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WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • L-R: The US Ambassador to Sierra Leone and the Minister of Health and Sanitation at the official handing over of the J&J COVID-19 vaccines donated by the US Government to Sierra Leone
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Coronavirus: Sierra Leone receives 151,200 J&J COVID-19 vaccines donated by US Govt. via COVAX Facility

This brings to 838 000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which have been received by Sierra Leone under the COVAX facility

The United States Government has donated 151,200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to Sierra Leone to help accelerate the current COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country. The United States has made this donation through the COVAX facility, a global coalition co-led by the WHO, Gavi, the Global Vaccines Alliance…

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

Africa eradicates wild poliovirus

This marks the eradication of the second virus from the face of the continent since smallpox 40 years ago

The independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication officially declared on Tuesday that the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region is free of wild poliovirus. This marks the eradication of the second virus from the face of the continent since smallpox 40 years ago. “Today is a historic…

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

Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 Situation update for the WHO African Region

Of the 114 394 reported new cases, the majority, 68% (77 963), were recorded in South Africa

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak continues to accelerate with over 700 000 cases and 12 000 deaths reported in the WHO African Region. Since our last External Situation Report 21 issued on 22 July 2020, a total of 114 394 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (an 18% increase) was reported…

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

Coronavirus - Ethiopia vaccinates nearly 15 million children against measles despite COVID-19 challenges

The campaign ran for 10 days, which is longer than similar past campaigns to limit crowding and risks of COVID-19 infections

Nearly 15 million children have been vaccinated against measles in Ethiopia in an effort by the health authorities to maintain essential health services, even as they battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The nationwide campaign which wrapped up this weekend was conducted under the leadership of the Ethiopian Ministry of…

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

Coronavirus - Africa: Polio eradication expertise backs Africa’s COVID-19 response

A quarter of World Health Organization (WHO) polio staff are dedicating more than 80% of their time towards COVID-19 efforts

Expertise in polio eradication that has put Africa on the verge of being certified free of wild poliovirus has been brought to the frontlines of COVID-19 fight. A network of responders from the World Health Organization (WHO) Polio Eradication Programme and partner organizations is providing critical resources and skills to…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • WHO Representative to Namibia, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses handing over the COVID-19 medical supplies to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Coronavirus - Namibia: WHO supports supplies for front line health workers

Health care workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and as such are exposed to hazards that put them at risk of infection

The first United Nations ‘Solidarity’ flight started delivering vital medical supplies from last week to all countries in Africa where these are needed the most.  The flight was facilitated by the World Food Programme and included WHO supported supplies of face shields, gloves, goggles, gowns, masks, medical aprons and thermometers. Supplies for…

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

Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 cases top 10 000 in Africa

Reaching the continent through travellers returning from hotspots in Asia, Europe and the United States, Africa’s first COVID-19 case was recorded in Egypt on 14 February

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has risen to more than 10 000 and caused more than 500 deaths. While the virus was slow to reach the continent compared to other parts of the world, infection has grown exponentially in recent weeks and continues to spread. Reaching the…

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

Coronavirus – Africa: COVID-19 cases top 10000 in Africa

World Health Organization (WHO) is working with governments across Africa to scale up their capacities in critical response areas

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has risen to more than 10 000 and caused more than 500 deaths. While the virus was slow to reach the continent compared to other parts of the world, infection has grown exponentially in recent weeks and continues to spread. Reaching the…

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

Sierra Leone institutes additional measures in preparedness to prevent and respond to COVID-19

The country has been implementing mandatory quarantine measures for passengers arriving from China

Sierra Leone has instituted travel restrictions as additional precautionary and extraordinary measures in preparedness to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement issued on 16 March by the Office of the President prohibits all overseas travel for all government officials and urged the general public to “refrain, as far as possible,…

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

New milestone towards a polio-free world, but there is no time to relax

The last case of type 3 in Africa was detected in northern Nigeria in 2012

In another historic step for humanity towards a world free of polio, an independent commission of experts today certified – on World Polio Day – that the second of three types of the wild poliovirus had been eradicated globally. There are three individual and immunologically distinct wild poliovirus types: wild…