Mauritius News

WHO supports Mauritius in carrying out its second Joint External Evaluation of the International Health Regulation (IHR) capacities in November 2025. By volunteering for its second JEE, Mauritius has shown its strong commitment, foresight, leadership, and confidence in the process with the aim of safeguarding the population’s health. A wide range of participants, including key programme leads and technical experts from various departments were mobilized to contribute to both the self-assessment and the external evaluation. With its extensive, high-quality human, veterinary, and environmental services, Mauritius has consistently demonstrated its ability to respond rapidly and effectively to multiple public health threats in the past. WHO is supporting the country in ensuring this strength is sustained and further advanced by fully leveraging the IHR (2005) to reinforce core capacities for responding to both known and emerging public health threats in the future. Mauritius as a Small Island Developing State faces unique vulnerabilities such as geographic isolation, limited human and financial resources, high dependence on travel and trade, and heightened exposure to climate-sensitive health threats such as vector-borne diseases and extreme weather events. These factors can rapidly amplify public health emergencies and disrupt essential services, as well as social and economic development, if the country has inadequate preparedness and readiness. The JEE brings together a multidisciplinary team of international experts from WHO, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Indian Ocean Commission, with the objective of assessing Mauritius’s core public health capacities under the IHR (2005). It also aims to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response to public health emergencies across 19 technical areas and 56 indicators under the four domains: Prevent, Detect, Respond, and IHR-related hazards and Points of Entry.

Mauritius, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), completed a three-day national consultative workshop from 17 to 19 November 2025 to develop its first comprehensive National Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Policy. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in collaboration with technical assistance from WHO AFRO, WHO Headquarters, and in-country partners. Infant and young child feeding is central to the survival, growth, and long-term wellbeing of children. Although Mauritius has strong programmes such as the National Action Plan on Breastfeeding (2022–2027) recent analyses have highlighted the absence of a unified national IYCF policy. This gap has led to: •    Fragmented interventions across health, labour, education, and social sectors •    Limited enforcement of breastfeeding protection and maternity entitlements •    Insufficient guidance for supporting preterm and low-birth-weight infants •    Variations in feeding counselling and community support •    Lack of a structured response to IYCF during emergencies and disease outbreaks Given Mauritius’ increasing number of preterm births and the need to strengthen early childhood development, a national policy is essential to provide one coherent, evidence-based framework that protects, promotes, and supports optimal feeding for all infants, including the most vulnerable.

Mauritius achieves a strategic milestone in its journey to building a climate-resilient health system through validation of the Gap Analysis Report, the draft Institutional Framework, and the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the establishment of a Climate and Health Technical Unit (CHTU). This marks an important step towards strengthening the country’s Preparedness and Readiness for health systems resilience to Climate Change – a reality under the project “Building Health Systems Resilience to Climate Change,” funded by the Green Climate Fund and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Multisectoral stakeholders comprising senior officials, technical experts, and stakeholders from across government, academia, and civil society participated in this important analysis to action, and from vulnerability to resilience process. “The cost of inaction is measured in lives lost, services disrupted, and development gains reversed. But the benefits of action are immense: health systems that withstand storms, communities that stay healthy, and a nation that thrives despite climate shocks “This is our moment to act,” said Dr Anne Ancia, WHO Representative in Mauritius in her opening remarks. She added, “What you will do today will define the future and resilience of the country.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and dignified working environment for all including staff, internal and external stakeholders and partners. In line with the global PRSEAH strategy, the WHO Mauritius technical team led by the WHO Representative, Dr Anne Ancia and the PRSEAH Focal Person, Mrs. Doorgawatee Ram-Gopal, sensitised some 60 senior officials including health workers and other frontliners from the Commission for Health and the other Commissions and NGOs on the importance of WHO PRSEAH policy implementation in the Republic of Mauritius including outer island Rodrigues. The sensitisation took place from 1–2 October 2025 through interactive sessions and sharing of experiences. The participants were sensitized on the key principles and concepts of the PRSEAH policy which promotes a culture of prevention, accountability, and zero tolerance for sexual misconduct across all WHO-supported activities—ensuring that no one is left behind. This continued collaboration between WHO and the Government of Mauritius, including high-level discussions with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister reaffirms the shared responsibility of all on PRSEAH. Safeguarding is a collective responsibility – highlighted both the Commissioner for Health, Mr. Nicolas Volbert, and the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Child Development at the opening of the training. ‘Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse should be our Top Priority’, also echoed Mr.Nicolas Volbert to the high officials at the opening of the Session on 01 October, 2025. Together, we are building a safer, more inclusive environment for all.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness with the support of the World Health Organization rolled out the National VigiMobile Programme at Sir Aneerood Jugnauth (SAJ) Hospital, Flacq on 17 September 2025 to mark the World Patient Safety Day this year. For the first time, all hospitals and pharmacies in both public and private sectors in Mauritius will be equipped with this digital tool, enabling all health professionals—doctors, nurses, and pharmacists—to report Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) and Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) in real time.  This real-time data reporting system is critical to ensure patient safety. The launch was attended by Mr. Jugmohunsing, Permanent Secretary; Dr. Ancia Anne, WHO Representative in Mauritius; Mrs. Maharaj, Deputy Permanent Secretary; Dr. Sookmanee, Regional Health Director, SAJ Hospital; and Mrs. Gopee, Ag. Director of Pharmacy Services, alongside health professionals from across the sectors. Virtual interventions by Dr. Sujeet Jain and Mr. Magnus, high level experts from WHO Headquarters, Geneva and Uppsala Monitoring Centre respectively, captivated attention - reinforcing Mauritius’ connection to the global pharmacovigilance community. Pharmacovigilance is a cornerstone of patient safety. While medicines and vaccines save millions of lives every year, their safe use requires vigilance and timely reporting. By launching VigiMobile on Patient Safety Day, Mauritius reaffirms its commitment to making patient safety the foundation of healthcare.

From a mother seeking antibiotics for her child at a clinic, to a cancer patient in need of lifesaving therapy, medicines are no ordinary commodities. They are lifelines. They manage pain, control chronic illness, treat infections, and save lives. Mauritius is embarking in the development of a national medicine policy with the support of WHO: “The national medicine policy will ensure the population of Mauritius has access to good quality medicines,” said the Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Mr Sarwansingh Purmessur at the opening of the workshop. It shows the commitment of the country in achieving Universal Health Coverage, added Mr S. Purmessur. “Mauritius relies heavily on imported medicines; A strong National Medicine Policy is the backbone of a well-functioning pharmaceutical system. It will bring transparency, accountability, and resilience in a world of increasing health threats and economic volatility. said the WHO Representative, Dr Anne Ancia. “Today’s landmark workshop marks the commitment of Mauritius in ensuring safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines for all citizens” This initiative unites various health professionals including clinicians, pharmacists, regulators, academics, wholesalers, member of pharmacy council and other health professionals to contribute to the development of a policy that will meet the specificities of the country and the local context.

Mauritius marks a pivotal moment in its journey towards building a climate resilient health system faced to the growing threats against climate change with the dissemination of the comprehensive findings of the advanced draft Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) Assessment report - spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Wellness with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Green Climate Fund(GCF). “As a small island developing state, Mauritius faces unique threats from climate change—rising seas, extreme weather, and evolving disease patterns. This V&A Assessment report is crucial for understanding how climate affects health and for identifying those most at risk.” said Dr. Anne Ancia, WHO Representative, intervening during the opening of the workshop. Mrs M. Ramkhelawon, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Wellness, emphasized the urgency of the initiative : “Climate change is not a distant threat—it is already impacting our health system. This assessment provides the evidence we need to act decisively and protect our most vulnerable citizens”. Mauritius, despite its strong public health infrastructure and commitment to universal health coverage, remains highly exposed to climate-related threats. Cyclones and floods have led to a resurgence of vector- and water-borne diseases, threatening hard-won progress in disease control – highlighting the urgent need for adaptive and mitigating strategies.

“The afternoon session was of especially interest to me since it dealt with the pediatric management of the Chikungunya disease. The presentations were clinically oriented and simple to understand", said Dr Nasseema Aumeer, Consultant in Charge (Pediatrics & Neonatology) of the Sir S. Ramgoolam North Hospital. Now, I am more confident to diagnose and manage neonatal chikungunya, she added. Dr Aumeer was among the 48 frontline health professionals who joined the high-impact training session, organized by World Health Organization (WHO) as part of the national response to the ongoing Chikungunya outbreak. Midwives, Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) nurses, gynecologists, pediatricians and medical Officers, strengthened their clinical competencies to manage Chikungunya cases, particularly for vulnerable groups such as neonates, children, pregnant women and high-risk adults during the intensive training.