With an estimated 300,000 children in north-eastern Nigeria suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), health and nutrition specialists in three states have undertaken an intensive World Health Organization (WHO) training on how to treat SAM with medical complications. Currently, there is limited capacity to treat such cases in the region. 

No longer ashamed
Mr. Tchazimon Essohanani, 58, is a father of six and principal of a secondary school in Bebeda, 35 km east of Kara, Togo’s second biggest city. 
Essohanani recalls that in 2009, his scrotum and testicles, for no apparent reason, suddenly began to grow bigger and bigger, causing him to suffer embarrassment, shame and frustration due to the stigma. “I have 592 pupils in my school. Everywhere I went, I could ‘feel’ that all eyes were on the bulging part of my trousers. Very often, my wife asked me questions to which I had no answers,” he says.

Victoria, Seychelles, 16th May 2017 - The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Centre for Disease Dynamics Economics and Policy in South Africa (CDDEP) hosted a 3 day workshop from 8th to 10th May 2017 to discuss strategies to fight anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in the country.

Lilongwe 15 May: The World Health Organization country office in Malawi handed over equipment to the College of Medicine and the Welcome Trust. The equipment will be used by the two research institutions to collect data for the WHO Multi-Country Survey (MCS) on abortion related morbidity.

10 May 2017

On 25 April 2017, the Ministry of Health of Liberia notified WHO and partners of a cluster of sudden deaths of unknown aetiology in Sinoe County. The event began on 23 April 2017 when an 11-year-old child was admitted to hospital presenting with diarrhoea, vomiting and mental confusion after attending a funeral on 22 April 2017.

As of 9 May 2017, a total of 31 cases including 13 deaths have been reported.

13 May 2017

On 9 May 2017, WHO was informed of a cluster of undiagnosed illness and deaths including haemorrhagic symptoms in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province in the north of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), bordering Central African Republic. Since 22 April, nine cases including three deaths have been reported. Six cases are currently hospitalized.

KINSHASA, 13 May 2017 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti today visited Kinshasa (DR Congo) to discuss with national authorities and partners ways to mount a rapid, effective and coherent response in order to stop the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

Juba, 10 May 2017 - Despite intense insecurity, WHO and partners have delivered urgently needed supplies and services  as part of the UN convoy to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Lainya, South Sudan where the situation has deteriorated as a result of the conflict.

Calabar, 10 May 2017- The World Health Organization (WHO) and other development partners are calling for the reinforcement  of global best practices in the training and recruitment of midwives across Nigeria to fast-track efforts aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality.

12 May - Mbabane: The Kingdom of Swaziland joined the rest of Africa in commemorating the 7th Africa Vaccination Week (AVW) under the theme “Vaccines Protect Everyone, Get Vaccinated”. The week long commemoration was launched by the Honourable Minister of Health, Senator Sibongile Ndlela-Simelane represented by the Deputy Director of Health Services, Ms Rejoice Nkambule. The launch was held in Hosea Inkhundla, a “hard to reach” area in the Shiselweni Region.