Kampala, 2nd May 2019: - Uganda’s Minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has lauded international partners for supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) battle the current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak and the neighbouring countries in their preparedness and readiness phase. 

“The outbreak in DRC affects everyone and while we have no confirmed cases in the neighbouring countries, preparation is paramount. I thank the partners for their support in both response and preparedness modes during this EVD outbreak,” she said.

2 May 2019, Pemba – Cyclone Kenneth, the second category 3 cyclone to hit Mozambique within five weeks, brought widespread destruction and displacement and exacerbated health risks in the north-eastern province of Cabo Delgado after making landfall on 25 April. The cyclone struck populations already vulnerable due to a fragile health system and weak water and sanitation infrastructure.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in Namibia in collaboration with the Windhoek City Runners Club (WCRC) hosted the first ‘Walk/Run for Health’ event on Saturday, 27 April at Daan Viljoen police checkpoint. The event was held to celebrate World Health Day, which took place earlier this month, as well as the 71^st Anniversary of  WHO.

Kampala, 30th April 2019: - The Meeting on Strengthening Partnership for Improving Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak preparedness and readiness, opened in Kampala yesterday with a call to delegates to undertake frank discussions to unearth critical risk factors and challenges in the response and suggest feasible solutions to register concrete results.  

Gaborone, Botswana - 29 April 2019: The Government of Botswana, in conjunction with WHO technical  guidance and support from CDC Atlanta USA is currently hosting four SADC countries (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini) to conduct a Public Health Regional Training on strengthening National Rapid Response Teams (RRT), running from 29th April to 3rd May, 2019, at Avani Resort Center in Gaborone.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services with support from WHO and UNFPA adapted the Clinical Handbook for women subjected to intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence.  The handbook will serve as a stepping stone for transforming the health sector to provide a comprehensive response to survivors of gender based violence.   The adaptation process involved consultation with health care providers, social workers, police officers and civil society organizations. 

Namibia joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Health Day under the theme ‘universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere’. The protracted Hepatitis E outbreak was the central theme in the speakers’ messages reiterating the urgency to provide water and sanitation services to the urban poor especially those living in informal settlements.