Pioneer UN volunteers at WHO Regional Office for Africa

Pioneer UN volunteers at WHO Regional Office for Africa
Today, 8 March 2020, the world is celebrating the International Women Day. The theme this year is "I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. It is a call to address inequities. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa committed to achieving gender parity among its staff. Women now account for 33% of WHO workforce, up from 27% in 2015. 

WHO and key health partners join forces to fight COVID-19 in Africa

WHO and key health partners join forces to fight COVID-19 in Africa
With confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Algeria, Senegal, Nigeria and South Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) and key health partners are strengthening cooperation to better coordinate readiness and response efforts across Africa. WHO convened a meeting in Nairobi this week, with representatives from the Kenyan Health Ministry, the African Union and key United Nations partner agencies in attendance.  A parallel meeting was also taking place in Dakar with Francophone partners, also led by the WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Tackling high maternal deaths in Mauritania

Tackling high maternal deaths in Mauritania
A cloud of dust lifted slowly off the forecourt of Sebkha health centre where an ambulance had just rushed a patient. Inside visitors milled about as nurses paced up and down the corridors. When one of the nurses passed by, an elderly woman waiting outside the delivery room sat up and asked how her daughter was doing. “Don’t worry madam,” came the reply, “your daughter will give birth safely. She’s in good hands.”

Inoculating against the ‘infodemic’ in Africa

Inoculating against the ‘infodemic’ in Africa
On entering Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport, visitors are greeted by posters on how to prevent COVID-19 transmission, even before having their temperatures taken by medical staff.  Video messages play in the departure and arrival lounges. So far, the number of people in Africa confirmed to have the virus is much smaller than other parts of the world. But as more health ministries in Africa have confirmed the presence of the virus in their countries, what was once a distant threat is now much closer.  

Nigeria launches the National Health Workforce Country Profile towards achieving universal health coverage

Honorable Minister of Health, OiC WHO, Rep Government of Canada, Dr Meribole State Commissioners of Health

Abuja, March 3, 2020 - In renewed efforts to strengthen health workforce towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) has successfully launched the 2018 Nigeria Health Workforce Country Profile and officially handed over of the Nigeria Health Workforce Registry. Support for the launch, was made possible with funding from the Government of Canada through the Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

WHO Ethiopia supported UN Ethiopia COVID-19 table top Simulation Exercise

WHO Ethiopia supported UN Ethiopia COVID-19 table top Simulation Exercise

March 3,2020- UN Ethiopia organizes a COVID-19 tabletop simulation exercise (SIMEX) for the UN agencies in Ethiopia with the support of World Health Organization Ethiopia Country Office. Over 60 participants from UN 25 agencies participated in the exercise. The simulation exercise aims to strengthen preparedness and response capacity for a potential COVID-19 outbreak in the UN system in Ethiopia.