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

Strengthening mental health services in emergencies across Africa

Efforts are being made to scale up mental health services through training, system strengthening, and community engagement

In response to the growing mental health needs triggered by public health emergencies or natural disasters in the African region, World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with countries to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into every stage of emergency response, aiming to have at least 80% of countries…

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

Mental health conditions affect 150 million in Africa amid insufficient care services

Despite growing recognition of mental health as a public health priority, services remain severely under-resourced, fragmented and inaccessible, particularly in rural and underserved areas

Nearly 150 million people in Africa are living with mental health conditions, with limited access to decentralized and integrated care, highlighting the region’s mental health challenges, a new mental health dashboard launched today by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa shows. Mental health conditions such as depression,…

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

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) partners with AdVAncIng Clinical TRials Excellence in Africa (AVAREF) to boost clinical trial application reviews in Africa

AVAREF supports the countries by identifying subject matter experts from within the continent, as well as globally to support the scientific advice process

New funding to the AdVAncIng Clinical TRials Excellence in Africa (AVAREF) could help accelerate the development of life-saving vaccines to contain infectious disease outbreaks on the continent. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is providing $1 million to AVAREF as part of a new two-year project to enhance the…

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

African health leaders, partners call for greater investment in integrated Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) services

Advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and—most importantly—equitable access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are essential

African health ministers and partners are calling for increased investment in integrated health services to address the growing burden of severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly those affecting women and underserved populations across the region. At a high-level side event during the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa,…

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

World Health Organization (WHO) Africa, International Vaccine Institute sign agreement to boost vaccine production in Africa

The collaboration signals a bold step toward inclusive innovation and regional leadership in global health

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen their strategic collaboration in support of vaccine equity, local production, and health innovation across the region. Signed on the sidelines of the Seventy-fifth Session of the…

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

African health ministers call for urgent action as progress against malaria stalls

Over the past two decades, the gains made in malaria control and elimination have led to about 2.2 billion cases and 12.7 million deaths averted thanks to scaled up malaria control efforts

Progress against malaria in the African region has significantly slowed down, with cases declining by just 5% since 2015 and mortality by 16%, far short of the 75% reduction target that was to be achieved by 2025. Without intensified efforts, the region risks missing the 2030 targets under the Global…

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

African health ministers commit to strengthen emergency preparedness and response

In 2025, WHO and partners have responded to more than 21 public health emergencies across the continent, ranging from mpox, cholera, measles, and dengue outbreaks to complex humanitarian crises driven by conflict and displacement

Across the African continent, fragile health systems are often the first to falter when crisis strikes, with profound impacts on lives and, livelihoods and health, and often times causing long-term socio-economic disruptions. Renewing efforts to protect communities from the growing threat of health emergencies, health ministers meeting for the Seventy-fifth…

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

African health ministers endorse framework to accelerate progress on oral health

The framework emphasizes that oral health must be recognized as a fundamental component of universal health coverage

African ministers of health gathering for the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa today adopted a pivotal framework to accelerate efforts to address oral health diseases that affect around 42% of the region’s population. The regional oral health framework, endorsed at the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Africa: Ministerial Malaria Champions Step Up Malaria Fight with New Commitments and Accountability Scorecard

Committed to tackling malaria’s “perfect storm”, leaders pledged to act together-rallying political will, accountability, and sustainable financing to protect hard-won gains and reignite Africa’s momentum toward malaria elimination

Ministers of Health, partners, and global health leaders convening on the sidelines of the Seventy Fifth WHO Regional Committee for Africa (RC75) have issued an urgent call to accelerate Africa’s malaria response amid a “perfect storm” of challenges threatening to erode hard-won gains. Despite major progress, including a 16% reduction…

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

African ministers kick off regional forum on health

The ministers from the 47 countries of the WHO African Region, meeting from 25 to 27 August 2025, will deliberate on measures to address challenges as well as endorse key resolutions to improve and promote people’s health

African ministers of health gathering in the Zambian capital Lusaka today opened the Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, the highest decision-making body on health on the continent. The ministers from the 47 countries of the WHO African Region, meeting from 25 to 27…