According to the World Health Organization, the WHO has released its first global guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment, and care to improve early detection, timely treatment, and long-term support, especially in low-resource settings. The guidelines cover bacterial and viral meningitis in children, adolescents, and adults, and support the “Defeating Meningitis by 2030” initiative to reduce deaths and disability worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization, a new UN report shows global maternal deaths fell by 40% between 2000 and 2023, but progress has slowed since 2016. In 2023, an estimated 260,000 women died from pregnancy or childbirth complications—one every two minutes. Funding cuts, conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted care in many regions, especially in fragile settings. Urgent investment in maternal health services is needed to meet global goals by 2030.