foods, such as banana, breadfruit, taro and pandanus, particularly in schools and local communities, using a wide variety of information, education and communication tools.

Jiydekul Yrysbayeva (54) rides a horse to reach her neighbours with vaccination and other health services in an inaccessible mountainous region in the Karatal Japyryk area, 4000 meters above sea level, Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan. In the remote, rugged landscapes of Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, where access to healthcare is often a journey unto itself, a dedicated figure stands tall amidst the challenges. Meet Jiydekul Yrysbayeva, a beacon of hope and resilience in a region where medical services are sparse and distances vast. In this documentary photo story, we delve into the life and work of Jiydekul Yrysbayeva, a feldsher who lives in Karatal Japyryk area of Naryn, the most mountainous region of Kyrgyzstan, 2500 meters above sea level, and embodies the spirit of service and compassion. Despite the logistical hurdles of reaching this inaccessible part of Kyrgyzstan, Jiydekul Yrysbayeva tirelessly dedicates herself to the well-being of her community. Part-time medical worker, part-time livestock farmer and full-time advocate for health, Jiydekul Yrysbayeva's mission extends beyond the confines of her medical station. With a particular focus on vaccination, she plays a crucial role in safeguarding the lives of her fellow Kyrgyzstanis. Through her efforts, she not only administers vaccines but also educates community about the importance of immunization. This documentary photo series sheds light on Kyrgyzstan's relentless efforts in the realm of vaccination and immunization with WHO's and other allies' support. Over 50 years, the Expanded Immunization Program has been a cornerstone of health protection in the WHO European Region, of which Kyrgyzstan is a part. 2024 also marks 30 years for Kyrgyzstan's National Immunization Program, being a massive part of public health initiatives, saving countless lives and fortifying generations against preventable diseases. As we commemorate European Immunization Week, join us in celebrating the unwavering commitment of Jiydekul Yrysbayeva and her peers. Through their dedication and the power of vaccines, they not only save lives but also lay the foundation for a healthier, resilient future for Kyrgyzstan and beyond. Partnering with the European Union A project co-funded by the European Union is currently being implemented in Kyrgyzstan and 4 other central Asian republics – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. The project involves supporting the ministries of health with immunization and supply chain logistics, risk communication and community engagement, and the capacity-building of health-care professionals, paving the way to achieve the goals and targets of the European Immunization Agenda 2030.

Digital Asset Management (DAM) by Orange Logic

The WHO Photo Library is on the move - digitally speaking.

We’re migrating to this new platform to open the door to a more unified and collaborative future for visual storytelling across WHO.

This change is not just about the technology; it’s about making it easier for all of us to share WHO’s work with the world - and to do it with impact.

While we aim for a smooth transition, there will be a short period of limited access.

To help bridge that gap, we’ve curated a selection of high-priority, frequently used images, which you can find here .

If you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can still request specific images at photos@who.int.

We’ll keep updating this page as the launch date approaches.