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WHO Regional Office for Africa
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Community engagement in the fight against cholera in Angola: Mr Celestino Mbambali – “The Lifesaver”

The WHO has played a key role in responding to the cholera outbreak in Angola, collaborating closely with the Ministry of Health (MINSA), Ministry of Water and Energy and the Provincial Health Office to contain the spread of the disease

For more than twenty-five years of volunteering in his community, 55-year-old Celestino Mbambali has witnessed countless health emergencies, including cholera outbreaks. A qualified nurse by profession, he was always concerned about the lack of a health center in his neighborhood and, driven by his commitment to his neighbors, decided to take…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Protecting the Central African Republic’s remote communities from polio

The vaccination team navigated difficult terrain, poor road conditions and the risk of armed groups presence in the area

In the ongoing efforts to eradicate polio, the Central African Republic has placed a special emphasis on reaching vulnerable and underserved populations. Populations in mining regions like Zoubala, a locality in the Bossombélé district about two hours from Bangui, the capital, face unique challenges and heightened risks of poliovirus transmission. In…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Angola vaccinates over 1 million people as it bolsters cholera outbreak control efforts

More than 1 million people have been vaccinated in the three hardest-hit provinces in a five-day campaign to complement the ongoing public health measures to halt the spread of the infectious disease

Antonio Morais, from Paraíso neighborhood in Cacuaco, one of Luanda’s nine municipalities, has witnessed friends and neighbours succumb to cholera. So, when Morais heard about an oral cholera vaccination campaign as part of Angola’s efforts to step up outbreak control, he was first in line to receive a vaccine. “I…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Urgent action needed to reinforce breast cancer control measures in Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) report

The WHO report underscores the urgent need for investment in leadership, governance and financing as fundamental steps

An estimated 135 000 women could lose their lives to breast cancer by 2040 in sub-Saharan Africa if urgent actions are not taken to reverse the trends, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report finds. The WHO study assessed breast cancer control capacities in 42 of the 47 countries within…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Ghana: Addressing Mental Health Challenges for Akosombo Flood Victims

The World Health Organization (WHO), with funding from UK in Ghana, stepped in to address the urgent need for mental health and psychosocial support services

In October 2023, the spillage of the Akosombo Dam caused catastrophic flooding in some districts of the Eastern, Volta, and Greater Accra regions, displacing thousands of people and leaving a trail of destruction. For many, the flood was more than a physical disaster—it was a profound emotional shock. Families woke…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Cholera vaccination campaign commences in Rubkona as part of efforts to address and control the ongoing outbreak

H.E. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol underscored government efforts in delivering healthcare, clean water provision, and hygiene promotion in all the affected locations to curb the outbreak

A campaign aimed at vaccinating over 300 000 people against cholera has commenced in the hotspot county of Rubkona, Unity State in a vital step to curb the ongoing outbreak, bringing the total number of counties where the vaccination campaign has been conducted nationwide to four. Rubkona County is one…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Celebrating Excellence: Shamila Ajodha Receives the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General’s Excellence Award 2024

Shamila stepped in and handled effectively and efficiently multiple roles to fill the gap when members from operations cluster are on official leave or when the workload warrants same to ensure business continuity

Dedication, commitment, diligence, and an unwavering sense of duty – this is how the team at the World Health Organization country office Mauritius described Shamila Ajodha, for her unflinching support as prgramme assistant.  She is truly the cornerstone of the team. During the past two decades, Shamila has excelled in…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Prioritizing road safety in Botswana

Thus road traffic authorities have placed a strong emphasis on making roads safer for pedestrians, and particularly for children, who account for almost a quarter of road accident casualties

To improve road safety and reduce the risk of road traffic injuries and deaths, Botswana is implementing a range of measures from widespread public education programmes to enforcing stricter traffic laws that have begun paying off. One of the most significant outcomes is the reduction of the legal blood alcohol…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Strengthening Epidemic Preparedness and Response: Building Resilience After Ghana’s 2023 Floods

To mitigate the health risks posed by the floods, the WHO facilitated the training of over 700 community-based surveillance volunteers

In 2023, Ghana faced a major disaster when the spillage of excess water from the Akosombo Dam led to devastating floods in the Eastern, Volta, and Greater Accra Regions. The increased water flow in the Volta River inundated low-lying areas along its course, severely impacting communities such as Mepe, Battor,…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

New step in African region’s efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), syphilis and hepatitis B

Over 21.3 million people are now on life-saving antiretroviral treatment, and in Eastern and Southern Africa, 90% of pregnant women receive antiretroviral therapy to protect their babies from HIV

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa has launched a Regional Validation Committee for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B virus, marking a pivotal moment in ensuring a healthier future for every mother and child across Africa. The Regional Validation Committee has a…