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

Protecting at-risk populations from mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with national health authorities to implement targeted interventions to protect vulnerable populations

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the hardest hit country in the African region by mpox outbreak, accounting for about 80% of laboratory-confirmed cases and deaths reported across the continent this year. While mpox is primarily transmitted through close physical contact, it can affect anyone. Vulnerable populations are at…

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 |

African health ministers, delegates adopt declaration on climate change and health

Enhancing policy and decision-making is also crucial by integrating climate change considerations into national health policies and strategies to ensure that health is prioritized in climate action plans

Health ministers and delegates from 20 African countries today adopted a landmark declaration to enhance climate resilience within health systems and address the profound health impacts of climate change on the continent. The Harare Declaration, endorsed during the first Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC), calls for immediate and collaborative…

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

Enhancing polio detection with advanced sequencing technology

This year alone, 290 poliovirus detections have been reported in 23 African countries

The African region, declared free of indigenous wild poliovirus in August 2020, faces an urgent threat: the intense transmission of type 2 variant poliovirus (cVDPV2). This year alone, 290 poliovirus detections have been reported in 23 African countries. As countries ramp up vaccination efforts to protect children against the virus, one…

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 |

Promising progress on eye health in African region, but challenges remain

One in every six blind people globally live in Africa, along with 26 million others grappling with some degree of visual impairment

Despite important progress towards integrating eye health into primary health care services in African countries, a dire shortage of financial resources, combined with the concentration of scarce human resources in urban areas and low community awareness, continues to threaten the gains. One in every six blind people globally live in…

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

Burden of hearing loss in Africa could rise to 54 million by 2030: World Health Organization (WHO) report

Without urgent interventions, widespread hearing loss, which disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable populations, will continue to escalate, amplifying existing inequalities in health services access across Africa

About 40 million people live with hearing loss in the African region, but the figure could rise to 54 million by 2030 if urgent measures are not take to address the problem, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report. Hearing loss has profound impact on human lives and economies, costing…

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

World Health Organization (WHO) in Africa, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) bolster partnership for enhanced public health emergency response

The two organizations are leveraging their vast networks and presence on the continent to support governments in scaling up response at the community level

World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have endorsed a regional collaboration framework to strengthen public health emergency response, especially at the community level, and bolster health security. With the WHO in the African Region’s presence in…

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

African health ministers, partners urge equitable access to critical tools to curb cervical cancer threat

Of the more than 76 000 cervical cancer deaths globally in 2022, the most updated data available, nearly a quarter (23%) were in Africa

Inequitable access to vaccines and high-performance screening tools is hampering efforts to effectively reduce the growing burden of cervical cancer in the African region, which accounts for the highest rates of new cases and deaths due to the disease. Despite being preventable and treatable through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and…

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

African health ministers kick off region’s top health forum

Key agenda items include a focus on mitigating high rates of child mortality and the need to urgently turn the tide on this significant threat to Africa’s children

African health ministers and government representatives gathering in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, today kicked off the Seventy-fourth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, the continent’s flagship health forum held annually to discuss and agree on measures to address health challenges and promote people’s well-being The…