WHO Representative discussed national health priorities with His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Mauritius

WHO Representative discussed national health priorities with His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Mauritius
It was a real honor and pleasure for the WHO Representative to meet the new President of the Republic of Mauritius. The WHO Representative, Dr A. Ancia and His Excellency Mr D. Gokhool covered the three main areas of WHO’s work: to promote, provide and protect health and well-being for everyone, everywhere. Our common understanding of Health as a socio-economic construct said enabled us to discuss the imperative to engage all sectors in addressing the risk factors of, and controlling the most prevalent diseases in Mauritius including: 1. Promoting healthy diet and physical activity, while reducing the high consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs and “junk food” in a multidisciplinary manner and ensuring that we particularly empower the Mauritian youth to embark on healthier behaviors for disease prevention; 2. Providing opportunities for systematic screening and early diagnostic to ensure early and more effective treatment, for the chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, to ensure better health outcomes and avoid overwhelming of the health facilities and health professionals; and 3. Enhancing and institutionalizing the whole country capacities to prepare, early detect and warn, and to respond effectively and swiftly to public health emergencies in the same way as when dealing with torrential rain and cyclones. “We feel this first encounter with His Excellency Mr D. Gokhool is the starting point of a strong partnership with the Office of the President in our mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable”,said Dr A. Ancia.

Measles and rubella vaccination campaign protects children in Lunda Norte

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Maria da Graça, who lives in the municipality of Chitato, remembers with sadness one of the most difficult moments in her life. In 2024, her eldest daughter, then four years old, fell ill with measles. "It started with a fever, then the spots appeared. She became very weak. I was afraid I was going to lose her," says Maria, her eyes watering. Although her daughter survived, the disease left deep scars and a fear that never left her.

Helping drug users return to a healthier lifestyle through harm reduction approach

Helping drug users

Maiduguri, 28 April. 2025 - Getting medical help to stop using illicit drugs saved my life, said 41-year-old *Aliu Musa from Maiduguri, Borno State. (*name changed for privacy).

Aliu abused drugs for 15 years. This affected his work, relationships, and health. “My life was a mess. I was informed that I talked and behaved irrationally anytime I was under the influence of drugs. 

When I was on drugs, I was constantly in pain, couldn't think clearly or do my daily tasks," Aliu said. 

Rwanda’s Swift Response to the Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak: Exemplary Coordinated Partnerships in Action

Essential supplies delivered to support the response

In September 2024, Rwanda experienced its first-ever filovirus outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease, a severe and often fatal illness with case fatality ranging between 24% to 88%. The outbreak was officially declared on 27 September 2024 following investigations into a cluster of unexplained illnesses and deaths in Kigali. The situation posed a formidable public health challenge, with healthcare workers among the most affected, highlighting critical gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) measures within healthcare settings.

Ghana Charts Bold New Path for Health Workforce Transformation

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With a health workforce density that has more than doubled in the past two decades — rising from 16.56 to 41.92 per 10,000 people — Ghana continues to make important strides toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). But in spite of these strides, serious challenges persist. Many qualified professionals remain unemployed due to fiscal constraints. Others, including experienced specialists, are leaving for opportunities abroad. At the same time, underserved areas continue to experience critical shortages.

Botswana conducts Global Fund grant closeout missions ahead of next funding cycle

A team comprising members from the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), Botswana Country Coordinating Mechanism (BCCM), Global Fund Program Management, and WHO Botswana
A team comprising members from the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), Botswana Country Coordinating Mechanism (BCCM), Global Fund Program Management, and WHO Botswana undertook closeout missions for the Global Fund’s Grant Cycle 6 (GC6), which began on the 10th of February 2025 in Maun and Francistown, respectively. These missions were conducted to assess accountability, review program outcomes, and evaluate implementation efficiency, as the country prepared to transition to Grant Cycle 7 (GC7), scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2025.

Immunization outreach gains ground in Zimbabwe

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Kadoma—Nine-year-old Mavis* from rural Sanyati was looking forward to a joyful December holiday, filled with games and laughter with her siblings. But those plans came to an abrupt halt when she woke up one morning unable to walk.

Panicked and unsure of what to do, her family turned to their faith, seeking a miracle at a local church. After two weeks of fervent prayers but no improvement, church leaders advised her parents to seek medical help.