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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…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • Tanzania integrates measles outbreak response with COVID-19 vaccination in Tanga region
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Tanzania integrates measles outbreak response with COVID-19 vaccination in Tanga region

With funding from Government of Canada through the Canada Grant for Vaccine Equity (Can GIVE), WHO and the government is sustaining the momentum for COVID-19 vaccination

Farida, 34, resident of Korowai DC, presented her 18 months old baby for vaccination. Habiba, was vaccinated with second dose of measles vaccine. With no hesitation, Farida also received a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccination having been vaccinated earlier this year. “Protecting my child against measles is a divine responsibility,”…

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

Building momentum against diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria

Cumulatively from 9 May 2022 to 25 October 2023, 15, 569 suspected (9772 confirmed) diphtheria cases that have been reported across Nigeria, 547 of whom have died

When his seven-year-old brother Jubrin was diagnosed with diphtheria in July 2023, Aminu Dayyabu Alharini had never heard of the disease, the latest outbreak of which has claimed more than 500 lives in Nigeria. Following the diagnosis, Jubrin was immediately transferred from the health facility near their home in Alharini…

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

World Health Organization (WHO) Uganda Country Office in charity drive

The drive targeted two charity homes caring for and rehabilitating orphans and vulnerable children to benefit from assorted care packages that included foodstuffs, personal care items, household items and toys, for the children and their care givers

As part of the yearlong celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO) and commemorate the 2023 World Health Day, staff members at the Uganda Country Office organised a charity drive to support vulnerable children and bring smiles to at least 75 faces. The drive targeted…

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

Africa's largest polio vaccination drive since 2020 targets 21 million children

The multi-country initiative is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)

Africa’s largest polio vaccination campaign since 2020 kicks off today in three West and Central African countries, in a combined effort by national health authorities to immunise a total 21 million children under the age of five. The exercise, which will begin in Cameroon, Chad and Niger before being extended to the Central…

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

Africa needs to vaccinate 33 million children to put progress back on track

Decreased vaccination levels have led to a surge in outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, diphtheria, polio and yellow fever

An estimated 33 million children will need to be vaccinated in Africa between 2023 and 2025 to put the continent back on track to achieve the 2030 global immunization goals that include reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases, an analysis by World Health Organization (WHO) finds. The unprecedented impact…

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

Burundi declares outbreak of circulating poliovirus type 2

The Burundian government plans to implement a vaccination campaign to combat polio in the coming weeks, aiming at protecting all eligible children against the virus

Health authorities in Burundi today declared an outbreak of circulating poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV 2) after confirming eight polioviruses, the first such detection in more than three decades. The cases were confirmed in a four-year-old child in Isale district in western Burundi who had not received any polio vaccination, as…

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

African leaders call for urgent action to revitalize routine immunization

Across the continent, immunization coverage for many vaccine-preventable diseases is well below the 90‒95% range needed to keep Africa free of these diseases

African heads of state today agreed on key measures to revamp routine immunization across the continent following massive disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic that stymied childhood vaccination programmes and heightened outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. A total of 8.4 million children in the African region, compared with 18 million globally, were…