Presented today, 🇲🇩 Post-Disaster Needs Assessment of 2026 Nistru pollution crisis outlines recovery needs & key actions to improve water quality monitoring, emergency preparedness, cross-border cooperation & ecosystem recovery.🙏@UNMoldova& @EUinMoldova go.undp.org/xxs

1/ What struck me most talking with Moldova's new Minister of Health, Dr Alexandru Gasnaș: change starts with the people delivering care. Reforming systems means little if the mindset of doctors and nurses, and the way they are trained, doesn't change with it. @GuvernulRMD; @MoldovaMFA; @MihaiPopsoi; @MoldovainGeneva; @VladimirCuc; @WHOMoldova; @miljana_grbic; @UNMoldova; @who_europe

Pleased to welcome today Moldova’s Health Minister Emil Ceban to the @UNCityCPH and to sign our Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA) for 2026–2027 – a roadmap for @WHO's support to health reforms in 🇲🇩 over the next 2 years. The BCA sets clear priorities: stronger primary health care, digital health, access to medicines, health workforce support, mental health, emergency preparedness, and closer alignment with EU standards. I reiterated @WHO_Europe's readiness to support Moldova’s efforts to build a more equitable, resilient, and people-centred health system. Was glad that the delegation led by Minister Ceban could also meet with WHO/Europe’s technical divisions to focus on practical next steps for advancing these priorities.

#Moldova has received its first shipment of childhood #cancer medicines through the Global Platform established by WHO and @stjuderesearch, in collaboration with @UNICEF. A bold step towards equitable access to care for all children in the country! bit.ly/4cyxMYw

In my meeting with Moldova’s new Health Minister, Dr Emil Ceban, we discussed the country’s health priorities and how @WHO_Europe can support them. We focused on 🇲🇩’s European integration and structural reforms, and steps to improve access to essential health services, social protection, prevention, digitalization and stronger health system governance. I welcomed Moldova’s move to digital-only medical certificates, helping deliver faster and more transparent services. We also discussed strengthening primary health care, rehabilitation and palliative care, improving care for cardiovascular disease, including stroke, and better support for autism spectrum disorders. WHO/Europe stands ready to help. Looking forward to signing our 2026–27 Biennial Collaboration Agreement with Minister Ceban soon. #HealthForAll @MoldovainGeneva

From Alma-Ata to Astana, world leaders pledged to put #PrimaryHealthCare at the heart of health systems. But what does that promise look like in people’s lives today? Follow us over these weeks to see #PHC4UHC through the eyes of PHC providers and nurses.

The #imPACTReview mission to #Moldova 🇲🇩 started today with a opening session by Minister of Health Emil Ceban. 👉This joint @iaeaorg @IARCWHO @WHO assessment, in collaboration with @StJude, will review cancer control in the country, with a special focus on pediatric oncology.

Tobacco control is working.🌍 But we're still 50 million users away from our 2025 target. That's 50 million too many lives at risk.💔 Policy works. Let's not stop now. Read the report: bit.ly/46BQOui #TobaccoExposed #NoTobacco

LIVE from #UNGA: Launch of the WHO Global Hypertension Report x.com/i/broadcasts/1mnxeNZzN…

Second Steering Committee of the joint UN initiative supported by @SDCMoldova🇨🇭 through the @MPTFOffice, led by IOM, co-led by WHO, in cooperation with UNICEF, UNFPA and🇲🇩authorities to ensure inclusive and equitable access to quality healthcare for displaced people in Ukraine.

Austria is becoming a true champion for my Special Initiative on preventing and responding to violence against women & girls (VAWG). I thanked Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig, State Secretary at Austria’s Health Ministry, for the support in this important area, which is one of the priorities of our new European Programme of Work - #EPW2. State Secretary Königsberger-Ludwig has done remarkable work in this field in Lower Austria: expanding women’s shelters, creating transitional housing, and even advancing cross-border protection for high-risk cases. Looking ahead: Lower Austria will host the 30th Annual Regions for Health Network Meeting (26–28 Nov), where WHO/Europe will support a dedicated session on VAWG. I also took the opportunity to thank 🇦🇹 Health Minister Korinna Schumann for being a strong voice of zero tolerance for violence against women - both in public life and the workplace, and Herwig Ostermann, Executive Director of the Austrian Public Health Institute, for enabling us to continue advancing access to novel medicines for all. #HealthForAll

.@WHO_Europe has signed a US$10M grant agreement with @aseforg and @MofaJapan_en to support critical emergency #health response in Ukraine 🇺🇦 & refugee-hosting countries. With this funding, @WHO will: ✅ Strengthen trauma and emergency medical services in #Ukraine ✅ Help prevent & control the spread of infectious diseases and ensure continuity of care ✅ Support refugee-hosting countries - Poland, Moldova, Romania, Czechia, Bulgaria & Slovakia – in preventing disease outbreaks and improving access to care The response will focus on war-affected regions in Ukraine, prioritizing areas with the most urgent needs. In times of crisis, this partnership stands as a powerful testament to our shared commitment to #HealthForAll. @MoH_Ukraine @ViktorLiashko @MFA_Ukraine @andrii_sybiha

When I worked as a TB Doctor at the beginning of my career, I saw the resilience and courage of TB patients and their families in dealing with a difficult treatment regimen for this disease. This #WorldTBDay, the story of Oxana and her husband, Pavel, from the Republic of Moldova, is another inspiring reminder that TB is beatable. From a grueling drug-resistant TB to now being towering advocates for TB patients, they have demonstrated that, Yes! We can #EndTB. Read Oxana's story here: bit.ly/4kSsbyB #HealthForAll

Today marks 3 years since the full-scale war in #Ukraine began. Attacks on health care have become a disturbing reality, putting lives at risk and crippling essential services. In these 3 years, WHO has documented over 2,254 attacks on health facilities – 40% targeting primary care facilities. In 2024 alone, there were 470 attacks - a 31% increase compared to 2023. In just 55 days of 2025, there have been 42 attacks, causing 12 injuries & 3 deaths. Health facilities and healthcare workers must never be a target. Health is the foundation of peace & recovery. Rebuilding the health system restores hope, dignity & the future. At @WHO, we work on recovery, response & reform – simultaneously. Over the last 3 years, I’ve visited #Ukraine 6 times, seeing firsthand the dedication and efforts of my @WHOUkraine colleagues, partners in Gov’t & civil society, for which I am deeply grateful 🙏. Their commitment is resolute, but they can’t do it alone. That’s why we call on our int’l partners: We need your support now more than ever. Every delay worsens the crisis & raises future costs. Together, we can ensure essential care reaches those who need it most. I invite you to watch a short video showcasing one of our critical initiatives – the installation of 29 modular structures, including 26 primary health facilities & 3 emergency medical stations. Built with 🇺🇦 Health Ministry, partners & donors, these facilities now serve 250,000 people in frontline communities.

Every day, @WHO scans the world for health threats. And we respond to dozens of outbreaks, conflicts, disasters and more. Here are some highlights of how our teams across the world serve the most vulnerable people. #HealthForAll

As a father of two daughters who are pursuing their education and searching for their place in the modern world, I often think about the future we are shaping for them – a future where all women and girls can learn, grow and reach their full potential without any barriers. On Int’l Day of Women & Girls in Science (IDWGS), we are reminded that a better future for women & girls is only possible when they have equal opportunities to participate in every field, including science. Yet, despite progress, gender equality in science remains elusive. Here is the reality: 🔹 Only 1 in 3 scientists today is a woman. 🔹 In artificial intelligence, just 1 in 5 professionals (22%) is a woman. 🔹 Women still make up only 28% of engineering graduates & 40% of graduates in computer science. And the more alarming statistic: 🔹 1 in 2 female scientists has reported experiencing sexual harassment at work. At @WHO_Europe, addressing gender-based violence and its impact on health is one of the priorities of the second European Programme of Work – #EPW2. It is our new compass for health and well-being in the region for the next 5+ years that we at are co-creating with Member States. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of IDWGS & the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, let’s work together to ensure that women and girls have the opportunities they deserve. Gender equality in science is not just about fairness – it is about building a better future for all. Only by embracing all talent and knowledge can we unlock the full potential of science and tackle the challenges of our time. #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM @UN @antonioguterres @AminaJMohammed @MelissaFleming @WHO @DrTedros @UN_Women @unwomenchief @unwomeneca @igunwomen @UNESCO @AAzoulay @UNESCOEU

Don’t let them to cloud your mind! anti-tobacco campaign in 🇲🇩 made its way to Ion Creangă Lyceum in Balti where over 200 students learned about harmful effects of e-cigarettes on health. Knowledge is power! Youth step in & speak out #TobaccoExposed #BeatNCD

I am deeply honored to begin my 2nd term as @WHO_Europe’s Regional Director, following today’s decision of @WHO’s Executive Board. I warmly thank all the members of the Executive Board for their trust & support 🙏 With humility and a strong sense of responsibility, I take on this mandate – fully committed to working in partnership to advance our shared vision for the region, especially in these times of crisis and uncertainty. The unanimous support by WHO/Europe Member States is a profound mark of trust. I recognize the high expectations placed upon me and I am ready to meet them head-on – driven by energy, experience and an exceptional team of executive directors. Together, we will build on lessons from the past 5 years, always upholding fairness to our staff – WHO’s greatest asset. I’ve reaffirmed my commitments, knowing I can count on the support of our Member States - and that of my big brother, @DrTedros, whose guidance has meant so much to me. Our goal is clear: to ensure @WHO_Europe is future-proofed with the ambitious new European Programme of Work – #EPW2, which we have started co-creating with our Member States. This means: ✅ Crystal-clear priorities in a financially constrained world ✅ A nimble, adaptive WHO that reinvents itself ✅ Back to the basics: technical excellence and country relevance ✅ Tripling our ambition, leveraging AI & digital tools for efficiency ✅ Political neutrality to strengthen WHO’s normative role, country support & humanitarian aid ✅ A relentless commitment to listening to Member States - and following up with steadfast discipline This is my pledge as I embark on this new term. Let’s move forward – together – for a healthier & stronger Europe. #HealthForAll

Ageing is living. It’s a privilege. It’s a lifelong journey. But what can we do to add life to those precious extra years? That’s the key question of our second public hearing today as we shape our new European Programme of Work – #EPW2 – which prioritizes healthy ageing amid rapidly shifting demographics. Over 1,000 participants from WHO/Europe Member States, academia, civil society & beyond have joined the discussion. Their voices matter & help us shape policies that ensure healthier & more connected lives as we age. 1/3

Right now, Europe is ageing at an unprecedented rate. By 2050, the number of people aged 80+ will triple. Today, older people in our region already outnumber the young. Yet, while we’re living longer, we’re not living healthier. 🚨 The silent epidemics of ageism & isolation are taking a toll: 🔹 1 in 3 experiences ageism. 🔹 1 in 4 older adults feels isolated. 🔹 Social isolation raises the risk of early death by 25%. 2/3