Arok Juong Lueth, a 32-year-old mother of three, a resident of Malueth in Rumbek Centre, Lakes State at the crack of dawn woke up filled with a renewed sense of hope, quickly left her children and house unattended to join a group of women who had offered to help carry Polio vaccines on their heads over a distance of about 30 kilometers to their village to ensure that their children receive polio vaccine.

09 December 2020 — Forty-one (41) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 3654 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to six thousand, two hundred, and seventy-eight (6278). To date, five thousand, seven hundred, and fifteen (5715) patients have recovered, with no one in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is five hundred and ten (510) and fifty-three (53) deaths. The two new deaths are women respectively of 60 and 56 years old from Kigali City and Ngororero District.

Juba, 10 December 2020 – South Sudan launched its National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2020-2024. The plan was launched by Hon. Dr Martin Elia Lomoro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs.

The NAPHS was developed based on the Joint External Evaluation conducted in 2017 to strengthen core capacities in the country as required under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.

The World Health Organization Country Office provided support to the Ministry of Health in conducting a virtual advocacy meeting with Members of Parliament on Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development (ECD). A total of 22 parliamentarians selected from the Committees on Health, Community Development & Social Services; and Education, Science & Technology participated in the event which took place on 9 December 2020.

08 December 2020 — Forty-six (46) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 3855 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to six thousand, two hundred, and thirty-seven (6237). To date, five thousand, seven hundred, and fifteen (5715) patients have recovered, including nineteen (19) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is four hundred and seventy-one (471) and fifty-one (51) deaths. 

Abeokuta, 07 December 2020 - My name is Mrs Funmi and was diagnosed hypertensive in 2019 when I went to Obantoko Primary Healthcare facility to check my blood pressure. The nurse told me it was high, and I told her that I had not used my drugs because could not afford them. The nurse told me about the new programme at the centre and I started going regularly because the health workers are kind and the drugs are affordable for me.

Gaborone, Botswana - 09 December 2020: Following the National Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Training in Francistown, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a two-day validation meeting on the Botswana National IPC Guidelines and to validate strategic documents which will guide the implementation of the IPC Plan. This guideline was developed by using WHO recommendations, based on currently available information on IPC and the current situation in Botswana.

07 December 2020 — Sixty-five (62) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 2182 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to six thousand, one hundred, and ninety-one (6191). To date, five thousand, six hundred, and ninety-six (5696) patients have recovered, with no one in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is four hundred and forty-four (444) and fifty-one (51) deaths. 
The new cases are in Kigali (50), Musanze (7), Rubavu (3), Ngororero (1), and Rusizi (1); heightened vigilance is required everywhere.