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WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • Strategizing to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality in the African Region
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Strategizing to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality in the African Region

One of the main roles of WHO/AFRO is to produce, disseminate and monitor the implementation of global guidelines and standards that are adapted to the regional context

The African Region accounted for 66% of the 303,000 maternal deaths recorded globally in 2017.  To address this situation, WHO in collaboration with UNFPA, UNICEF and partners supports Member States to ensure that all women and girls have access to quality and timely health services, particularly during pregnancy, childbirth, and…

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

COVID-19 takes a heavy toll on women’s health

Data show that facility-based births reduced in 45% of countries between November and December 2021 compared with the pre-pandemic period

Disruptions to essential health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic are being felt broadly. As the world marks International Women’s Day, a new World Health Organization (WHO) analysis finds that women’s health services are far from being fully restored, with 40% of African countries reporting disruptions to sexual, reproductive, maternal,…

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

Botswana is first country with severe HIV epidemic to reach key milestone in the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission

Botswana has achieved the “silver tier” status, which moves it closer to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission

Botswana has become the first high-burden country to be certified for achieving an important milestone on the path to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the World Health Organization (WHO). High-burden HIV countries are defined as those with more than 2% of pregnant women living with the virus. Botswana has…

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

Partners Call for Safe Maternal and Newborn Care on National Patient Safety Day

Dr Francis Kasolo, WHO Country Representative noted that the statistics raise a red flag on the safety and quality of care received by mothers and their newborns

The Ministry of Health and partners have collectively called for safe maternal and newborn care in Ghana at the 3rd National Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Conference in Accra. The conference, which culminated in the observation of the 2021 Patient Safety Day, was under the theme: “No Quality, No Coverage;…

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

Ensuring the safety of mothers and newborns during childbirth in Namibia

Globally, every day, approximately 800 women and 6700 babies lose their lives due to preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth

World Patient Safety Day was established in 2019 to enhance global understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in the safety of health care and promote global actions to enhance patient safety and reduce patient harm. This year’s World Patient Safety Day was commemorated under the theme 'Safe maternal and…

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

Eswatini: Act now for safe and respectful childbirth! World patient safety day 2021

In line with the theme for 2021, the commemorations focused on “Safe maternal and newborn care”

The Kingdom of Eswatini joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Patient Safety Day 2021. The country has been commemorating this day every year since its inception in 2019. The country embraces the principle that in delivering patient care, the first step is “do no harm”. In line…

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

Ensuring Access to Healthcare Services in Hard-to-reach Areas of South Sudan

As part of the response to meet the growing health and nutrition needs WHO delivered lifesaving treatments and supplies including trauma, pneumonia, and diarrhea kits

As a team of health workers from the State Ministry of Health in Western Equatoria and WHO arrived in Nadiangere village of Western Equatoria in June 2021, they were welcomed by cheering residents who gathered at Nadiangere Primary Health Care Unit. The team was distributing medicine and supplies delivered by…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • This is to strengthen the capacity to increase facility delivery for women living in remote geographic areas
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

WHO Eritrea Supports the Ministry of Health Maternity Waiting Homes in remote areas with Essential Infection prevention and Control Equipment

These essential equipments include twelve Washing Machines of 14 kilograms capacity and will be distributed to the twelve maternity waiting homes in the Southern Red Sea

On the 24th June 2021, as part of World Health Organization Eritrea support to Ministry of Health for the continuity of essential health services on Maternal and Newborn health, WHO Eritrea delivered vital Infection prevention and Control (IPC) equipment, that will significantly contribute to the effectiveness of Infection prevention and…

WHO Regional Office for Africa

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    • Drop in blood donations add to maternal health threats in Africa
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Source: WHO Regional Office for Africa |

Drop in blood donations add to maternal health threats in Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the shortfall, with donations dropping by 17% over the past year

Just half of the blood needed for transfusion each year in the African region is collected, leaving many facing life-threatening shortages. The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the shortfall, with donations dropping by 17% over the past year. One of the critical requirements for blood transfusion is in saving the…

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

Fewer COVID-19 cases among women in Africa: WHO analysis

The analysis found that although women account for around 41% of COVID-19 cases, this ranges from 31% in Niger to over 57% in South Africa

Women account for a slightly smaller proportion of COVID-19 infections and deaths compared with men, a preliminary analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 28 African countries shows. The analysis based on COVID-19 gender specific epidemiological data provided by countries found that although women account for around 41% of…