Harare, Zimbabwe – This World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Established in 1948 by countries around the world, WHO's mission is to promote health, ensure global safety, and serve the vulnerable, with the ultimate goal of achieving the highest level of health and well-being for all. With a presence in over 150 offices and working with 194 Member States across six regions.  

Close to 1.3 million people, from previously inaccessible areas of Tigray were reached with lifesaving COVID-19 vaccination following a two-phase campaign.

The first round of the vaccination campaign, which was conducted in January 2023 benefited more than 113,000 people in the towns of Wukro, AbiAdi, Adigrat, Maichew and Mehoni towns. Conducted in the months of February and March 2023, the second round of the campaign, on the other hand, benefited more than 1.2 million people from 64 previously inaccessible woredas of the region.

Addis Ababa, April 7, 2023 – In 1948, countries came together and founded the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere, can attain the highest level of health and well-being.

At a vaccination center set under a neem tree in Hai Jalaba neighbourhood in Malakal town, Nyatuka Othow arrived with her three children, aged one, three and five years respectively to receive oral cholera vaccine.

“My children and I can’t miss this opportunity”, said Othow, a 32-year-old mother of three after taking the vaccine. “It scares me to hear people dying from cholera in Malakal, therefore I made it a routine to ensure that my children are vaccinated against all diseases, so they are protected”.

Botswana conducted a two-round polio supplementary vaccination campaign against the circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus type 2 (cVDPV2) in early 2023. Targeting the entire population of seven years old and below, 360.370 children were vaccinated during the first-round (February 2023), while 359.878 children were vaccinated across the country during the second round of the campaign (March 2023). cVDPV2 is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects children. It has plagued communities worldwide for decades.

Calabar, 4 April, 2023 - Cholera is endemic in Nigeria. It is highly contagious and occurs in places without safe water and proper sanitation. It causes profuse diarrhoea and vomiting, and without treatment can quickly lead to severe dehydration followed by death .

At about 6:40 pm on 17 January 2023, Gift Sunday-James, (35 years) shouts for help as she approaches the Primary Health Centre (PHC) located in Ovomum, Obabura Local Government Area (LGA), in Cross River State. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative and the Japanese Ambassador to Namibia visited the Ohangwena region on 30 March 2023 for a field trip to observe the progress made in addressing malnutrition. The delegation was led by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esther Muinjangue. 

The Japanese government through the office of the Ambassador injected approximately N$ 2,6 million into the Ministry of Health and Social Services to address malnutrition while the WHO provided the technical support to successfully implement the project.