Maputo – The Africa Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication (ARCC) has advised Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, together with health partners, to urgently address gaps in polio immunity in order to prevent outbreaks. This recommendation follows a week of intense discussions between partners, countries and ARCC members in Maputo, Mozambique, from 31 October to 3 November 2023, on the response to ongoing polio outbreaks in the region.

The South African National Department of Health (NDOH), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), initiated the establishment of a network of Public Health Emergency Operating Centers (PHEOCs) at national and provincial levels on 2-3 November 2023.

By Vivian Mugarisi

Abuja, 31 October 2023 ‒ When his seven-year-old brother Jubrin was diagnosed with diphtheria in July 2023, Aminu Dayyabu Alharini had never heard of the disease, the latest outbreak of which has claimed more than 500 lives in Nigeria.

Following the diagnosis, Jubrin was immediately transferred from the health facility near their home in Alharini settlement, in Kano State, Nigeria, to a specialist hospital after he suddenly developed a high fever following two days of complaining of a sore throat.

To reduce the increasing number of zero dose children in the Eastern Cape Province, the National Department of Health, planned a four-day Zero Dose training program for the province, fully funded by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, from 26-29 September 2023.

Uganda has one of the best emergency preparedness and response systems in Africa. This is the finding of the second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) exercise that assessed the country's capacity to detect, prevent, and respond rapidly to public health emergencies in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005).

Dar es  Salaam- The raise in frequency and severity of health emergencies make integrated management of human and animal health important. More than 70% of emerging infectious diseases have an animal origin, transmitted directly, through food or via the environment.

The Ministry of Health, WHO, and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the National Laboratory Strategic Plan for Botswana. The Strategic Plan holds the promise of numerous benefits for the country. It aims to modernize and upgrade laboratory infrastructure to better standards, ensuring the safe and efficient handling of samples. By expanding and improving diagnostic services, Botswana will be better equipped to detect, diagnose, and manage diseases promptly.

Brazzaville/Istanbul – In a first of its kind, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa’s Pathways to Leadership for Health Transformation Programme this week gathered experts from three of the Organization’s regional offices to equip them with crucial skills on health leadership to help bolster individual and organizational efforts towards a stronger future for global health.

Entebbe, 24th – 27th October 2023 - The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) has completed a four-day Africa regional preparatory meeting for the 10th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 10) to the WHO FCTC and the 3rd meeting of the parties to the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products (MOP3).