Exclusive breastfeeding during babies’ first six months has risen from about 37% in 2012 to more than 47% worldwide, strengthening early nutrition and protection from illness.
A vaccine designed to work without refrigeration has completed its first human trial in the United Kingdom, potentially making immunisation easier in remote communities.
Global deaths from infections affecting the digestive system, including diarrhoeal diseases, fell from 3.69 million in 1990 to 1.27 million in 2023.
People with advanced age-related macular degeneration can now regain some lost sight after Europe's first approved retinal implant was made available to patients in Germany, offering a new treatment option.
A 23-year-old man has become the first person in Louisiana to be functionally cured of sickle cell disease through gene therapy, marking a major step forward for treatment in the United States.
Tobacco use has fallen by around half since 2000, marking major progress for public health and reducing the future burden of tobacco-related disease in India.
Canada recorded a 23% fall in opioid-related deaths in 2025, helping save lives and showing the impact of stronger harm reduction and public health measures.
Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are moving closer to eliminating malaria, bringing a malaria-free future within reach for millions of people across Cambodia as years of regional cooperation continue to reduce infections.
The European Union has brought new water protection laws into force, introducing stronger safeguards against harmful pollutants and helping build cleaner, more resilient water systems across Europe.
Lao PDR is moving closer to eliminating schistosomiasis, with infection rates reduced to below 1 per cent in high-risk areas and thousands of people gaining protection from the disease.
