Noma: a deadly Neglected Tropical Disease that should not exist

 A nurse dressing the sore on the face of a patient suffering from Noma (photo credit Ogbeide

Sokoto, 31 January, 2024 - At age 6, Shamudeen Umaru’s (name changed) face was severely disfigured by noma, a life-threatening disease that primarily affects children under the age of 10. 

“The disease started suddenly with a toothache and within a few days, his face had been destroyed. This affected his eating and drinking because most of the food and water poured out from his mouth’’, said Shamudeen’s mother,  Fatima Umaru, from Munwadata, Lela Ward, Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria. 

World Health Organization Partners with Universidade Agostinho Neto to Strengthen Health Education and Research in Angola

Protocol signature between WHO and UAN

22nd January 2024 marks a momentous day for health and education in Angola, as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This event headed by the WHO Acting Representative in Angola, Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, and UAN's Rector, Professor Dr. Pedro Magalhães, symbolizes a significant stride in enhancing health education, research, and the strengthening of Angola's health system.

The first-ever shipment of the RTS,S malaria vaccine arrives in Liberia

The first-ever consignment of the RTS,S malaria vaccine arrives in Liberia

Monrovia – The Ministry of Health of Liberia, in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), today announced the arrival of 112 000 doses of the RTS,S malaria vaccine – the first ever in Liberia. 

TB Laboratory Strengthening:

Group photo of the 5th review meeting of the TB-LAB regional project
The Annual Tuberculosis (TB) Laboratory Project workshop with National TB Reference Laboratory managers from 23 countries in West and Central Africa, 11-13 December 2023. The main objective was to take stock of activities carried out within the framework of the TB Laboratory project.

Cameroon kicks off malaria vaccine rollout

Cameroon kicks off malaria vaccine rolls out

Yaoundé – Cameroon today launched the RTS,S malaria vaccine into its routine national immunization services, becoming the first country to do so outside the malaria vaccine pilot programme that was carried out in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. The introduction comes as efforts gather pace to scale up vaccination against the disease in high risk areas in Africa.