Making every life count: Investigating a maternal death in Sierra Leone

MDSR investigations take place in some of the most remote communities in Sierra Leone

FREETOWN, April 16, 2018 - Sister Hannah B. Palmer pulls on her boots, getting ready to set out on the latest field-level investigation of 2018. Her job is not easy.  She is a Midwife Investigator in Koinadugu, one of the most remote and geographically dispersed districts of Sierra Leone. Much of the landscape here is steep and mountainous, and the district has one of the lowest densities of health workers and clinics, both relative to its population numbers, and the size of its geographical terrain.

Ethiopia Observed 2018 World Health Day

H.E. Dr Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health and Dr Akpaka Kalu, Representative to WHO Ethiopia briefing the Media
Addis Ababa 05 April, 2018: The 2018 World Health Day (WHD) in Ethiopia commemorated by a joint FMoH-WHO press conference which was held on 05 April 2018 at Federal Ministry of Health Ethiopia (FMoH). The National Press Conference was led by H.E. Dr Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health and Dr Akpaka Kalu, WHO Representative to Ethiopia. The aim of the press was to inform the media and the public at large on the importance of the occasion. The Federal Ministry of Health Ethiopia organized this press conference in collaboration with WHO with the theme “Optimizing the Health Extension Program” and it was attended by a large number of local journalists from private and public radio and TV stations, as well as the FMOH and WHO staff.

Tanzania rolls out vaccination against cervical cancer

WHO staff vaccinating a girl during the occasion.

Dar es Salaam, 10 April 2018: Today, Tanzania achieved a historical milestone to roll out a Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine against cancer of the cervix, the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Globally, the East African region is the leading burden carrier of cervical cancer. Tanzania is among the five countries with the highest rates in Africa.

The New Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Wellness is Briefed on the Upcoming WHA 71

Dr Martins (WR Botswana) congratulates Ms Ruth Maphorisa, on her appointment as the new Permanet Secretary in the MoHW

Gaborone, Botswana – 11 April 2018: The WHO country team, led by Dr Martins Ovberedjo, the WHO Representative (WR) for Botswana, met Ms Ruth Maphorisa, the new Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) to brief her and her senior personnel on the upcoming 71st World Health Assembly. The WR also took the opportunity to congratulate Ms Maphorisa on her appointment as the Permanent Secretary in the MoHW.
 

Nigeria’s Vice President believes the country should be an important focus for WHO

Nigeria's Vice President welcoming WHO Director General in his office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja

Abuja, 11 April 2018 - Nigeria’s Vice President, His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria should be a priority for the World Health Organization (WHO).
Professor Osinbajo made the request when he received in audience, the Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Regional Directors and other Global Policy Group members of WHO at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on 11 April, 2018.

Commiting to #EndTB in Zanzibar

Honorable Hamad Rashid Mohamed, Minister of Health for Zanzibar, making his remarks during the World TB Day 24 March 2018.

Zanzibar, 24 March 2018: The World TB Day was commemorated in Zanzibar with a theme “Wanted: Leaders for a TB Free World”. The day is commemorated annually on the 24th of March 2018 to increase public awareness and harness political support and leadership to combat TB.

Uganda commemorates World Health Day 2018

Dr Henry Mwebesa (left) and Dr Yonas (right in blue shirt) view a an ambulance that is used locally to transport patients to health centers in Luweero district

7 April 2018, Luweero:- Uganda commemorated World Health Day on 7th April 2018 at St Kizito Primary School, Makulubita Sub-county in Luwero district under the theme “Universal Health Coverage: everyone, everywhere”. At the same function, WHO’s 70th anniversary was also marked with the Acting Director General of Health Dr Henry Mwebesa and WHO Representative Dr Yonas Woldemariam planting trees in recognition of that milestone.