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

Reversing Suicide, Mental Health Crisis in Africa

Around 11 people per 100 000 per year die by suicide in the African region, higher than the global average of nine per 100 000 people

World Health Organization (WHO) today launched a campaign to raise awareness and spur action for suicide prevention in the African region, which has the world’s highest rates of death by suicide. Around 11 people per 100 000 per year die by suicide in the African region, higher than the global…

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

Coronavirus - Uganda: WHO works with the Army to educate a fishing community about COVID-19 in Uganda

Overall, the WHO-supported intervention managed to reach over 150 army officers and men, 300 fishermen, community leaders and community members

At Rwenshama point of entry on the shores of Lake Edward in Rukungiri district, western Uganda, it’s a warm windy day and the place is bustling with activity. At one end, many sailors in groups of over eight are standing by their boats and preparing their nets for the day’s…

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

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…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • WHO Representative to Namibia, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses handing over the COVID-19 medical supplies to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Coronavirus - Namibia: WHO supports supplies for front line health workers

Health care workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and as such are exposed to hazards that put them at risk of infection

The first United Nations ‘Solidarity’ flight started delivering vital medical supplies from last week to all countries in Africa where these are needed the most.  The flight was facilitated by the World Food Programme and included WHO supported supplies of face shields, gloves, goggles, gowns, masks, medical aprons and thermometers. Supplies for…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • Dr Onyibe (right) leading other personnel on contact tracing
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Coronavirus - Nigeria: Nigeria’s polio infrastructure bolster COVID-19 response

The polio programme was among their first calls for support for its human resources, technical expertise, disease surveillance and community networks, as well as its logistical capacity

When the Nigerian Government announced the first confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) case in the country on the morning of February 27th, Dr Rosemary Onyibe was ready to report for duty. Dr Onyibe, who has worked with the Polio Eradication Initiative for more than 10 years, is the South West Nigeria…

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

Coronavirus - Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) urges African countries to scale up COVID-19 response

The African region is witnessing a rapid rise in the number of reported confirmed COVID-19 cases

The African region is witnessing a rapid rise in the number of reported confirmed COVID-19 cases, with a 25% daily increase over the past five days. Today, 39 countries reported a total of 216 cases in the past 24 hours, this a significant increase from a month ago, when one…

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

Rapid Response Teams are racing against the spread of COVID in Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) has already helped train 1,500 Kenyan health workers in various health facilities to prepare for just this situation

When the Kenyan Government announced the country’s first case of COVID-19, clinician Jackson Njoroge was already hard at work.  He and his colleagues from the Kenyan Ministry of Health’s Rapid Response Team had already drawn up a list of people who might have come into contact with the first patient. …

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

More than 10 countries in Africa report COVID-19 cases

Containment remains the most appropriate strategy for African countries

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially designated COVID-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020.There are now 137 confirmed cases in Africa. “With COVID-19 officially declared a pandemic, all countries in Africa must act,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, “Every country can still change the course of this…

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

Protecting devotion from cholera in pilgrimage sites in Ethiopia

A case of cholera was first reported on 25 April 2019 in the Amhara Region, in the north-western part of the country

The pilgrims come in droves. They come by foot, by vehicle and by air to the many churches and monasteries scattered around the once ancient Christian kingdom of Ethiopia. They seek piety in their communing, but it is in the very density of their shared pilgrimage that dangerous diseases like…

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

WHO scales up health response to Cyclone Idai in Mozambique

To expand the emergency response, WHO has deployed experts, including epidemiologists, logisticians and disease-prevention experts, to build a 40-strong team

Today (April 1) the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, took a first-hand look at response efforts to save lives and protect health for the people in Beira, the city hardest hit by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. “The next few weeks are crucial and speed is of…