Improving emergency care for sick children

Photo of a nurse attending to Moses while Ebie looks on. The child's health has improved considerably due to the quality of care he received at the hospital

Ebie Williams brings her grandchild, Moses, to the main government hospital in Kenema. She enters the hospital barefoot, having rushed from her home, in tears. She tells how the child fell into terrifying convulsions before finally losing consciousness.

Community engagement contributes to control of acute watery diarrhea in Ethiopia’s Somali region

A WHO/UNICEF Risk Communication team member explains AWD prevention and control to health workers and residents of Gabo Gabo Kabele using pictorial posters (Photo: Ms Tseday Zerayaco)

After months of prevention and response activities by the Government of Ethiopia, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, the acute watery diarrhea (AWD) outbreak in Somali Region is showing signs of decline. Intensified risk communication, effective surveillance, and improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and case management contributed to the decline. 

The East African Regional Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and Incident Management Training Workshop kicks off in Tanzania

High level briefing in session
In today’s connected world, health insecurity is a global issue. We must all protect ourselves, and each other, from threats like infectious diseases, chemical, and radiological events. On hundred and ninety six countries including Tanzania have agreed to work together to prevent and respond to public health crises, in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR (2005)).

WHO supports a Multi-sectorial call for ‘Non-Communicable Diseases Action’ in South Sudan

Dr Riek Gai Kok Hon Minister of Health addressing the participants

31 July 2017, Juba South Sudan - The World Health Organization in collaboration with the Ministry of Health recently convened the first high level multi-sectorial Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) meeting for South Sudan attended by about 65 senior representatives from line government ministries, Civil Society, Non-governmental Organizations, academia, UN organizations and the private sector. An urgent ’Call for Action on NCDs Prevention and Control’ was endorsed in Juba, South Sudan by those representatives attending this meeting.

Nigeria’s Polio Laboratory Passes WHO Accreditation

Dr Gumede-Moeletsi at the Ibadan Lab.

Ibadan, 31 July 2017-The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) has declared the Ibadan Polio Laboratory fully accredited to continue performing its duties as a National Polio Laboratory for Nigeria.

WHO in collaboration with partners strengthens Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to protect children from vaccine preventable diseases in South Sudan

Melisachew Adane WHO Consultant making a presentation
Despite the ongoing crisis in the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to support the Ministry of Health of South Sudan and implementing partners to deliver immunization services and conduct disease surveillance activities across the country. Routine immunization and disease surveillance are key health interventions highly affected by the ever changing country context as they demand more logistics and human resource.

Best Practice: Tanzania ramps up surveillance to tackle threat of polio

Sensitization of community members on the signs and symptoms of AFP
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis. In the event of a polio outbreak, it is important that all countries, in particular those with frequent travel and contacts with the affected countries and areas, strengthen surveillance for Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) cases in order to rapidly detect any new virus importation and to facilitate a rapid response.

South Sudan marks World Hepatitis Day 2017

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South Sudan has joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Hepatitis Day under the theme “Eliminate Hepatitis” on 28 July 2017, at the University of Juba, college of medicine.

WHO participates in a forum on effective interventions to reduce harmful use of alcohol

WHO National Health Promotion Officer, Eugene Mahlehla, presenting on effective interventions to reduce harmful use of alcohol

South Africa’s alcohol consumption rate is very high, with the country ranked as one of the top 10 most drinking nations in the world. Most education and awareness campaigns have been initiated to curb liquor abuse but have not had the kind of impact required. This, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), highlighted a need to debate and exchange knowledge and experiences on effective and impactful education and awareness campaigns to address the problem of liquor abuse in South Africa.