African Health Ministers Launch Drive to Curb Sickle Cell Disease Toll

More than 66% of the 120 million people affected worldwide by sickle cell disease live in Africa

African health ministers today launched a campaign to ramp up awareness, bolster prevention and care to curb the toll of sickle cell disease, one of the most common illnesses in the region but which receives inadequate attention.  More than 66% of the 120 million people affected worldwide by sickle cell…

Healthy Life Expectancy in Africa Rises by Almost Ten Years

Improvements in the provision of essential health services, gains in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, as well as progress in the fight against infectious diseases

Healthy life expectancy in the African region has increased on average by 10 years per person between 2000 and 2019, a World Health Organization (WHO) assessment reports. This rise is greater than in any other region of the world during the same period. The report also notes that the disruptive…

World Health Day 7 April 2021

Message of WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti

This World Health Day, WHO is calling on everyone to participate in building a fairer, healthier world. The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on inequalities between countries. Amid shortages of essential supplies, African countries have been pushed to the back of the queue in accessing COVID-19 test kits, personal…

Coronavirus - Africa: Expert panel endorses protocol for COVID-19 herbal medicine clinical trials

The endorsed technical documents are aimed at empowering and developing a critical mass of technical capacity of scientists in Africa

The Regional Expert Committee on Traditional Medicine for COVID-19 formed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the African Union Commission for Social Affairs has endorsed a protocol for phase III clinical trials of herbal medicine for COVID-19 as well as a…

Coronavirus - Africa: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donations from China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) to support Ebola surveillance operations in Northeastern DRC

PPE donations from cidca official to support Ebola surveillance operations in Northeastern DRC since the end of the outbreak in June 2020. The supplies will also reinforce the COVID19 response in the area & Ebola responders in Mbandaka.  

WHO Africa Online Press Briefing on COVID-19 in Africa

The media briefing is facilitated by APO Group

Please join an online media briefing with representatives from the World Health Organization (https://www.WHO.int/), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Equatorial Guinea.  The briefing is on-the-record and it is an opportunity for you to ask questions about COVID-19 in Africa. The media briefing is facilitated by APO Group. Speakers Dr…

Coronavirus - Uganda: How Previous Ebola Virus Disease Outbreaks Helped Uganda Respond to COVID-19 Outbreak

Years of investment in human resources, equipment and modest infrastructure came in handy when COVID-19 struck giving the country a reasonably decent response to the outbreak

For many public health workers in Uganda, responding to disease outbreaks of epidemic potential in not new. This is because the country has been in preparedness and response modes for quite some time and its disease outbreak system has regularly been tested over the years. Uganda has had four Ebola…

Coronavirus - Africa: Push for stronger health systems as Africa battles COVID-19

A WHO progress assessment on the performance of health systems as part of efforts to attain universal health coverage found that Member States in the region have gaps in different capacities

Health Ministers and representatives from African countries gathered this week for the annual World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa voiced concern over the impact of COVID-19 and stressed that the pandemic was a poignant reminder for countries to bolster health systems. The Seventieth session of the WHO Regional…

Coronavirus - Africa: WHO, UNICEF urge safe school reopening in Africa

School closures in sub-Saharan Africa could result in lifetime earning losses of US$ 4500 per child

The unprecedented and prolonged school closures aimed at keeping students safe from COVID-19 are harming them in other ways, World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF said today, urging governments in Africa to promote the safe reopening of schools while taking measures to limit the spread of the virus. A WHO…

Coronavirus - Mauritius : Launching of Mauritius National Health Sector Strategic Plan by Prime Minister

The Prime Minister highlighted that past investment in health care is now bringing rewarding dividend

Hon. Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth launched the National Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) 2020-2024 on 12 August 2020 at the Hennessy Park Hotel, Ebene, Mauritius in the presence of eminent personalities including Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. S. Obeegadoo, Dr Hon. Kailash Kumar Jagutpal, Minister…