🫱🏼‍🫲🏾  Since the foundation of WHO, the world has experienced public health challenges that have required us all to come together with science, solutions and solidarity. 

💡  Here is a reminder of some of the most memorable successes. These milestones also provide inspiration for us to face the health challenges of the future.

*1948* – WHO Constitution comes into force on 7 April.

*1950* – WHO began advising countries on antibiotic production and on widening access and responsible use.

*1969* - The World Health Assembly establishes the first International Health Regulations.

*1974* - WHO founds the Expanded Programme on Immunization to bring life-saving vaccines to all the world's children. 

*1977* - The first Essential Medicines List is published.

*1978* - The International Conference on Primary Health Care, in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan. 

*1980* - Following a 12-year global vaccination campaign led by WHO, smallpox is eradicated. 

*1983* - The Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, is discovered. 

*2000* - The UN Millennium Declaration.

*2003* -  WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is adopted.

*2005* - The International Health Regulations are revised.

*2008* - Heart disease and stroke emerge as the world's number one killers.

*2009* - The world braces itself for the first influenza pandemic since 1968.

*2014* - The Ebola outbreak in West Africa 2014-2016.

*2015* - 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is adopted.

*2016* - Association of Zika infection with clusters of microcephaly and other neurological disorders constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

*2017* - WHO publishes its first ever list of antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens."

*2020* – COVID-19 is declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

*2021* - WHO recommends a ground-breaking malaria vaccine for children living in areas of moderate to high malaria transmission. 

To see the full timeline of public health milestones ➡️ https://bit.ly/3RSoFXA