29-year old Alpha* is among the first patients treated for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Sierra Leone. According to him, the journey to treatment success at the Lakka Government Hospital in Freetown was “long and rigorous,” but one that would restore his life and dignity. 

In early January, John had one of the most terrifying experiences of his life. The mechanic from a rural community in Edo state in southern Nigeria came down with Lassa fever.

“I was scared the illness would kill me,” says John, who prefers to go by a pseudonym.

Initially, he went to a hospital near his home and was discharged a few days later. But he was still feeling unwell, so he consulted another doctor who suspected Lassa fever.

Juba, 15 March 2018 – Access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in health care facilities (HCFs) is essential for the provision of quality care.

In South Sudan, WASH in HCFs is one of the neglected areas within the health systems. Thus, establishing WASH in HCFs is crucial to prevent the risks of health care acquired infection among health care facility staff, patients, caregivers and the wider community.

Abuja, 15 March 2018 - “When I received the confirmation of the first case of Lassa fever and request by  Nigeria Center for Disease Control to coordinate the contact tracing pillar of the outbreak, nothing prepared me for the tasks ahead other than my work in polio eradication, knowing that another responsibility beckons,”  said Mrs Faith Ireye, WHO State Coordinator in Edo state.

Zanzibar, 13-15 March 2018: Today, we are challenged by a variety of epidemics and health emergencies. A robust health system that is effective, inclusive and a well-coordinated multisectoral approach is essential to protect human and animal health; and ensure national development goals are not adversely affected by public health threats.

Dar-es-Salaam, 12-13 March 2018: The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) in collaboration with WHO and the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) convened a consultative meeting of experts to develop the Malaria Operational Plan (MOP) for the year 2018/19. The MOPs are developed on an annual basis to review the progress made in the implementation of the previous years’ activities, identify gaps in malaria implementation and prioritize for the subsequent years’ interventions.

Maiduguri, Nigeria, 13 March 2018—The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are supporting health authorities to respond to a new cholera outbreak in Borno State. Borno State Ministry of Health has detected more than 500 suspected cases, 23 of which are confirmed by laboratory culture testing including 3 deaths. Authorities declared the outbreak on 8 March.