Strengthening Polio Surveillance: Risk Assessment following Detection of Circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus type 2

Sample collected from the Glen Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant

Environmental Surveillance (ES) was introduced in August 2022 to complement case-based AFP surveillance. The first established site for ES was Gaborone, Glen Valley Wastewater Treatment Site. Through this surveillance, the circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) was detected on October 4, 2022. Following the country risk assessment, a recommendation was made to conduct a nationwide vaccination campaign using the novel polio type 2 polio vaccine (nOPV2) for all children under the age of 7.

Lagos state and WHO collaborate for a healthier population 

WHO Nigeri Country Representative Dr W.K Mulombo presenting the CCSIV document to Lagos State Governor, Mr B. Sanwo-Olu during an advocacy visit in Lagos.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative (WR), Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, has reiterated the organisation's commitment to supporting the Lagos State Government in its quest to improve health indices and the quality of care for the state's population.

Dr Mulombo made the statement during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. 

Health experts advocate for government and communities to strengthen support for breastfeeding mothers 

A mother breastfeeding her baby

Maiduguri, 26 August, 2024 - A’ishatu Tafida, a 23-year-old mother of two children in Borno State, northeast Nigeria, has been sticking to her resolve to exclusively breastfeed her children for the first six months after birth.

“In the beginning, I faced a lot of challenges,” Aisha recalled. “There were days when I felt exhausted and doubted my ability to continue. But I found support from my husband and mother-in-law who is a nurse and encouraged me to be committed,”

African health ministers kick off region’s top health forum

African health ministers kick off region’s top health forum
African health ministers and government representatives gathering in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, today kicked off the Seventy-fourth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, the continent’s flagship health forum held annually to discuss and agree on measures to address health challenges and promote people’s well-being