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…

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…

Striving for safer roads in Senegal

Each year, there are around 27 000 road traffic accident victims in Senegal, with 11 000 in Dakar alone

Cheikh Amat Dieng will never forget the day, 10 years ago, when life took a cruel turn. The 69-year-old father was travelling from Dakar, Senegal’s capital, to neighbouring Mauritania with four of his children for Eid al-Fitr, his eldest son at the wheel.   But about 90 km outside the…

How Senegal prepared for COVID-19 surge

All treatment specialists working in treatment centres or in home-based care service were trained in the new treatment protocol

As the second wave of COVID-19 infections surged in early 2021, Senegal stepped up measures to cope with the anticipated rise in the number of patients needing critical care. Professor Daye Ka, Infectious and Tropical Disease Expert and member of Senegal’s COVID-19 task force, explains the steps taken to avert…

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…

Coronavirus - Africa: Decrease in COVID-19 cases in Africa

There has been a 2% decrease in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the WHO African Region compared to the last reporting period. 83% of cases have recovered. For more detailed analysis, read our most recent COVID-19 Situation Report: https://bit.ly/32ZC3As 10 countries account for 87% (995,723) of reported…

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…

Coronavirus - Africa: 10 countries account for 87% (973,910) of reported COVID-19 cases in the African Region

There has been a 14% decrease in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the WHO African Region compared to the last reporting period. 83% of cases have recovered. For more detailed analysis, read our most recent COVID-19 Situation Report: https://bit.ly/35KIc5n. 10 countries account for 87% (973,910) of reported…

Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 Genome Sequencing Laboratory Network Launches in Africa

Ongoing sequencing is already providing crucial information for determining the type of SARS-CoV-2 lineage circulating in some countries

With several African countries now expanding COVID-19 testing, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have launched a network of laboratories to reinforce genome sequencing of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, in Africa.…

Coronavirus - Africa: Decrease of 25% in COVID-19 cases recorded compared to previous reporting period

COVID-19 cases in the African Region continue to slow down during past two weeks. There is a 25% decrease in cases recorded compared to previous reporting period.  For more detailed analysis, read our most recent COVID-19 Situation Report: https://bit.ly/3j04u6A 10 countries account for 88% (849,503) of all reported COVID-19 cases…