Feature Stories

Nairobi—Fifty-year-old Milton Oloo has worked as a cargo loading agent at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya for the last 30 years. Although he handles several tonnes of cargo daily, every now and again a memorable load comes his way.  

It was the case with the shipment of cargo from World Health Organization (WHO)’s Emergency Preparedness and Response hub in Nairobi, Kenya, on 20 May 2026.  

New collaboration marks a major step towards a harmonized, resilient regulatory ecosystem and accelerated access to health products across the continent
 

Geneva—The World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Medicines Agency (AMA) have signed  a Framework Agreement for Collaboration, marking a major milestone in efforts to strengthen regulatory systems and improve access to safe, effective and quality-assured health products across Africa.

Mbéni – Elhabib Mmadi Ali has been a state-registered nurse since 2018. After specializing in emergency care in 2019, he joined the Mbéni Medical and Surgical Centre (CMC) in the Hamahamet region of Comoros. One year later, he was appointed head nurse of the general emergency department.

As the first point of entry for many patients, often in critical condition, working in emergency care requires far more than technical skills. The role demands qualities such as self-control, stress management, quick adaptability, strong teamwork, and a deep sense of empathy.

Bangui—For more than 30 years Regina Patricia Pepa, a midwife and president of the Central African Republic’s Midwives and Birth Attendants Association, has supported thousands of women throughout their journey to motherhood and become a reference for many generations of caregivers, while remaining grounded by the challenges and realities of childbirth. In her long carer she has combined hands-on experience with teaching, heading the Bachelor’s programme in Nursing Sciences at Bangui University where she lectures.

Mfou – To bring specialized care closer to communities and reduce long travel distances for people with severe noncommunicable diseases, Cameroon is gradually implementing the PEN-Plus approach to care, with technical support from WHO and its partners.

Kindu – Héritier is 42 years old and an analyst by profession and father of four, lives in Kindu, Maniema province. Like many people living with diabetes in this part of central-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, he faces limited access to care due to the province’s isolation and persistent tensions in the East. "There were times I thought my diabetes would eventually take me. Every day, I just try to hold on, even when it becomes difficult to manage my illness," he confides.

Lomé – Protecting health, preventing disease, and improving patient care rely heavily on science. Through research and medical advances, it enables a deeper understanding of health challenges and provides effective solutions. When clearly understood and put to work for the people, science helps concretely to save lives and improve daily well-being.

Bassiknou—Long considered a disease of the past, diphtheria continues to affect certain regions of Mauritania. Located in the east of the country, near the border with Mali, the Mbera refugee camp hosts communities particularly exposed, in a context marked by frequent population movements and sometimes difficult living conditions.

Bouaké - Every day, at the Belleville Urban Health Center in Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, Aïssata Coulibaly supports childbirth. A certified midwife for nine years, she is one of those health professionals whose daily commitment makes a difference for women and newborns.