Ethiopia is facing one of its most severe humanitarian crises in recent history, with millions of lives at risk due to widespread hunger, disease outbreaks, conflict, and climate-related challenges. As the situation continues to deteriorate, urgent action is needed to prevent further suffering and loss of life.

Over 4000 women, children and vulnerable communities received access to essential health care services through a targeted outreach programme in Kunene and Omaheke regions thanks to the generous support of the Government of Japan to WHO Namibia and the Ministry of Health and Social Services.  The outreach program spanned over a 12-month period and aimed to increase access to quality health care for vulnerable populations through enhanced outreach health services to reduce preventable deaths and inequities in affected regions and communities.
 

Dar es Salaam – Health experts from across Africa, policymakers, civil society organizations and partners meeting for the first-ever conference on strengthening efforts to address the burden of severe chronic disease have called for increased recognition of the emergency presented by noncommunicable diseases and the premature deaths they cause.

Banjul, The Gambia - In a poignant celebration marking World Malaria Day, WHO Gambia joined hands with the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and other key stakeholders to underscore the ongoing battle against malaria. Held at the National Malaria Control Programme complex in Kanifing, the event, themed "Advancing Health Equity, Gender Equality, and Human Rights," focused on the critical need for equitable malaria services amidst the disease's resurgence globally.

Brazzaville – A pioneering health investment charter, a first for the African region, is set to be launched at the African Health Workforce Investment Forum which will take place in Windhoek, Namibia from 6 – 8 May 2024. Key stakeholders will gather to consolidate efforts to drive up investment to counter critical health worker shortages.

Cotonou/Freetown/Monrovia — In a significant step forward for malaria prevention in Africa, three countries—Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone—today launched a large-scale rollout of the life-saving malaria vaccine targeting millions of children across the three West African nations. The vaccine rollout, announced on World Malaria Day, seeks to further scale up vaccine deployment in the African region.

Antananarivo, 24 April 2024 – A high-level delegation of the Global Polio Elimination Initiative (GPEI) is in Madagascar to support the country in strengthening routine immunisation while combatting a polio outbreak in the country.

Brazzaville—An estimated 51.2 million lives have been saved through vaccines in the African region over the past 50 years. For every infant life saved over that period, close to 60 years of life are lived, a new report by World Health Organization (WHO) finds.