^{_{By Vivian Mugarisi}}

Zanzibar -The World Health Organization in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, has trained 56 rapid responders in Zanzibar to effectively respond to public health emergencies in the islands and beyond. This is part of the effort to ensure that each African country is equipped with knowledge and skills to respond to public health emergencies within 24 to 48 hours of an incident.

Dar es Salaam - Active participation of the local communities is key to promoting community ownership and commitment towards addressing negative practices that favour the spread of diseases. World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health are working together to empower key community groups living in affected regions by the recent cholera outbreak in Tanzania with appropriate sanitation and hygienic skills and advocacy messages to prevent and respond to the outbreak.

The Government of the Republic of Zambia has renewed its commitment to end Obstetric Fistula as a public health problem in the country by the year 2030. On May 23, 2023, Zambia commemorated the International Day for Elimination of Obstetric Fistula (IDEOF) under the theme, “20 Years on - Progress but not enough! Act Now to End Fistula by 2030.” It was at the same event that the Ministry of Health officially launched the National Obstetric Fistula Strategic Plan for the period 2022 to 2026. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) donated an assortment of emergency and essential medicines and medical supplies totaling 19.5 metric tons (MT) to the Afar Region of Ethiopia. 

The medicines and medical supplies, estimated to be worth over USD 135,000, will benefit more than 400,000 individuals in various woredas impacted by disease outbreaks and ongoing humanitarian situations. 

The medicines and medical supplies include 222 modules of Trauma and Emergency Kit (TESK), Interagency Emergency Health Kit (IEHK), and Malaria and Measles supplies.

Mary Ukuach Deng, 34 years old and her three little children on a Tuesday morning awoke to a rattling sound of gunshots at her residence of Hai Mayo in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. It began a long rough journey to safety for Deng with her family. Deng, among others, was forced to flee to her country of origin, South Sudan, by the intense fighting in Khartoum.

Abuja, 22 May, 2023 - At least 64% of children ages 12 to 23 months in Nigeria failed to receive all recommended vaccines by the National Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the last five years, from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS). 
The development is increasing the risk of outbreaks and child mortality due to vaccine-preventable diseases.