WHO supports the Ministry of Health to enhance emergency preparedness and risk management in South Sudan

Dr Otim presenting the South Sudan risk profile
The Ministry of Health of South Sudan with support from WHO conducted a five days planning workshop as a precursor for a detailed Vulnerability, Risk Assessment and Mapping (VRAM) exercise. In 2017, South Sudan held a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of IHR core capacities (2005) which indicated limited capacities for preparedness and response to Public Health hazards. South Sudan is among the countries in the region that are prone to disasters or emergencies that can have a significant impact on the population and the health systems.  Infectious diseases continue to pose a major public health threat in South Sudan. Adding to the chronic disease burden, regular outbreaks further threaten people's health.

A little black box for detecting and tracking outbreaks

A little black box for detecting and tracking outbreaks

One of the toughest tasks in responding to a major public health emergency is getting accurate information about infectious disease outbreaks.
"EWARS in a box" contains all the equipment needed to establish surveillance and response activities, particularly in difficult and remote field settings without reliable internet or electricity.

Infections can spread even more quickly than rumours, particularly when there is a lack of reliable, up-to-date information to detect, track and respond to outbreaks.

On the hunt for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo

On the hunt for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Marie-Roseline Darnycka Bélizaire is on the front-lines of the battle against Ebola.

She’s leading the hunt for the virus in the Itipo area in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The communities at risk are spread out over a wide area and the roads are bad. Her team of more than 20 field epidemiologists is using mostly motorcycles to get around.

Marie-Roseline Belizaire said “We have to go sometimes as far as 80 km from the coordination base, so in a day we can do 160 km.”

Nigeria fights high maternal mortality through improved quality of care 

(Seated) Mrs Naomi Muyadeen and Head Nurse Esther Adepoju, Kuchigoro Primary Health Care Centre, Abuja.

Abuja, 20 June, 2018 - “There were no signs that the morning of 31 May 2018 would be different until I started feeling the pangs, requiring medical assistance,” said Naomi Muyadeen. "Initially, I dreaded going to the government facility but stepping into the health facility, I immediately noticed the change.”

A resident of Kuchingoro, a suburb of Abuja, Mrs Muyadeen is a 23 year old mother of one and nine months pregnant. She has had previous antenatal visits to the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Kuchingoro.

Maximising digital health technology to improve quality and patient safety in Africa

Maximising digital health technology to improve quality and patient safety in Africa
The World Health Organization(WHO) has urged countries to maximise the use of digital health technology to improve patient safety and equitable access to quality health care. Dr Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization made the call while addressing delegates attending the second International Conference of Ministers of Health and Ministers for Digital Technical Technology on Health Security in Africa (CIMSA). The event has attracted over 300 delegates including the participation of Ministers of Health, Ministers of ICT, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, development partners and telecoms companies.

Free blood for Zimbabwe’s public health institutions

Students from the winning school pose with their award

The promise was made as Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Blood Donor Day at a function held at Gweru Provincial Hospital. Every year on 14 June, the global community celebrates World Blood Donor Day. This year’s theme is focused on blood donation as an act of solidarity: Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life. This draws attention to the regular and voluntary blood donors, and encourages people to care for one another by donating blood.

Eritrea developed cervical cancer prevention and control guideline

Participants of the workshop

A consensus building workshop was conducted on cervical cancer prevention and control guideline at Median Hotel in Asmara in May 2018 in the presence of participants from MOH, Asmara College of Health Science, WHO including other UN Agencies. The main objective of the workshop was to develop consensus among the technical working group on the detailed content of the comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control guideline in Eritrea; design the guideline; come up with a final draft document, provide responsibilities to the technical working group and draft an implementation plan.