Health topics | WHO | Regional Office for Africa

Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD), or sickle cell anaemia, is a major genetic disease that affects most countries in the African Region.

The Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme provides technical support to countries in the African Region in order to contribute to the reduction of disease, disability and death due to vaccine preventable diseases.

Cervical cancer

Key factCervical canceris  highly preventable,  but poor access to prevention, screening and treatment contributes to 90% of the deaths.Feat…

Noncommunicable Diseases

WHO supports Member States to develop and implement comprehensive and integrated policies and strategies for the management of the main chronic noncommunicable diseases. These include: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, oral health, chronic respiratory diseases and sickle cell diseases.

Cholera

Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal disease that can be fatal within hours if not treated. Access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is essential to prevent cholera.

Cancer

The burden of cancer has been on the increase over the past few decades. In 2012 alone, 8.2 million people worldwide were estimated to have died from cancer. More than two thirds of these deaths occurred in low- and middle- income countries.

Diabetes

Diabetes in the Region is a serious, chronic and costly disease that is estimated to rise to 23.9 million cases by 2030.

Obesity

Obesity rates are rapidly increasing in the African Region, as in most parts of the world.

Health topics — Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control (DPC)