Dar es Salaam: Tanzania’s National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) has achieved full accreditation for measles and rubella testing, marking a major milestone in global health efforts. This accreditation allows the lab to independently conduct and report tests, becoming a pivotal member of the WHO laboratory network.

This was affirmed in an onsite assessment led by World Health Organization (WHO) with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI).

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), the evidence-based approach to protecting patients and healthcare workers from avoidable infections, is universally recognized as one of the cornerstones of a safe and effective health care delivery system. Thorough implementation of IPC practices not only reduces the risks of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), it also restricts the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is emerging as a global health threat.

Mutare - Every year, countries in the African Region report over 100 infectious disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.  To effectively address these challenges, the implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategies is crucial. IDSR provides a framework for strengthening national public health surveillance and response systems at all levels, from the community to the national level.

Zanzibar- In a landmark event underscoring its commitment to bolstering public health infrastructure and technical capacities, Zanzibar with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS). This comprehensive five-year strategy aims to fortify the island's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies, drawing on insights from the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities.

It is a bustling morning at the Nyabahinga market, in Burera District in Rwanda. The place is alive with music blasting and loud voices of sellers calling for customers and haggling prices. In a distinct quiet corner, a simple table stands out, manned by young people dressed in white lab coats. Curiosity draws one person after another to find out who these people are until the music is suddenly interrupted.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), has provided financial and technical support to medical students from the Medical Student Association of Rwanda (MEDSAR) to build their capacity in evidence generation and use. Through a learning by doing approach, 50 medical students were trained in how to conduct operational research by developing research protocols, data collection, data cleaning, analysis and report writing.

Brazzaville/Dakar — In a significant move to combat the ongoing challenge of variant poliovirus transmission in Central and West Africa, Ministers of Health from the Lake Chad Basin countries and Sahel sub-region have published this week a comprehensive cross-border coordination plan for 2024/2025. This critical initiative aims to bolster joint efforts to eradicate polio and prevent its spread across national borders, ensuring a safer and healthier future for millions of children.

Maiduguri, 14 September, 2024 –Following severe flash floods that displaced thousands and caused significant damage across multiple communities in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, pledged the organization’s unwavering support to those affected.