Ghana kick starts polio vaccination campaign

WHO Representative Ghana Dr. Francis Kasolo, administering polio vaccine to a child to kick start the immunization campaign

The Government of Ghana, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), has rolled out a polio vaccination campaign, targeting children under five years across all 16 regions of Ghana. This follows the confirmation of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in the country from two acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases; one each from North Gonja District in Savanna Region and West Mamprusi in North East Region.

WHO boosts capacity for critical care in Zanzibar

Acting WHO Country Representative, Dr. Zabulon Yoti handing over the oxygen concentrators to the Deputy Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender and Children of Zanzibar

Zanzibar - Oxygen is the most critical medicine for people with severe COVID-19, yet its supplies are unstable in many countries. Without a significant investment in oxygen infrastructure, those whose illness is severe and who cannot access oxygen will die.

Improving midwifery capacity and standards to curb death of mothers and babies

Over 70 maternal and child health experts from around the world have concluded a meeting in Freetown aimed at improving midwifery education. The body of experts included health authorities of Sierra Leone, Malawi, Bolivia, Pakistan and Congo, WHO and other global health partners. Their deliberations focused on finding workable strategies that will help strengthen the quality of midwifery education and training with the to improve standards that will help curb preventable death of mothers and newborn babies.

Improving midwifery capacity and standards to curb death of mothers and babies

Cross section of participants
Over 80 maternal and child health experts from around the world have concluded a meeting in Freetown aimed at improving midwifery education. The body of experts included health authorities of Sierra Leone, Malawi, Bolivia, Pakistan and Congo, WHO and other global health partners. Their deliberations focused on finding workable strategies that will help strengthen the quality of midwifery education and training to improve standards that will help curb preventable death of mothers and newborn babies.

Tanzania rolls out third round of polio vaccines

Proud children after receiving their polio vaccine

A third round of polio vaccination for all children under five is underway in Tanzania. In this campaign Tanzania targets to vaccinate 12,386,854 under fives from 1—4 September in all 31 regions and 195 districts of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

The Ethiopian National Influenza Laboratory gets recognized as a WHO National Influenza Centre

The Ethiopian National Influenza Laboratory gets recognized as a WHO National Influenza Centre

Following an on-sight assessment by a team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Influenza Laboratory of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) has been recognized as a World Health Organization (WHO) National Influenza Centre (NIC) and joined the WHO global influenza surveillance network. The on-site assessment was performed by a WHO team composed of the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Lead, a technical specialist from the WHO Regional Office for Africa, and a laboratory coordinator from the WHO Ethiopia Country Office.