Sierra Leone successfully completed a nationwide Measles and Rubella (MR) Supplementary Immunization campaign, achieving 99% coverage of the targeted population, according to administrative data. This campaign, which focused on children aged 9 to 59 months, resulted in the vaccination of 1,336,845 children. Notably, the campaign also identified and vaccinated 16,132 zero-dose children who had previously missed out on essential vaccinations. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kintu* are among the few medical personnel that contracted Ebola virus disease while in the line of duty in 2022. Fortunately, the timely and aggressive medical care that they received while admitted in the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) coupled with mutual support saved their lives.

Benguela, Angola, July 9, 2024 — The World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Katyavala Bwila (UKB) in Benguela celebrated a significant milestone today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing health research, organising capacity-building health activities, and improving strategic decision-making through better information sharing.

Angola faces a generalized Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic, with sexual transmission being key to its spread. According to the Demographic Health Indicators Survey (2015/16), the HIV prevalence rate in the general population 15-49 years is 2% and is higher amongst women. 

Since November 2021, in Amhara region of Ethiopia has faced a severe humanitarian crisis. This crisis is driven by internal armed conflict, multiple disease outbreaks, and the adverse effects of climate change, leading to both drought and floods. The situation has further deteriorated with an upsurge of cross-border influx due to conflict in the neighboring Sudan.

Kadoma – During an active cholera outbreak, compiling and reporting high quality data on suspected cases – such as age, sex, location, symptoms onset, laboratory test results and treatment response - is crucial. This provides decision-makers with timely and accurate information to guide the cholera response.

Poliovirus surveillance is one of the key pillars of the global poliovirus eradication effort. The primary system to detect poliovirus transmission is surveillance for polio cases among individuals with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), supplemented by environmental surveillance (ES).

In October 2008, Namibia was certified polio free and continued to maintain its polio free status since then. However, the country remains at high risk of importations of vaccine derived polio viruses (VDPVs) and other vaccine preventable diseases due to sub-optimal immunization coverage.

Juba, 5 July 2024 – Dr Humphrey Karamagi, the newly appointed World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for South Sudan, presented his letter of credentials to Hon. Ramadan Mohamed Abdallah Goc, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.