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

Coronavirus: Social, environmental factors seen behind Africa’s low COVID-19 cases

Deaths attributed to COVID-19 have also remained low in the region

COVID-19 transmission in Africa has been marked by relatively fewer infections, which have been on the decline over the past two months, owing to a variety of socio-ecological factors as well as early and strong public health measures taken by governments across the region. The pandemic has largely been in…

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

Coronavirus - Mauritius: Promoting and Protecting Breastfeeding for a better start in Life

The country aims at creating awareness among young people on the importance of breast feeding and its positive contribution to a healthier planet

Mauritius marked World Breastfeeding Week 2020 by an official ceremony performed by Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Hon. Kailash Jagutpal on 06 August 2020 at the Victoria Hospital, Candos. In line with this year’s theme, the country aims at creating awareness among young people on the importance of breast…

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

Ghana Bolsters Medicines Regulatory System, Guarantees Product Quality

Ghana and Tanzania are the only two of World Health Organization (WHO) African Region’s 47 countries to have attained a Level 3 ranking

Ghana has strengthened its medicines regulatory system to ensure safety, quality and effectiveness of medical products manufactured, imported or distributed within the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced today. Ghana becomes the second country in the WHO African Region to attain regulatory system “Maturity Level 3” – the second-highest…

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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    • West and Central Africa Expands Access to HIV Treatment, But Falls Short of Targets (1)
    • West and Central Africa Expands Access to HIV Treatment, But Falls Short of Targets (2)
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

West and Central Africa Expands Access to HIV Treatment, But Falls Short of Targets

At the end of 2018, 53% of adults (people aged 15 and over) were accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART), compared to 39% in 2015

West and Central Africa has made significant progress in expanding access to HIV treatment in the past three years. At the end of 2018, 53% of adults (people aged 15 and over) were accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART), compared to 39% in 2015[i]. However, the region still lags behind East and Southern…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • Antimicrobial resistance on his own leg turns a Kenyan health worker into an advocate for wiser use of antibiotics (1)
    • Antimicrobial resistance on his own leg turns a Kenyan health worker into an advocate for wiser use of antibiotics (2)
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Antimicrobial resistance on his own leg turns a Kenyan health worker into an advocate for wiser use of antibiotics

When the thigh wound grew bigger, the health worker, being well versed in the perils of contagion, feared it would trigger an internal infection

Josphat, a health worker based in Nairobi, needed a skin graft on his leg in 2013. But then, what is typically a common procedure nowadays became a medical nightmare. The donor site on his thigh took longer to heal than expected and was nonresponsive to conventional antibiotics. Laboratory tests revealed…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • Weak Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance Could Cost the African Region $22.4 billion over the next decade, World Health Organization (WHO) Warns (1)
    • Weak Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance Could Cost the African Region $22.4 billion over the next decade, World Health Organization (WHO) Warns (2)
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Weak Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance Could Cost the African Region $22.4 billion over the next decade, World Health Organization (WHO) Warns

Vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) surveillance is a critical component of the integrated disease control strategies and an effective way to detect and respond early to outbreaks

In its newly launched Investment Case for Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance in the African Region, 2020-2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa’s highlights the drastic consequences that could be in store for the region, if countries do not invest in disease surveillance efforts – including a US$22.4 billion economic burden…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • 835 000 people to receive second dose of the cholera vaccine in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (1)
    • 835 000 people to receive second dose of the cholera vaccine in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (2)
    • 835 000 people to receive second dose of the cholera vaccine in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (3)
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

835 000 people to receive second dose of the cholera vaccine in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

While North Kivu has been struggling with an outbreak of Ebola virus disease for more than a year, this north-eastern province is also endemic for cholera

The second phase of an oral vaccination campaign to protect more than 835 000 people from cholera in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) begins today. While North Kivu has been struggling with an outbreak of Ebola virus disease for more than a year, this…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • More than 18 Million Children in Uganda to be Immunized against Measles, Rubella and Polio in Mass Campaign
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

More than 18 Million Children in Uganda to be Immunized against Measles, Rubella and Polio in Mass Campaign

Uganda has experienced measles outbreaks across numerous districts in the past three years

Uganda is set to immunize more than 18 million children against measles and rubella, which amounts to 43% of the country’s population. Among them, 8.2 million children younger than 9 months, or 20.5% of the population, will also receive the oral polio vaccine. Uganda has experienced measles outbreaks across numerous…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • The Go.Data makes tracing people possibly exposed to Ebola more discreet and faster, says Léa Kanyere, a contact tracer in Goma
    • Léa Kanyere and Kavira Kasomo talk like old friends when actually the contact tracer (left) is checking for any potential exposure
    • Léa Kanyere, a contact tracer, from Mabolio District of Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is one of the first to be trained to use the Go.Data app
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Speeding up detection to slow down Ebola: Smartphone app is game-changer for contact tracing in hotspots in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Go.Data is a major innovation in outbreak investigation tools for field data collection

Standing in front of her house, Kavira Kasomo chats with Léa Kanyere as if they are old friends. Kanyere shows Kasomo something on her mobile phone that makes her smile. Then Kanyere lends a hand as Kasomo hangs out her laundry. No one around them seems suspicious of Kanyere. The…