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

Midwives in South Sudan provide a lifeline in times of calm and crisis

This is especially important as the country reports one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with 692 maternal deaths for every 100 000 live births

Midwives play a critical role in South Sudan, facilitating antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care for mothers and newborns to prevent death and promote a healthy future for both mothers and children. This is especially important as the country reports one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally,…

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

Health ministers launch landmark polio vaccination campaign to protect 83 million children in Lake Chad Basin

Over 50% of the polio cases reported in Chad in 2024 are linked to the strain circulating in Cameroon, underlining the importance of coordination and synchronization of polio response efforts

In a renewed effort to eradicate circulating polio variant type 2 in the Lake Chad Basin, Ministers of Health from Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger and Nigeria launched today a synchronized regional vaccination campaign aimed at protecting 83 million under 5 children. The initiative is a crucial milestone…

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
Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Enhanced control measures helping to control mpox outbreak in Africa

To strengthen the response, WHO is working closely with the Ghana Health Service to increase public awareness even further

More than 13 000 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases have been reported in the African region since the start of 2024, as of 17 November. Three countries – Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda - account for approximately 97% of all reported cases so far this year. From reinforcing outbreak…

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

Kenya, Uganda cross-border polio vaccination reaches 6.5 million children

Both countries have set an exemplary standard in their recent synchronized polio vaccination campaign conducted this week, which focused on high-risk cross-border regions

Between October 3 and 6, 2024, more than 6.5 million children were vaccinated in a successful synchronized polio campaign between Kenya and Uganda. This cross-border achievement began with a coordinated launch in Bungoma District, Kenya, and Mbale District, Uganda.  Both countries have set an exemplary standard in their recent synchronized…

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

Environmental Health Workers on the Frontlines of Zimbabwe's Cholera Outbreak

At the peak of the outbreak in Manicaland Province, Lovemore Mudzingwa, an Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) at Zvipiripiri Rural Health Centre, played a critical role

The number of cholera cases in Zimbabwe is declining thanks to the expanded and decentralized cholera response activities undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), supported by WHO and other partners. While current figures remain higher compared to the same period last year, this reduction is a…

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

Over 50 million lives saved in Africa through expanded immunization programme

These achievements have been possible under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)

An estimated 51.2 million lives have been saved through vaccines in the African region over the past 50 years. For every infant life saved over that period, close to 60 years of life are lived, a new report by World Health Organization (WHO) finds. These achievements have been possible under…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
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…

WHO Regional Office for Africa
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…