WHO | Week Ahead for media - 9 September 2026

No images? Click here Wednesday, 09 September 2026  | Issue 368   Subscribe to receive this weekly update   Sexual and reproductive health services consultation at the Adolescent and Youth Health Department at Lemi Kura Woreda 02 Health Center, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  © WHO / Addis Aemero 10 and 11 September are official holidays at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, and the offices will be closed 14 to 18 September Eighth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement The eighth session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement will be conducted in a hybrid format, from 14 to 18 September 2026.  The opening and closing sessions will be webcast (the closing session on 18 September is scheduled to start at 17.30 CEST).   Further information about this session: here. Also see: Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement WHO Pandemic Agreement Tuesday, 15 September New WHO strategy to strengthen the market for childhood cancer medicines  Each year, an estimated 400,000 children develop cancer.  On the occasion of childhood cancer awareness month, WHO and partners in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines will launch a new roadmap to strengthen the global market and tackle one of the greatest barriers to survival for children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries.   Journalists can request early access to the documents and interviews with experts via email to reddys@who.int, with a copy to mediainquiries@who.int.   Also see:   Childhood cancer health topic Childhood cancer fact sheet Wednesday, 16 September Strengthening pandemic preparedness: from investment to implementation and impact 13.30 CEST, EPI/WIN webinar  Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response requires sustained investment to build and maintain the capacities needed to detect, prevent and respond to health emergencies. As investments in preparedness continue to grow, this webinar will explore practical experiences from country and regional initiatives, highlighting lessons learned on translating investments into stronger preparedness systems and more resilient health security capacities. Further information and registration: here. ********** Beyond the method: what drives willingness to use novel male contraceptive methods? 15.30 CEST, webinar    Join WHO for a webinar presenting key findings from a global study exploring men’s and women’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to male contraception.   Drawing on research conducted in Colombia, Ghana, Morocco and Togo, the study examines perceptions of existing and emerging male contraceptive methods and discusses how new reversible options could expand contraceptive choice, promote shared responsibility for family planning and inform the future positioning of male methods within the contraceptive method mix.   Further information and registration: here.   Thursday, 17 September World Patient Safety Day Celebrated every year on 17 September, this year's World Patient Safety Day highlights a critical but often overlooked challenge: ensuring safe care for the billions of people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Under the slogan “Safe care for life!”, the campaign draws attention to the risks patients face throughout long-term care and calls for action to prevent avoidable harm, improve treatment quality and make patient safety a core part of the global response to NCDs. Further information: here. Friday, 18 September   New global health workforce data statistics    One in four doctors nearing retirement age as WHO warns of growing global health workforce gap    The National health workforce accounts: health workforce levels and trends 2026 shows how health worker ageing is intensifying the health workforce shortage, projected to reach 11.1 million health workers globally by 2030, while population ageing is increasing service demand.  The report reveals that nearly one in four doctors globally (one in three in high-income countries) is older than 55 and is expected to retire in the next decade, and that 67 countries will not have enough health workers to maintain population health needs by 2030. For further information or to request interviews with experts, please write to academymedia@who.int with a copy to mediainquiries@who.int.    Also see: Health workforce     WHO events of interest (full list here)  Call for proposals: What are the priorities for advancing women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health? (submissions opened until 18 October 2026)  Third meeting of the Global Initiative on AI for Health, 16-18 September Look ahead A New Blueprint for Male Contraception, 22 September WHO Consultation on the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2027 southern hemisphere influenza season, 21 to 24 September Release of the new WHO guidelines on expanding contraceptive options, and the webinar, 23 September Navigating menopause: sex, relationships and well-being, 24 September (webinar) WHO Information Meeting on the composition of influenza virus vaccines for use in the 2027 southern hemisphere influenza season, 25 September   Latest news from WHO here Outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus here WHO events here Sign up for our newsletters here WHO photos available for media use here WHO media contact: mediainquiries@who.int You are receiving this NO-REPLY email because you are included on a WHO mail list. 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