Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

WHO announces first technology recipients of mRNA vaccine hub with strong support from African and European partners

Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia to establish mRNA vaccine production

At the European Union - African Union summit in Brussels today WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced the first six countries that will receive the technology needed to produce mRNA vaccines on the African continent. Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia all applied and have been selected…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

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…

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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…

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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…

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    • The President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril M Ramaphosa, addressing the audience at the launch of the country’s ‘Presidential Health Compact’
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

World Health Organization (WHO) supported "Presidential Health Compact" is launched

The Compact lays down a five-year roadmap for health systems strengthening reforms under the ‘9 pillars’ towards accelerating Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in South Africa

The President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril M Ramaphosa, on Thursday 25 July 2019 launched the country’s ‘Presidential Health Compact’. The Compact lays down a five-year roadmap for health systems strengthening reforms under the ‘9 pillars’ towards accelerating Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in South Africa. It originated from months of extensive…

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    • Restoring essential health services after Cyclone Idai in Mozambique (1)
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    • Restoring essential health services after Cyclone Idai in Mozambique (3)
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Restoring essential health services after Cyclone Idai in Mozambique

WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health and partners to assess and support the return of essential health services, using its Health Resources Availability Mapping System

More than 50 health facilities across Sofala Province, Mozambique, suffered serious damage from Cyclone Idai. WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health and partners to assess and support the return of essential health services, using its Health Resources Availability Mapping System (known as HeRAMS). “The roof had blown…

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    • Building a blood supply in South Sudan means breaking down cultural and structural barriers
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Building a blood supply in South Sudan means breaking down cultural and structural barriers

South Sudan should be collecting an estimated 120,000 units for its population of about 12.9 million people

When rebel fighting flared in South Sudan in 2013, two years after the country gained independence, hospitals were suddenly overwhelmed with patients with gunshot wounds across Juba in desperate need of blood. But not a drop was available for transfusion. Instead, the injured mostly relied on donations from family members…

Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Experts caution against stagnation of immunization coverage in Africa

Over the past five years, immunization coverage in sub-Saharan Africa has stagnated at 72%, exposing populations to vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks

Global immunization experts attending the biannual Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (RITAG) meeting urged African countries to strengthen their routine immunization. Over the past five years, immunization coverage in sub-Saharan Africa has stagnated at 72%, exposing populations to vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks. The immunization experts also emphasized the importance of…