Zanzibar – COVID damaged economies and the tourism sector everywhere. As cities are the global focus of economic activity, population growth and health risk, how do we better prepare both old and new cities for health emergencies? In Africa alone, more than half the population is expected to live in cities in just 15 years. WHO convenes the first global health and urbanization meeting of city and health officials, to share COVID and other lessons learned, to see how to better prepare - for future pandemics and health emergencies.

World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on 24 June. This year's theme is "20 years of celebrating donation: thank you, blood donors!". The 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day is an excellent occasion to thank blood donors worldwide for their life-saving donations over the years and to review the situation of transfusions and access to them worldwide, taking into account the reality of countries and their populations.

Message of the Regional Director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, on World Blood Donor Day

Maseru-Blood transfusion plays a critical role in the provision of lifesaving health care. Vulnerable people, such as mothers during childbirth, under-nourished and malaria-affected children, victims of trauma and accidents, and patients suffering from sickle cell and other chronic diseases, particularly benefit from this care1.

A new, comprehensive framework has been launched to guide health authorities, policy-makers and other stakeholders towards elimination of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) as a public health problem in eastern Africa.

Also known as kala-azar, VL is a deadly parasitic disease that causes fever, weight loss, spleen and liver enlargement, and – if untreated – death. Transmitted by the bite of infected female sandflies, VL is endemic in 80 countries around the world. In 2022, eastern Africa accounted for 73% of global VL cases, half of which occurred in children aged under 15 years.

Mitigating the risk of cervical cancer with HPV vaccine in Borno and Yobe States, Nigeria
With over 660 000 cases of cervical cancer reported globally and around 350 000 deaths recorded among women as of 2022 cervical cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer among women in Nigeria, and fourth globally indicating, at least 95% of cases are caused by Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

This startling statistic reflects major inequities driven by a lack of access to national HPV vaccination, intensified awareness, cervical screening, and treatment services.

Overview

The Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) aims to provide decision-makers and health stakeholders at large with vital and up-to-date information on the availability of essential health resources and services, help them identify gaps, and determine priorities for intervention. 

Tendaba, The Gambia - In a concerted effort to address the rising tide of cancer cases in The Gambia, the World Health Organization (WHO) is spearheading a landmark initiative to develop the nation's maiden cancer control strategy. Amidst this endeavor, a pivotal four-day meeting of experts is currently underway at Tendaba Camp in the Lower Region, marking a crucial milestone in The Gambia's fight against cancer.

On June 10th in Luanda, Yolanda Ndosa from the World Health Organization (WHO) provided an overview of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance's project in Angola, MICs, to Municipal Administrators and Municipal Health Directors from all municipalities of the Luanda province. The meeting aimed to enhance support for the implementation of project activities and discuss the work carried out at the municipal and provincial levels, chaired by the. Vice-Governor for the Political and Social Sector, Manuel António Gonçalves, and attended by the Provincial Health Director, Dr. Manuel Varela.

Angola is facing a generalised epidemic of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), with sexual transmission being the main form of spread. According to the Multiple Health Indicator Survey, the prevalence rate in the general population aged 15 to 49 is 2 per cent higher in women than in men.