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Benin News

Dr. Kouamé Jean KONAN, new WHO Representative, presented his letter of appointment t...

Cotonou, April 4, 2025 – Dr. Kouamé Jean KONAN, recently appointed Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Benin, officially presented his crendentials on Friday, April 4, 2025, to His Excellency Mr. Olushegun Adjadi BAKARI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin. Dr. Kouamé Jean KONAN thus becomes the 12th WHO Resident Representative in Benin since 1961.

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Towards an African synergy to better diagnose tuberculosis

The meeting aimed to review the implementation status of the Global Laboratory Initiative (GLI) Africa Regional framework (2016-2020), operationalize the AFR SRL network, and discuss resource mobilization strategies for SRLs and National Centers of Excellence (NCEs). Participants included representatives from SRLs (Cotonou, Kampala, Alger, and Johannesburg), candidate SRLs (Maputo and Kigali), candidate NCEs (Ethiopia Public Health Institute and Zaria National TB Reference Laboratory), WHO AFRO, the Global Fund, WHO Geneva, and CSOs (Uganda and Benin).
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Bridging the gap to accelerate malaria vaccination rollout in Africa through experie...

Africa is gradually making strides in fighting malaria across the continent through the Accelerating Malaria Vaccine Introduction and Rollout in Africa (AMVIRA) initiative. As Burundi, Chad, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Niger are gearing up for the introduction and rollout of the malaria vaccines, the World Health Organization (WHO) with funding from PATH and partners convened stakeholders from these countries to learn from Benin, Ghana, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Sierra Leone’s malaria vaccination experience and ensure adequate preparation towards new introductions and rollout across these countries.
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Protecting children against hepatitis B with birth-dose vaccine

Cotonou ‒ Throughout her ten years as a midwife, Françoise Kouveglo, who works at Houenoussou Health Centre in Cotonou, Benin, has witnessed some highly emotional moments in the delivery room. “Giving birth is a deeply powerful moment with lots of strong sensations, but what stands out for me is to make sure that the baby is born safely and that both mother and baby are in good health,” she says.

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TB Laboratory Strengthening:

The Annual Tuberculosis (TB) Laboratory Project workshop with National TB Reference Laboratory managers from 23 countries in West and Central Africa, 11-13 December 2023. The main objective was to take stock of activities carried out within the framework of the TB Laboratory project.
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Benin boosts COVID-19 response with increased testing

Benin’s first COVID-19 case was diagnosed at the Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Laboratory in the capital Cotonou in March 2020. Then it was the country’s sole facility able to test for the virus. At best it could carry out only 300 tests per day.
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Benin boosts COVID-19 response with increased testing

Cotonou – Benin’s first COVID-19 case was diagnosed at the Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Laboratory in the capital Cotonou in March 2020. Then it was the country’s sole facility able to test for the virus. At best it could carry out only 300 tests per day.

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Benin on track to have its scorecard on sexual and reproductive health

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Benin managed to organize the country Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) scorecard development workshop. As an accountability tool, the Benin SRHR Scorecard aims to track progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights in the country. It will be used to monitor the achievements of SRHR targets in Benin.
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