Mauritius strives to reducing barriers to life-saving preventive services and awareness raising to fight cancer

Commemoration of the World Cancer Day 2023 in Mauritius
Mauritius marked the World Cancer 2023 at national level with high commitment to reduce barriers to life-saving preventive services while focusing on raising awareness on cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Mauritius, Dr Anne Marie Ancia, the Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mr Serge Gilbert Bablee, and other personalities attended the event in the presence of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr the Hon Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal.  World Cancer Day 2023, commemorated around the world on 04 February marks the second year of the global campaign “Close the care gap” which focuses on building stronger alliances and new innovative collaborations in the fight against cancer by “uniting our voices and taking action”. On the commemoration of this important world day event in Mauritius on 06 February at Camp Fouquereaux Social Welfare Centre, Plaines Wilhems, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr the Hon Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal emphasized the importance of regular screening and early diagnosis to better treat cancer and saving lives. It was an occasion to raise awareness on cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment.  Cancer being the leading cause of death worldwide and accounted for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020 or nearly one in six deaths. The Minister of Health and Wellness said, “cancer is the third main cause of death in Mauritius. According to the National Cancer Registry, some 2,866 new cases of cancer were detected in 2021, including 1,185 men and 1,681 women".  Around 18.7% men suffer from prostate cancer while 35.2% women suffer from colorectal cancer and cervical cancer, he added. Dr Hon Jagutpal drew attention on the alarming statistics for cigarettes and alcohol consumption.  He urged everyone to stay away from risk behaviours such as tobacco use, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits.  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and practice physical exercises regularly can reduce one’s risk of developing cancer by 40%.

Uganda Government, stakeholders root for improved nutrition

Participants at the Nutrition Symposium

Uganda's Ministry of Health (MOH), with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners organized a three-day annual nutrition symposium (15–17 February 2023) in Kampala, focusing on the systems approach for improving nutrition service delivery and outcomes in Uganda.

Experts accede to Nigeria’s progress, highlight areas of focus for maintaining polio-free status

Child being vaccinated with oral polio vaccine

The 39th Expert Review Committee (ERC) for Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization has expressed optimism that the Nigerian programme is on course to stop the transmission of the circulating Variant Polio Virus (cVPV2) with ‘impressive progress’ recorded.

The ERC meets periodically to evaluate progress toward the attainment of a polio-free Nigeria. The monitoring body comprising global and local experts on polio eradication guides the government and partners on how they can interrupt the residual risk of all forms of poliovirus and boost routine immunization in the country.

Ethiopia commemorates World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day with the resonating call to accelerate action to end the needless suffering of the most vulnerable

Dr Nonhlanhla Dlamini delivering a keynote address at the World NTD Day commemoration in Jimma on 29 January 2023

On 29 and 30 January 2023, government health officials and partners came together in Jimma Zone, Oromia Region, to commemorate World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day in a two-day event that included an event opening ceremony, visit to NTD, molecular and drug laboratories of Jimma University, a field trip to two woredas of Jimma Zone to observe preventive activities and NTD case management, and a panel discussion. 

WHO scales up emergency response to reach displaced vulnerable populations in north-east Nigeria

In-depth discussion and brainstorming session with key stakeholders

Maiduguri, 15 February, 2023 - Raising from the recently concluded 12th Joint Operations Review (JOR) on humanitarian support in the northeast, the World Health Organization (WHO) is  widening  its emergency health response to reach displaced vulnerable populations in the region.

Already, the agency leads international action to expand universal health coverage and coordinates health emergency responses globally.