Namibian Head of State Visits the informal settlements affected by the Hepatitis E outbreak

The President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency Dr Hage Geingob addressing the community of Havana informal settlement while the WHO Country Representative Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses looks on

The President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency Dr Hage Geingob accompanied by the Honorable Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Benhard Haufiku, visited the epicenter of the Hepatitis E outbreak in Havana settlement.    During his visit the President stressed the importance of community ownership in maintaining sanitation facilities constructed for their use and responsibility to maintain both personal and environmental hygiene.

Tanzania prepares to provide vaccination against cervical cancer

Participants during the microplanning workshop

Dodoma, 22—24 January 2018: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Yet, because of poor access to screening and treatment services, the vast majority of deaths occur in women living in low- and middle-income countries. Cervical cancer is a consequence of a long-term infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).

Plateau State Governor commends WHO’s leadership in Nigeria’s health sector

Plateau Deputy Governor welcoming WR to the Government House

Jos, 26 January 2018 - His Excellency, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State says the World Health Organization (WHO) occupies a central position in the development of the health system in Nigeria and improvement of the health status of the population.
The Governor, who made the statement when he received the WHO Country Representative at the Government House, said WHO’s timely provision of technical and logistic support to health programmes, assists in no small measure towards meeting government’s health agenda.

Remote Nigeria communities welcome child health programme

Miriam, a community health worker, diagnoses a sick child and provides treatment medicines/ Photo: WHO/C. Kane
Integrated community case management (iCCM) is a cost-effective strategy that engages community health workers living in hard-to-reach areas to diagnose and treat 3 deadly but curable illnesses: malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea.

Major stakeholders review MoU on Routine Immunization progress in Borno and Kano states 

01 Borno state Governor and WR

Abuja, 31 January 2018 - With a view to improving routine immunization (RI) services, major stakeholders including the Executive Governors of Borno and Kano states, World Health Organization (WHO)  Representative  to Nigeria, Mr Bill Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote converged separately in Maiduguri and Kano on 29 and 30 January 2018 respectively to review RI performance in 2017. 

WHO urges Karonga District Health Office to intensify Cholera outbreak interventions in identified risk areas of the district

Poor sanitation and hygiene are factors fueling the Cholera epidemic in Karonga district
The World Health Organization country office in Malawi conducted an assessment of cholera outbreak control efforts in Karonga district between 18 and 19 January 2018. The WHO mission’s major finding was that the District Epidemic Response Committee under the leadership of the District Health Officer, Dr Phinias Mfune was effectively managing all the partners who were present in the district supporting cholera control activities. “We conduct weekly coordination meetings at the District Counsel chamber. The main aim of the coordination meetings is to ensure that we share information about who is doing what, where and when. In addition, the coordination meetings help us identify gaps in terms of drugs and supplies like chlorine for water treatment, intravenous fluids, personal protective equipment, financial and human resources” Dr Mfune informed the WHO mission during a courtesy call.

Advancing neglected tropical disease elimination in Sierra Leone

Onchocerciasis, or 'river blindness', is a vector-borne disease spread through the repeated bites of infected blackflies

FREETOWN, January 15 2018 --- With support from WHO, Helen Keller International and partners, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation is advancing efforts towards the elimination and control of onchocerciasis, or 'river blindness'. The country has also launched its revised five-year National Action Plan (2016-2020) for Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) elimination.