Measles is a highly infectious viral disease caused by a Morbillivirus. It only affects humans and rapidly spreads among individuals who have not been vaccinated. It is also the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among children worldwide.

Accra, 28 April 2016 - The national cholera prevention campaign was launched on 28 April 2016 at Agbogbloshie in Greater Accra Region of Ghana.  The Prevention Campaign supported by WHO, USAID/Global Communities, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health targets to reach all people and communities across the country.

Kampala 28th April 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Uganda hosted a WHO/Center for Disease Control (CDC) meeting to discuss on-going WHO/CDC collaborative work.

The meeting was attended by WHO Country office staff led by the Country Representative as well as CDC staff led by their Country Director Dr. Steven Wiersma and Dr. Michael St. Louis, the CDC/Atlanta Regional Director for Africa.

Port Harcourt, 28 April 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative (WR), Dr Rui Gama Vaz is in Rivers state to meet with His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike and engage the political leadership in strengthening health systems and for the attainment of   the Organization’s reform agenda.

Bulambuli 26th April 2016 - Uganda, like over 100 countries introduced the Inactivated Polio Virus (IPV) vaccine into its immunization programme. The introduction precedes the formal switch from tOPV to bOPV scheduled for Friday April 29, 2016 to be implemented in public and private health facilities. 

Lira, 27th April 2016 - Uganda commemorated the 10th World Malaria Day 2016 at the Golf Course grounds in Lira District under the theme “End Malaria for Good”, calling on the communities to Test, Treat and Track malaria cases.  The choice of Lira district to host the commemorations was based on the fact Lira District is one of the 14 districts implementing Indoor residual Spraying (IRS) using carbamates; derived from carbamic acid and kill insects in a similar fashion as organophosphate insecticides.  However, in effort to manage insecticide resistance, anoth

Ethiopia launched emergency measles vaccination campaign on Friday April 22, 2016 targeting over 500 drought affected hot spot woredas in 10 regions (except AA) which includes Gambella; Benishangul Gumuz, Oromia, Amhara, SNNPR, Tigray, Afar, Somali, Dire Dawa and Harari.

Monrovia, 25 April 2016 - The WHO Regional Director for the Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti called upon all African countries to sustain gains and strengthen immunization coverage to reach the unreached communities. This was disclosed during the regional launch of the African Vaccination Week (AVW) under the theme “Close the Immunization gap: Stay Polio Free” in Ganta, Nimba County in Liberia.

26 April 2016, Geneva - As efforts to bring an outbreak of yellow fever in Angola under control continue, WHO is reminding all travellers to the country that they are required to receive the yellow fever vaccination and to have a valid certificate of vaccination to prove that they are protected from the disease and to prevent its further spread.

The Ministry of Health, with support from partners launched the house to house polio National Immunization Days (NIDs) on Friday, 22nd of April, 2016 to vaccinate under five (0 – 59 months of age) children at national level. More than two years have passed since the onset of paralysis of the last case of WPV in January 05, 2014 and Ethiopia is currently polio free and this continued effort is to re-enforce country’s polio free status.