Botswana is first country with severe HIV epidemic to reach key milestone in the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission

Botswana has achieved the “silver tier” status, which moves it closer to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission

Botswana has become the first high-burden country to be certified for achieving an important milestone on the path to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the World Health Organization (WHO). High-burden HIV countries are defined as those with more than 2% of pregnant women living with the virus. Botswana has…

Africa steps up Omicron variant detection as COVID-19 cases rise in southern Africa

In Africa, the Omicron variant has now been detected in four countries, with Ghana and Nigeria becoming the first West African countries and the latest on the continent to report the new variant

African countries are stepping up measures to detect and control the spread of the Omicron variant as weekly new COVID-19 cases in the continent rise by 54% due to an upsurge in southern Africa. In Africa, the Omicron variant has now been detected in four countries, with Ghana and Nigeria…

Video News Release: WHO Africa COVID-19 online press briefing

WHO Malawi holds a consultation meeting with the Ministry of Health to plan for 2022-2023 biennium

The aim of the meeting was to align country priority areas with WHO workplans for 2022-2023 programme budget

World Health Organization Malawi Country Office (WCO) held a consultation meeting with Ministry of Health on 26th November 2021 at Sunbird Hotel in Blantyre to plan for a new biennium. The aim of the meeting was to align country priority areas with WHO workplans for 2022-2023 programme budget. The WHO planning…

WHO Stands with African Nations and Calls for Borders to Remain Open

Travel restrictions may play a role in slightly reducing the spread of COVID-19 but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods

As a growing number of countries impose flight bans on southern African nations due to concerns over the new Omicron variant, World Health Organization (WHO) urges countries to follow science and the International Health Regulations (2005). Travel restrictions may play a role in slightly reducing the spread of COVID-19 but…

Only 1 in 4 African health workers fully vaccinated against COVID-19

The majority of Africa’s health workers are still missing out on vaccines and remain dangerously exposed to severe COVID-19 infection

Only 27% of health workers in Africa have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, leaving the bulk of the workforce on the frontlines against the pandemic unprotected, a preliminary analysis by World Health Organization (WHO) shows. Analysis of data reported from 25 countries finds that since March 2021, 1.3 million health…

Video News Release: WHO Africa COVID-19 online press briefing

Striving for safer roads in Senegal

Each year, there are around 27 000 road traffic accident victims in Senegal, with 11 000 in Dakar alone

Cheikh Amat Dieng will never forget the day, 10 years ago, when life took a cruel turn. The 69-year-old father was travelling from Dakar, Senegal’s capital, to neighbouring Mauritania with four of his children for Eid al-Fitr, his eldest son at the wheel.   But about 90 km outside the…

Helping diabetic patients live positively

Ethiopian Diabetes Association (EDA) works to empower diabetic patients, their families, and the wider public through up-to-date information on diabetes prevention care and the right kind of treatment

Ketsela Asmare is a nurse counselor at the Ethiopian Diabetes Association (EDA), where she has been working since the year 2000.  Driven by her passion to help people, Ketsela started volunteering at the Association as a teenager, several years prior to joining as staff.  When asked how she decided to…

Stronger Governance Needed to Fight Superbugs in Africa: Antimicrobial Resistance threatens Africa’s Development

Addressing AMR requires an holistic and multi-sectoral approach

The leaders of six regional organizations in Africa are calling for stronger governance to fight antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, on the eve of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November). The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Africa – where micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are resistant…