Asmara—Eritrea’s National Health Laboratory is strengthening its genomic sequencing capacity to improve disease surveillance and generate critical scientific data for public health. This technology enables scientists to analyse viruses, bacteria and parasites in depth, helping them better understand how pathogens evolve, detect antimicrobial and drug resistance, and guide public health interventions more effectively. 

Following the detection of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in environmental surveillance samples in Blantyre, and its subsequent confirmation among children in the community, Malawi rapidly activated a comprehensive outbreak response. The Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), and partners, launched a nationwide response with one clear objective: protect every child and stop the virus before it spreads.

Keren, Eritrea—Every morning, 28-year-old Amatazgi Gumbot opens her small health consultation point in the village of Shasharama in Keren, the capital of Anseba Region in northern Eritrea, before heading out to meet residents in neighbouring villages. Amatazgi is one of Eritrea’s barefoot doctors, bringing health services closer to people living in some of the country’s most remote areas. 

Nairobi - Kenya has launched the Kenya Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy 2026–2030, a five-year roadmap to expand local production of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and medical devices, and to strengthen the regulatory systems that keep them safe, effective and of assured quality.

Nouakchott, Mauritania, 14 July 2026 – WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, concluded a visit to Mauritania today to reaffirm WHO's support for the country's efforts to position health as a strategic investment for economic development, regional stability and human security. During the visit, Dr Tedros met with His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and participated in the Regional Health Invest Forum, which culminated in the adoption of the Nouakchott Declaration on enhancing local production and investment in health.

Benin City, Mrs Ann Obehi Ojugo moved slowly to the front of the room. She paused before speaking.

“I was just a child when I fell sick,” she said. “My parents did not know about immunization. By the time help came, it was too late. I have lived with this ever since. Please, do not let another child go through this.”

Her message was simple: vaccines can prevent conditions like this.

Her story reflects a gap that still exists in parts of Edo State. Some children have never received a single vaccine. They are known as zero-dose children.

Adré, Chad—When Zara arrived in Adré in June 2023 after fleeing the conflict in Sudan, she was 19 years old. Shortly afterwards, she was assaulted by several men while visiting her grandmother in another section of the site where she was living with her family. A few weeks later, she learned that she was pregnant.