WHO’s World Health Statistics Overview Report 2019

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released the World Health Statistics Overview Report for the year 2019.

As per the International report, it is men who are losing their lives more than women across the world.
Be it due to road accidents, homicide, suicide, cardiovascular diseases, etc., men fare worse.
The average life expectancy has increased by 5 and a half years for both men and women.
From 66.5 years in 2000, it has increased to 72 in 2016.
Healthy life expectancy, that is the number of years lived in full health increased from 58.5 years in 2000 to 63.3 in 2016.
The WHO estimated that in 2019, 141 million children will be born – 73 million boys and 68 million girls.
Boys will live on an average 69.8 years and girls will live for 74.2 years.
At 60, women have greater chances of living longer than men. It is 21.9 years for women and 19 years for men.
The difference is due to differing attitude to healthcare between men and women states the report.
It illustrates the case with the example of HIV epidemic countries. In such countries, men are less likely to take an HIV test than women. This is also the case with TB and other diseases.
The report also noted that the gap in life expectancy is narrower where women lack access to healthcare.
Among women, the report cites maternal deaths as a major risk. This is especially high in low-income countries.

The statistics provided by the WHO will help the government in taking necessary policy measures to improve the health standards in the country.
Also, India is one of the countries with a high burden of maternal mortality, tuberculosis, and HIV.