As countries step up mpox outbreak control measures, efforts are also being made to ensure essential health services such as maternal and child-care, immunization, HIV treatment and chronic disease management are maintained to avert disruptions that can threaten people’s health.
Read moreKigali - Esther Uwababyeyi's journey with HIV began at a young age. "Since the age of three, I've been on HIV treatment,” she says. Born in 2002, Uwababyeyi was infected during her mother’s pregnancy, a time when access …
Read moreMalabo – In Equatorial Guinea, where over 6% of the population lives with HIV, access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment was limited to just two centres in the provincial capitals of Malabo and Bata until 2017. This restr…
Read moreIn a milestone for regional public health, Dakar hosted its first regional Safe and Dignified Burial (SDB) training, gathering 30 participants from 10 African countries. Organized by the WHO Emergency Hub, the training marks the hub’s emergence as a regional reference centre for strengthening the capacity of national and regional experts in managing public health emergencies.
Read moreBrazzaville – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa has launched a Regional Validation Committee for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B virus, markin…
Read moreBrazzaville – Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and development threats. About4.71 million deaths were linked to bacterial AMR in 2021 alone, with sub-Saharan Africa accounti…
Read moreMore than 13 000 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases have been reported in the African region since the start of 2024, as of 17 November. Three countries – Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda - account for approximately 97% of all reported cases so far this year. From reinforcing outbreak control measures including health worker training, to the delivery of medical supplies and equipment, and to the development of vaccine deployment plans, World Health Organization (WHO) is providing critical technical and financial support to countries to effectively respond to and end the mpox outbreaks in the region.
Read moreThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is the hardest hit country in the African region by mpox outbreak, accounting for about 80% of laboratory-confirmed cases and deaths reported across the continent this year. While mpox is primarily transmitted through close physical contact, it can affect anyone. Vulnerable populations are at a heightened risk of infection and severe illness.
Read more