Gombe, 4 July, 2024 -- In a strategic move to address the growing concerns of drug abuse and its associated health risks, Gombe State has launched a comprehensive harm reduction program for people who inject drugs (PWID). 

This initiative, backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and several key partners, aims to provide critical support and services to mitigate the health risks associated with drug use by reducing the spread of infectious diseases, like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), viral hepatitis and other blood-borne infections.

Harare – In response to the alarming rates of maternal mortality caused by Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH), Zimbabwe is adopting the World Health Organization (WHO) E-MOTIVE approach, a pioneering strategy proven to save lives in low-resource settings. Postpartum hemorrhage remains a leading cause of maternal death globally, responsible for a quarter of all such deaths annually.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated five motorbikes to support Guinea worm disease surveillance and elimination activities in Ethiopia's Gambella region. These motorbikes will be used to intensify efforts in the endemic districts of Gog and Abobo woredas.

The handover ceremony, held on Thursday, June 20th, 2024, at the regional Health Bureau, highlighted WHO Ethiopia's ongoing commitment to eliminating Guinea worm and other neglected tropical diseases.

Renewed Collaboration to Achieve Eradication

Damaturu, 1 July, 2024 - The first time Amina Tijani (name changed) 17 years old, visited the Women and Children Health Facility in Damaturu, Yobe State, she looked around anxiously and was unsure whether she could share her experience or not. Reassured by the friendliness of the health worker who promised her complete privacy, Amina was able to share her story about her abuse. 

“I was asleep when I felt the inappropriate touch. I began struggling and crying, begging him to stop. But he was much stronger and raped me, she says in a shaky voice. 

Sierra Leone's youths have emerged as pivotal ambassadors in the fight against tobacco use, with enhanced awareness and advocacy skills aimed at resisting the influence of the tobacco industry. Their growing involvement is key in protecting their health, wellbeing, and making informed decisions about tobacco consumption.

Two rounds of polio vaccination campaigns were conducted using novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in Tigray region of Ethiopia to prevent transmission and circulation of variant polio viruses. Round one campaign was conducted from 23 - 28 April 2024 in 79 accessible woredas, while second round was from 10 - 15 June 2024 followed by a mop-up vaccination for two days.

World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia Office supported the catchup activities as part of the 2024 African Vaccination Week (AVW) implementation with a motto “Attention to zero doze and under vaccinated children”. Nearly an estimated 194,246 zero dose children were identified from the IDPs community in five regions of Ethiopia including Amhara, Tigray, Somali, Oromia and Afar region.

To interrupt the ongoing poliovirus transmission and protect children from childhood paralysis, the Ministry of Health, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, GAVI, CDC, BMG, Rotary International, and other strategic partners in the fight against polio, is conducting the second round of the polio vaccination campaign from June 28 to 30, 2024.  

Sierra Leone has made tremendous strides in breastfeeding and has not only reached but surpassed the 2025 WHO global target of 50% for exclusive breastfeeding. According to the 2021 Sierra Leone National Nutrition Survey, the exclusive breastfeeding rate stands at 52.7%.