Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

African island states take fresh step towards joint medicines procurement

The programme also sets the guiding principles and governance structure, including the creation of a secretariat, technical committees and a council of ministers

In a further move towards pooled procurement of essential medicines and medical products, Ministers of Health from small African islands states established a secretariat and elected Mauritius as the host, taking critical steps to launch joint operations for increased access to affordable, quality-assured and safe medicines and medical supplies. The…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Rate of Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, treatment in Africa increasing

The region, which accounts of 23% of TB cases and 33% of deaths globally, is making steady progress towards ending the disease

About 70% of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the African region are now being diagnosed and treated, marking the highest case-detection rate in the region ever, thanks to concerted efforts by countries to address the threat of the disease. Although the case detection rate has been on the rise since 2018,…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Intensifying new initiatives for Tuberculosis (TB) case-finding in Nigeria

Nigeria has the highest TB burden in Africa

Around a year ago, Mallam Mainasara Mohammad, a resident of Makera,  a locality in Kebbi State, Nigeria, became increasingly worried about his son, nine-year-old Yusuf. The child had been coughing for weeks, had difficulty sleeping and unable to attend school. “I took him to the health centre after I heard…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Nearly 10 000 children vaccinated as malaria vaccine rollout in Africa expands

A wider malaria vaccine rollout is underway this year in several African countries, with Cameroon being the first outside the malaria vaccine pilot programme to do so

Nearly 10 000 children in Burkina Faso and Cameroon have now received the RTS,S malaria vaccine since being introduced this year. A wider malaria vaccine rollout is underway this year in several African countries, with Cameroon being the first outside the malaria vaccine pilot programme to do so. Cameroon launched…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

The World Health Organization (WHO) Africa, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pursue collaboration to leverage data analytics to fight diseases

The commitment was made during a technical visit to the WHO Africa office in Brazzaville, Congo by a delegation from BMGF

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) have committed to strengthening collaboration towards the use of data analytics in the fight against diseases in the African region. The commitment was made during a technical visit to the WHO Africa office…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

World Health Organization (WHO) Certifies Cabo Verde as Malaria-Free, Marking a Historic Milestone in the Fight Against Malaria

A total of 43 countries and 1 territory have now been certified as malaria-free

The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Cabo Verde as a malaria-free country, marking a significant achievement in global health. With this announcement, Cabo Verde joins the ranks of 43 countries and 1 territory that WHO has awarded this certification. Cabo Verde is the third country to be certified in…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Namibia: The Journey of Gobabis Primary School to becoming a Platinum Health Promoting School

The HPSI was introduced in Namibia in 1998 and the MoHSS and MoEAC have been working collaboratively in ensuring that the school health programme is cascaded to all Namibian schools

Mrs Regina Diergaardt, school principal of the Gobabis Primary School, shares the story of how her school has remained a health promoting school through the years despite numerous challenges.   “I have realized that if we take HPSI seriously, we will see a change in the behaviour of our learners who in…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

World Health Organization (WHO) recognition of noma as a neglected tropical disease bolsters control efforts

Noma is a rapidly progressing severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and the face

The landmark decision by World Health Organization (WHO) to recognize noma (cancrum oris) as one of the neglected tropical diseases will help boost efforts to end the devastating disease especially in the African region which bears the highest burden globally. Noma is a rapidly progressing severe gangrenous disease of the mouth…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Senegal, World Health Organization (WHO) launch regional emergency hub to bolster Africa’s response to health crises

The goal of the regional emergency hubs is to substantially reduce – from an average of 45 days previously to three days – the time it takes to deliver life-saving, effective emergency response to countries

The Government of Senegal and World Health Organization (WHO) today inaugurated a regional health emergency hub in the Senegalese capital Dakar to further bolster the African region’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to health crises and save lives. Building on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO in…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Scaling up country support for neglected tropical diseases (NTD) eradication

NTDs impose a constant and heavy burden on the poorest, most marginalized, and isolated communities worldwide

In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled the neglected tropical diseases (NTD) roadmap 2021-2030, initiating a decade dedicated on controlling, eliminating, and eradicating NTDs. The WHO Regional Office for Africa is stepping up support for countries on the implementation of the roadmap to bolster the fight against NTDs and…