While acknowledging the need for continued progress worldwide, it’s also crucial to recognize significant advances. Moreover, the year 2023 was noteworthy for global health achievements, particularly marking strides away from the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s to celebrating six notable global health advancements from 2023.

6 Global Health Achievements to Celebrate

1. Disease Elimination. There was an unprecedented amount of disease elimination across the world in 2023, according to WHO. Some examples include Gambinese human African trypanosomiasis in Ghana – a life-threatening sleeping sickness that had threatened rural and impoverished communities. Fortunately, Benin and Mali succeeded in eliminating trachoma, a disease of the eye that can lead to irreversible blindness.
2. COVID-19 No Longer a Global Health Emergency. After 13.3 billion vaccination doses worldwide and a review of the generally high levels of immunity and the declining COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalizations, the WHO’s emergency committee declared COVID-19 to no longer be a global health emergency. As a result, this is among the most significant global health achievements in 2023 as the world moves forward from the years of the pandemic.
3. Bangladesh Triumphs over Kala-Azar. In 2023, Bangladesh eliminated visceral leishmaniasis, or kala-azar, a huge achievement for the country. Caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of an infected female sand fly, if left untreated the disease has a survival rate of just 5%. Wiping out kala-azar on a national scale is a significant step forward for Bangladeshi public health.
4. Egypt Paves the Way for Beating Hepatitis C. Egypt became the world’s leading country in eliminating Hepatitis C in 2023. A virus affecting the liver, that if untreated can lead to serious and possibly fatal damage. Furthermore, Egypt officially achieved the gold tier level in tackling the disease and is collaborating with the Africa CDC (Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) to help other Member States achieve similar results.
5. Adoption of the Rabat Declaration. The 2023 Rabat Declaration pledged to improve migrant and refugee access to health care. Countries adopting the declaration will work to improve the health of migrants and refugees. They advocate for their health care to be included in the national policy of host countries, highlighting the right of every individual to have access to health care. Above all, this declaration is a huge global health achievement. It marks a big step forward in the protection and care of millions of vulnerable people across the world.
6. The ‘Big Catch-Up’ for Childhood Vaccination. As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, countless children are behind on their routine vaccinations. This has caused vital immunization levels to decrease in more than 100 countries. This has led to a worrying rise in diseases such as measles, polio and yellow fever in children. However, the WHO aims to return essential vaccination levels to pre-pandemic standards. In addition, the WHO announced the ‘Big Catch-Up’ in 2023, working to restore health care workforces and rebuild the trust and understanding in childhood vaccination – to protect as many children and adults from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Looking Ahead

For many, 2023 was the year that started to feel like the world was no longer in the grips of a global pandemic. The first steps being made back to normality. As COVID-19 began to no longer be such a pressing concern, countries were able to turn their focus to tackling other diseases and health care concerns. Consequently, great global health achievements were seen last year. There is hope that with continued efforts and support, there may be many more advancements and milestones reached across the world in 2024.

– Rose Williams
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