WHO’s support to the response of the acute watery diarrhoea outbreak in Ethiopia’s Somali Region

WHO surge team holds daily morning meetings
The Government of Ethiopia, through the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners is responding to an outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) in Amahara, Oromia, SNNP and Somali regions. To support the government’s response implementation, WHO has deployed surge teams of experts in surveillance, case management, WASH, nutrition, risk communication, administration and logistics to the affected regions to support implementation of response activities. Logistical supplies including vehicles, medicines, case management protocols, laboratory reagents, treatment kits and other materials have also been provided. Below is a kaleidoscopic view of activities in Somali region.

WHO scales up cholera response with 500 000 doses of oral cholera vaccine for vaccination campaign in South Sudan

WHO receives 500 000 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine for a planned campaign in South Sudan. WHO South Sudan/L. Luwaga.

Juba, South Sudan, 19 July 2017: The World Health Organization (WHO) received 500 000 doses of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) on 17 July 2017. WHO is working with the Republic of South Sudan’s Ministry of Health and partners to scale up cholera vaccination campaign from 28 July to 3 August 2017. 

Cumulatively, a total of 17 785 cholera cases including 320 (CFR 1.8%) deaths have been reported from 24 counties in South Sudan since the outbreak in June 2106.

WHO report finds dramatic increase in life-saving tobacco control policies in last decade

Dramatic increase in tobacco control policies

19 July 2017 – In a new report published today, WHO finds that about 4.7 billion people, or 63% of the world’s population, are covered by at least one comprehensive tobacco control measure. Strategies such as graphic pack warnings, advertising bans, and no smoking areas have saved millions of people from early death – yet the tobacco industry continues to hamper government interventions.

Zambia hosts the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) review meetings on the status of implementation of immunisation and surveillance plans and the WHO performance accountability framework

Participants at the meeting with the WHO Representative, a.i., Dr. Custodia Mandlhate (centre ), Director Public Health at MOH, Dr. Kennedy Malama (right) and IST ESA IVD Cluster lead, Dr. Daniel Fussum (left)
The WHO Country Office in Zambia in collaboration with the Ministry of Health is hosting the immunisation and surveillance plans review and feedback meeting from 17-19 July 2017 and the review meeting on the status of implementation of the WHO performance accountability framework from 20-21 July. These meeting have been convened by the WHO Inter-country Support Team (IST) for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) following the development of surveillance and immunization improvement plans and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the WHO performance accountability framework by countries. During this meeting, the countries will also conduct mid-year review of their operational Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) and surveillance plans. The overall aim of the meetings is to identify lessons learned and challenges in order to address them in the remaining months of the year.

5 places where WHO needs more emergencies funding to help people now

A nutritionist does MUAC screening as part of the organisation’s contribution to mark the UN Day

To help people living in some of the world’s most dire emergency situations, WHO relies on funding from Member States. In 2017, WHO has asked for US$ 547 million to deliver health services to more than 66 million people in 28 countries. However, to date, WHO has received less than a quarter of the funds required. Without a significant increase in funding, the health of millions of people will be neglected and many will die needlessly.

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WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and health partners strategizes efforts to combat cholera in South Sudan

WHO and partners conducting an assessment at Don Bosco Gumbo Oral Rehydration Point

Cholera contributes substantially to the disease burden in South Sudan, where outbreaks have been confirmed every year since 2014. Thus, cholera is endemic in South Sudan and requires an integrated and comprehensive approach that entails surveillance, patient care, optimal access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); social mobilization and complementary use of oral cholera vaccines.

Stakeholders Flag-off critical campaign in final onslaught against polio.

Sokoto, 08 July 2017 - Governors, Legislators, the Sultan of Sokoto, Government functionaries and Development partners on 8th July 2017 converged in Sokoto state to flag-off the July 2017 round of Sub-National Immunization Days (IPDs) campaign. The symbolic occasion was a unique opportunity to demonstrate collective commitment in the final battle against the poliovirus in Nigeria.