Senegal, World Health Organization (WHO) launch regional emergency hub to bolster Africa’s response to health crises

The goal of the regional emergency hubs is to substantially reduce – from an average of 45 days previously to three days – the time it takes to deliver life-saving, effective emergency response to countries

The Government of Senegal and World Health Organization (WHO) today inaugurated a regional health emergency hub in the Senegalese capital Dakar to further bolster the African region’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to health crises and save lives. Building on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO in…

Kenyan lab boosting Africa’s genome surveillance

The Kilifi laboratory sequences up to 200 samples weekly, although it has a capacity of up to 700

Amid the soft purr of the air conditioner and glinting LED screens, laboratory technicians inside a sprawling facility on the Kenyan coast peer into test tubes and pore through spreadsheets, hard at work to help propel Africa’s efforts to monitor and detect COVID-19 variants and boost pandemic response. Genome sequencing…

Coronavirus: Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine uptake increases by 15%

A mass vaccination campaign in Ethiopia, for instance, pushed up the number of doses administered by 136% between 23 January and 6 March 2022

Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine uptake rose by 15% between January and February as several countries embarked on mass vaccination drives to expand coverage and protect populations against the adverse health impacts of the virus. Around 62 million doses were administered across the continent in February up from 54 million in January.…

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…

Almost four million children set to receive measles rubella vaccine

The campaign, which will be conducted from 26 June to 5 July, aims to vaccinate 3.9 million children aged 9 months to 5 years, in 22 counties across Kenya

An urgent measles and rubella (MR) vaccination campaign was launched today in Kajiado County by the Government of Kenya, with support of World Health Organization, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The campaign, which will be conducted from 26 June to 5 July, aims…

Coronavirus - African countries face high risk of COVID-19 resurgence

Three countries face very high risk of COVID-19 resurgence, 20 face high, 22 moderate risk, and only one country faces low risk, according to the risk assessment of 46 countries

The risk of COVID-19 resurgence remains high in several African countries due to poor adherence to public health measures, mass gatherings, low testing and vaccination rates, an analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) has shown. Three countries face very high risk of COVID-19 resurgence, 20 face high, 22 moderate…

Coronavirus - Nigeria: ‘Flying Doctors’ boost Nigeria’s COVID-19 testing

The COVID-19 response across Africa has propelled a raft of innovations

Red-gloved hands gently dip cotton swabs down nostrils and mouths of people taking turns to stand in front of a tall booth, masks lowered and head tilted backwards. Inside the booth to which the gloves are attached is a COVID-19 sample collector. Set up by Nigerian health investment firm Flying…

Coronavirus - Africa: Decrease in COVID-19 deaths in the African Region

The number of COVID-19 cases in the WHO African Region is now at 1,262,476, with 28,601 deaths. The number of new deaths decreased by 37%, with South Africa reporting 46% of total. For more detailed analysis, read our most recent COVID-19 Situation Report. 10 countries account for 86% (1,080,986) of…

Coronavirus - Africa: Increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa

There has been a 20% increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases & 86% increase in deaths in the Region compared to the last reporting period. For more detailed analysis, read our most recent COVID-19 Situation Report: https://bit.ly/3nRLKJU 10 countries account for 86% (1,057,272) of reported COVID-19 cases in…

Coronavirus - Africa: 13% decrease in COVID-19 cases for African Region

There has been a 13% decrease in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the WHO African Region compared to the last reporting period. 84% of cases have recovered. For more detailed analysis, read our most recent COVID-19 Situation Report: https://bit.ly/3n48upA. 10 countries account for 87% (1,175,271) of reported…