Tendaba, The Gambia – May 2026 – For many people in The Gambia, seeking help for mental health conditions is not always easy. In rural areas especially, access to specialized services often means travelling long distances, facing financial constraints, and overcoming stigma that discourages open discussion of mental health.

Malawi is institutionalizing quality of care in all its programmes and the delivery of essential health packages at all levels of health care within the Health Sector Strategic Plan III 2023-2030. With support from the World Health Organization WHO, 29 districts institutionalized quality of care using WHO adapted quality-of-care network technical resources, an upgrade from the existing 9 learning districts.

Malawi is among the pathfinder countries under the Health Data Collaborative (HDC) and the SDG 3 Global Action Plan—global efforts that bring together governments, international agencies, donors, and academia to improve coordination, strengthen health data systems, and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have taken a decisive step in the fight against polio with the launch of a synchronized vaccination campaign on the Luvu border, as part of a coordinated response to a public health problem that continues to threaten thousands of children in the region.

Lusaka, Zambia – The World Health Organization (WHO) in Zambia with assistance from WHO headquarters, and the Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) is supporting preparations for a national survey that will assess health system performance, with a particular focus on the availability and affordability of essential medicines for neurological and mental health conditions.

Katsina – Before the sun rises over Bangel Gabas settlement in Katsina State, Amina Abubakar begins her day. Carrying her three month old son in a traditional striped cloth, she slips her immunisation card into the fold of her dress and starts walking towards the PHC.

The path to the Primary Health Care (PHC) centre in Debe Geri is sandy and uneven. The journey takes nearly an hour each way. With no reminders or announcements, her commitment alone drives her to ensure her child receives essential immunisation services.

Lusaka, Zambia – As countries in the region respond to ongoing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, Zambia continues to take proactive steps to strengthen its preparedness and response capacity through targeted investments in surveillance, digital tools, and pandemic planning.

Kagera — In a busy maternity ward at Kabyaile Health Centre in Misenyi District, Kagera Region, Happiness Kokuhumbya Tibaijuka, a midwife with 12 years of experience, begins her shift by checking on women in labour, monitoring progress and preparing for deliveries. But today, her work is different from just a few years ago.

“I used to rely on tools that were not always easy to follow. Now, with the Labour Care Guide, I can clearly track what is happening and act quickly when something is not right,” she says.

Ghana has taken a significant step towards transforming its health system with the launch of a joint programme by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), funded by the Government of Japan through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS). The initiative will harness artificial intelligence (AI) to improve health outcomes, strengthen system resilience, and protect vulnerable populations.

WHO Team, led by the WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Fiona Braka visited the Ashanti Region to engage with key actors in the health sector and gain firsthand insight into how the health system is functioning, from leadership structures to service delivery at the community level.