African health ministers, delegates adopt declaration on climate change and health

Enhancing policy and decision-making is also crucial by integrating climate change considerations into national health policies and strategies to ensure that health is prioritized in climate action plans

Health ministers and delegates from 20 African countries today adopted a landmark declaration to enhance climate resilience within health systems and address the profound health impacts of climate change on the continent. The Harare Declaration, endorsed during the first Climate and Health Africa Conference (CHAC), calls for immediate and collaborative…

Environmental Health Workers on the Frontlines of Zimbabwe's Cholera Outbreak

At the peak of the outbreak in Manicaland Province, Lovemore Mudzingwa, an Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) at Zvipiripiri Rural Health Centre, played a critical role

The number of cholera cases in Zimbabwe is declining thanks to the expanded and decentralized cholera response activities undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), supported by WHO and other partners. While current figures remain higher compared to the same period last year, this reduction is a…

Africa on track to Control COVID-19 Pandemic in 2022

With the aim of controlling the pandemic, WHO is focusing on scaling-up COVID-19 vaccine uptake in countries

Almost two years after Africa identified its first case of COVID-19 (14 February 2020), the World Health Organization (WHO) finds that, if current trends continue, the continent can control the pandemic in 2022. However, WHO warned that continued vigilance is key. Over the last two years, the continent has witnessed…

Coronavirus - Zimbabwe: Enhancing capacity for laboratory diagnosis for COVID-19 at Beitbridge District Hospital

Beitbridge laboratory personnel recently received the Abbott platform

When WHO, National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) and Medsure Healthcare teams reached Beitbridge, 640km from Harare, twelve laboratory personnel from Beitbridge Hospital had already tested more than 6000 samples for COVID-19. The tests were done using a GeneXpert machine with cartridges for COVID-19 testing and Real Time- Polymerase chain reaction…

Preventing HIV in high HIV burden settings through voluntary medical male circumcision

New guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) updates earlier recommendations on voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) for HIV prevention

Preventing heterosexually acquired HIV and achieving global HIV incidence goals require a combination of interventions. Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is one of these interventions in settings with a high burden of HIV. New guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) updates earlier recommendations on VMMC for HIV prevention. These…

Coronavirus - Zimbabwe: Environmental Health Technician (EHT) officers follow WHO guidelines for early detection of COVID-19 symptoms

COVID-19 prescreening at hospitals is mandatory for all health care facilities in Zimbabwe as per Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) regulations recommended by WHO

To all patients who visit Beitbridge District Hospital, Mmoloki Malemane seems like just any other person who checks people’s temperatures at the gate. To those not aware of his role, this might seem the case yet Mmokoli is an Environmental Health Technician (EHT) responsible for COVID-19 pre-screening at Beitbridge Hospital.…

Coronavirus - Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) concerned over COVID-19 impact on women, girls in Africa

Women are disproportionately affected by lockdowns and this is resulting in a reduced access to health services

Humanitarian crises, including health emergencies affect men and women differently. As COVID-19 continues to spread in Africa, there are concerns over its impact on women and girls, with vulnerabilities feared to worsen as the pandemic overwhelms health systems. Although overall in the African Region, women account for around 40% of…

Coronavirus - Africa: The Number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the African Region see an increase by 31%

There has been a 31% increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the African Region in past week. Cases in Mauritania, Ethiopia, CAR, South Sudan & Zimbabwe grew the fastest. For more detailed analysis, read our most recent COVID-19 Report: https://bit.ly/2AjGo6m  

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…

Coronavirus - Zimbabwe: World Health Organization (WHO) Zimbabwe’s Polio Team supporting Contact Tracing for COVID-19

In Zimbabwe, WHO Zimbabwe’s polio team is providing support to enhance contact tracing for COVID-19. Disease surveillance officers across the country are adapting software to list & trace contacts, with real-time updates.