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Accra, Ghana – A tragic explosion that levelled the entire village of Appiatse in Ghana’s Western region in January 2022, taking the life of Grace Essien’s* husband, literally halted life as they knew it for her and their three children.

Traumatized and grieving, the 30-year-old recalls feeling like her world had ended. “That was one of the most difficult times in my life. I was so devastated that, even after a few weeks, hearing any sounds at all was just driving me crazy.” 

Accra, Ghana - Addressing gender barriers and inequities in access and use of health services has been identified as a key to accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly universal health coverage as enshrined in SDG three.

In a significant stride towards strengthening global health security, Zambia successfully concluded its second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of the International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities, using the cutting-edge JEE 3.0 tool on 6 October 2023. The comprehensive assessment was conducted from 2 to 6 October 2023 at the Radisson Blu in Livingstone, by twelve external evaluators lead by Dr Allan Mpairwe of the WHO Regional Hub.  

The Ministry of Health has convened a National After-Action Review AAR meeting to reflect on the response to the recent Cholera outbreak. The aim of the review is to share lessons, challenges, and document best practices to improve public health emergency response.

Malinga Elizabeth, a mother of 2, has been one of the key players in Uganda's drive to improve the health of its population. For 37 years, she worked alongside the WHO Country Office as Personal Assistant to the WHO Representative and Human Resources Assistant.

"I joined WHO when I was only 26. Full of curiosity, I never knew I was going to spend most of my professional life there. Says Elizabeth Malinga, "Today, as I retire, I am happy to know that I have contributed to the improvement of the health system in Uganda.

^{By Vivian Mugarisi}

Since 2019, WHO has been supporting Ghana in deploying a web-based platform for monitoring quality Adolescent and Youth Friendly Health Services (AFYHS) standards. The platform, which has been deployed to 43 schools in four regions aims to empower adolescents to actively participate in monitoring the quality of healthcare services specifically designed for their needs. 

The United Nations 13th All Africa Games held in Swakopmund, Namibia on 22-23 September 2023 brought together competitive athletes and sport fanatics from across 10 African countries  for a thrilling display of talent, sportsmanship, and unity. This remarkable two-days event showcased the power of sports in fostering international cooperation and celebrating the rich diversity of African cultures.