Abuja, 22 August, 2022 - Targeting universal immunization, the government of Nigeria through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, on 22 August 2022, introduced the rotavirus vaccine into  Routine Immunization (RI) Schedule. 

The introduction of the vaccine into the RI programme is in recognition of the magnitude of rotavirus-related diarrhoea disease and the immunisation programme aims to avert over 50,000 children's death from the disease annually. 

By Tatenda Chimbwanda

Kadoma, Zimbabwe – National Action Plans (NAPs) are essential tools used by governments to address the global threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR).   NAPs provide a framework of sequence of actions to align activities of different stakeholders in different sectors toward one large goal of mitigating AMR.

Addis Ababa - The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) national laboratory accredited by the World Health Organization (WHO) to continue operating its duties as a National Polio Laboratory for Ethiopia. The laboratory-maintained its accreditation since 2001 though the onsite accreditation was not conducted for the past two years due to the pandemic. 

Kaduna, 19 August 2022 - When health workers took the Tuberculosis (TB) testing outreach to Rigasa community, Kaduna State, Rabi Umaru, a 37-year-old housewife, did not need much convincing to get tested. 

She had been coughing for two weeks but had not visited any health facility because of lack of funds. 

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Uganda’s Ministry of Health, has commenced a five-day training for 29 emergency responders from five African countries. Held from 15th to 19th August 2022 the training aims to build regional capacity to respond to the unpredictable nature of outbreaks of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in the region.

Hailu Sabagadis, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Officer at WHO Ethiopia, and his team in Benishangul Gumuz Region have been regularly providing onsite and remote technical support to multiple healthcare facilities in the region. Hailu assesses and monitors the facilities' IPC capabilities and proper implementation of COVID-19 and other infection prevention activities.

Meemuna Sadam* is a public health expert in the Somali Region in Ethiopia. Together with her colleagues, she raises awareness and provides education on female genital mutilation (FGM) to communities and also conducts advocacy actions targeting religious leaders. 

Meemuna is also a victim of FGM. “I was only six years old when they cut and sewed me up. The pain was unbearable; I still remember the fear, pain and abandonment I felt.” In the Somali region of Ethiopia, girls usually experience FGM between the ages of 5-10 years.