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Botswana has ramped up its commitment to malaria elimination, convening a critical workshop in Palapye from December 16–20, 2024, to finalize the National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) for 2025–2029. Supported by WHO Botswana, the five-day workshop brought together health experts, policymakers, and key stakeholders to develop a roadmap for achieving malaria-free status by 2029. Dr.

Luanda - On 11 January 2025, WHO took part in a high-level meeting convened by the Minister of Health at the General Hospital of Cacuaco to address Angola’s cholera. WHO commended the Governments actions to effectively coordinate a multisector team, timely detect and respond to the outbreak including promptly sharing information with all relevant authorities in compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

A campaign aimed at vaccinating over 300 000 people against cholera has commenced in the hotspot county of Rubkona, Unity State in a vital step to curb the ongoing outbreak, bringing the total number of counties where the vaccination campaign has been conducted nationwide to four.

Kampala. On 20 September 2022, Uganda declared an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), with the first confirmed case identified at Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. Over the course of the outbreak, 164 cases were reported, including 142 confirmed and 22 probable, resulting in 77 deaths and 87 recoveries. The outbreak, which spread across nine districts, posed one of Uganda’s greatest public health challenges in recent years. However, on 11 January 2023, Uganda declared the outbreak over – in record time of 69 days.

Kampala. As Uganda faces an ongoing mpox outbreak, the response is prioritizing innovation and inclusivity, particularly given the disease's disproportionate impact on Key Populations (KPs) such as sex workers and their networks. These marginalized groups, often subjected to stigma, discrimination, and limited access to healthcare, are at greater risk during public health emergencies.

In the Busoga region of eastern Uganda, the fight for survival has long been a daunting challenge for mothers and their children. With one of the highest institutional maternal mortality rates in the country – 93 deaths per 100,000 institutional deliveries compared to a national average of 82.7 (Ministry of Health Annual Health Sector Performance Report 2023/2024)– the urgency to act is undeniable. For years, families have grappled with a broken emergency referral system, where the lack of resources and infrastructure has turned preventable complications into tragedies.

Nimba, Liberia – Fifty Liberian professionals have successfully completed a one-month AVoHC-SURGE training program designed to strengthen the country's capacity to respond to public health emergencies. This collaborative effort, spearheaded by the Liberian government with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the Canadian government, aims to bolster the country’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies.