Five regions in Ethiopia conducted- Polio vaccination with nOPV2 vaccine to reach over 5.6 million children

Five regions in Ethiopia conducted- Polio vaccination with nOPV2 vaccine to reach over 5.6 million children

Ethiopia conducted a polio vaccination campaign in five regions (Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Addis Ababa, and Sheger City of Oromia Region) with type 2 novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) targeting over 5.6 million aged below five years aiming to prevent transmission & circulation of variant poliovirus outbreaks. The campaign was officially launched by the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), World Health Organization (WHO) and other GPEI polio partners in Semera, Afar.

Reactive measles vaccination campaign in Ethiopia reaches over 1.7 million children

Reactive measles vaccination campaign in Ethiopia reaches over 1.7 million children

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with technical and financial support of partners including WHO and UNICEF, conducted a measles outbreak response vaccination campaign in four outbreaks affected regions of Amhara, Gambella, Oromia and South Ethiopia. The national cumulative administrative coverage showed that a total of 1,707,039 children under ten years (from 6 months - 10 years) were vaccinated during this measles reactive campaign.

South Sudan mounts a nationwide polio vaccination campaign: a massive push towards stopping the ongoing outbreak

A health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child in Juba

Juba, 11 November 2024: A nationwide campaign aimed at vaccinating 3.3 million children from 0 to 59 months of age against polio launched in South Sudan using the novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2. 

The campaign led by the Ministry of Health, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners, is in response to the confirmation of 12 cases of circulating variant poliovirus across eight counties in Western Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Upper Nile, and Jonglei States. 

Ghana to Host Regional Simulation Exercise to Boost Outbreak Preparedness and Response Capacity

To strengthen regional readiness for infectious disease outbreaks, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), Médicins sans frontières (MSF), and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), will lead a comprehensive simulation exercise in Ghana from November 11 to 15, 2024. This joint initiative, with participation from Ghana and other selected African countries, will support capacities for public health emergency preparedness and response by deploying innovative rapid-response health facilities capable of effectively managing high-risk outbreaks.

WHO, Africa CDC support 17 countries to develop mpox vaccination plans

WHO, Africa CDC support 17 countries to develop mpox vaccination plans

Brazzaville – World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) experts gathered in Brazzaville this week with country representatives and partners to provide guidance for the development of targeted mpox vaccine preparedness and deployment plans to ensure that available doses are used efficiently.

Advancing Road Safety Through the Enhancement of Data Quality

Front line from left to right: Celia Kaunatjike, WHO Namibia, Mr Eugene Tedekule, Executive Director, National Road Safety Council, Mr Jonas Sheelonog, Deputy Executive Director, Ministry of Works and Transport, Hon. Dr Ester Muinjangue, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Banda, WHO Namibia Representative, Mrs Binta Sako, WHO AFRO, Dr Kacem Iaych, WHO Geneva

Renowned for its excellent road infrastructure, Namibia has been a leader on the African continent in road safety, aligning its vision with the global decade of action on road safety. However, the high death toll on the Namibia roads is a stark reminder that good roads are not sufficient to ensuring road safety. A comprehensive strategy is essential, including ongoing enhancements in road and vehicle design, strengthening of laws and their enforcement, and ensuring timely emergency care for the injured.

Uganda’s Bold Move: Phasing Out Mercury in Healthcare for a Safer Future

inception meeting for phasing mercury out of Uganda's health care

Kampala. Uganda’s Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) organized a stakeholders’ inception meeting in Kampala for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project on phasing out mercury-containing devices in Uganda’s healthcare settings. 

WHO Equips Journalists to Spotlight Critical Health Insights from 2023 Ghana's STEPS Report

Group picture of participants of the training and facilitators
In public health, data serves as a critical foundation for understanding challenges and making informed decisions. Without clear, accurate information, it’s difficult for individuals and communities to take meaningful action, and policymakers to devise and implement effective solutions. Recognizing this need, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Health, organized a media training ahead of the Ghana STEPS Survey 2023 report launch to ensure its findings are communicated to Ghanaians in accessible and impactful ways.