22 July 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - Dengue is spreading faster than most health systems can respond. On World Dengue Day 2026, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) joined global health leaders, policymakers, researchers and civil society representatives at the high-level event One World Against Dengue, convened at the Asia Dengue Summit in Singapore, to address that gap.

The event brought together voices from across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe to address dengue's expanding reach and the need for a coordinated global response. In a message shared for the occasion, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus underlined the importance of stronger action against dengue, reflecting the growing global attention to one of the world's fastest-spreading mosquito-borne diseases.

UNITAR was represented by Ms. Ebru Canan-Sokullu, Acting Head of the Health and Development Programme, who highlighted the importance of capacity development as a practical foundation for dengue preparedness and response. UNITAR's contribution focused on the need to strengthen individual and institutional capacities. Dengue preparedness depends not only on awareness, but also on trained health workers, stronger diagnostic and laboratory systems, effective surveillance and early warning mechanisms, locally adapted mosquito control and informed communities able to take preventive action.

UNITAR's engagement on dengue sits at the intersection of its work on health and development, water, climate resilience and sustainable development. Through its Health and Development Programme, the UNITAR Global Water Academy and the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) Global Network, UNITAR supports learning and capacity development across sectors that are central to dengue prevention and preparedness.

Dengue is a shared challenge and preparedness is our most powerful form of prevention. The real gap is a capacity gap - in clinical case management, laboratory and diagnostic testing, surveillance and mosquito control, and community engagement. UNITAR's commitment is to bridge that gap. - Ms. Canan-Sokullu

The discussion brought in regional perspectives on how dengue risk is changing in practice. Speakers shared examples from countries and regions already facing expanding transmission, including the use of One Health frameworks, field epidemiology, climate-informed risk analysis and new tools for outbreak detection and response. These contributions helped ground the global call to action in the operational realities faced by countries and frontline public health teams.

For UNITAR, World Dengue Day represents an opportunity to connect global advocacy with practical action. As dengue continues to spread into new areas and place growing pressure on health systems, capacity development will be essential to help countries anticipate risks, respond rapidly and sustain prevention efforts over time.

Under the theme One World Against Dengue, the event called for stronger international collaboration, sustained investment and shared responsibility as dengue continues to spread into new areas and place increasing pressure on health services and public health infrastructure. UNITAR remains committed to supporting partners and countries in developing the capacities needed to protect communities and advance resilient and equitable health systems.