Kenya’s chance for Guinea Worm FREE status

Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Cleopa Mailu (centre) launches the International Certification mission to certify Kenya Guinea Worm free. He is accompanied by WR Kenya Dr Rudi Eggers, 4th left, chairman of the team Dr Joel Breman, 5th left, and part of the rest of the team

December 1, 2017                                                              
Kenya may be certified Guinea Worm free if the country meets the requirements set by the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm) Eradication (ICCDE).

Canada and WHO strides to improve maternal and child health in South Sudan

The delegates opening the maternity complex in Yambio.

Juba, 29 November 2017: “I believe I gave birth successfully because I came to the hospital and followed all the advice given to me,” said Nyangouk Dot a thirty-four-year-old mother who came to the Kuajok maternity complex in early labour.

Fully aware of her previous losses at birth, the midwives at the maternity complex immediately admitted and managed her condition.  The seven months’ pregnant mother gave birth to a healthy baby boy and smiled to the doctors and midwives who have been attending to her regularly during her admission at the hospital.

The World Health Organization supports the Ministry of Health to strengthen efforts to eliminate Viral Hepatitis in South Sudan

Cross section of participants in groups validating the draft practice guidelines. Photo: WHO

Juba 23 November: The fight against viral hepatitis is gaining momentum in South Sudan. The government with technical support from WHO, has embarked on a long and treacherous journey to eliminate viral hepatitis in the country. WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and experts from Universities, medical specialists, public health professionals from MoH, and partners validated the draft practice guidelines for health professionals as well as the draft National plan to combat viral hepatitis.

Encounters with plague: tracing and preventing infection

Plague contact tracing in Madagascar
In Madagascar, where a severe plague epidemic has unfolded since August 2017, the number of new infections is finally in decline. WHO is supporting health authorities to respond to the outbreak, from setting up specialized plague treatment units in health centres, to distributing medicines across the country. A particularly effective action has involved training teams to find people who have been in contact with a plague patient – a system known as "contact tracing" – to help ensure these contacts are protected from falling sick themselves.

Government of Sweden and four UN agencies announce new Joint Programme to boost efforts to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and to end AIDS

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This World AIDS Day, December 1, the Government of Sweden, together with the regional offices of UNFPA, UNAIDS, UNICEF and WHO, announces the start of a USD45 million Joint United Nations (UN) four-year Regional Programme to reduce unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), new HIV infections, maternal mortality and sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) across East and Southern Africa.

The Kingdom of Swaziland dedicates November to diabetes

The Honourable Minister of Health and the WHO Country Representative join community members in dance

29 November, Mbabane: The Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland dedicated the whole month of November to Diabetes awareness, with a special focus on women in line with the World Diabetes Day 2017 theme: “Women and diabetes - our right to a healthy future”.

WORLD DIABETESE DAY 2017 COMMEMORATED IN THE GAMBIA

DPC and PS at the High Table

The Gambia joined the International Community in observing World Diabetes Day, commemorated on 14 November every year. The activity was organized by the Gambia Diabetes Association (GDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH&SW) and the WHO Country Office (WHO), hosted by the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) Headquarters in Kanifing. The day started with a march pass involving members of GDA, volunteers and civil society groups.