Infographics

WHO, UNICEF urge safe school reopening in Africa

The unprecedented and prolonged school closures aimed at keeping students safe from COVID-19 are harming them in other ways, World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF said today, urging governments in Africa to promote the safe reopening of schools while taking measures to limit the spread of the virus.

Update COVID-19 18 August 2020

18 August 2020 — Thirty-seven (37) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4326 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to two thousand, five hundred, and seventy-seven (2577). To date, one thousand, six hundred and eighty-three (1683) patients have recovered and been discharged, including twenty-two (22) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is eight hundred and eighty-four (884) and ten (10) deaths. The new deaths occurred today are two Rwandans of 45years and 55years old.

WHO provides technical support to government on maternal and perinatal data surveill...

Abuja, 18 August, 2020 - The World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), has established a national database to collate and monitor the successes and death rate of maternal and perinatal cases in the Nigerian health sector.

Known as the Nigeria Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity, and Dignity (MPD-4-QED), the programme  is a standardized electronic platform for the collection, collation, and audits of routine maternal and perinatal data in tertiary level facilities nationwide. 

Update COVID-19 17 August 2020

17 August 2020 — Eighty-seven (87) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4018 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to two thousand, five hundred, and forty (2540). To date, one thousand, six hundred and sixty-one (1661) patients have recovered and been discharged, including thirteen (13) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is eight hundred and seventy-one (871) and eight (8) deaths.

WHO Regional Director introduces Surge Team of Experts to South African Government

The Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, on 14 August introduced the first phase of the surge team of WHO health experts, deployed to support South Africa's COVID-19 response management, to a high-level delegation from the government. The experts were welcomed at a reception which included WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus (virtually), South African Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize, Deputy Health Minister Dr Joseph Phaahla and Director-Deneral of health, Dr Sandile Buthelezi as well as the WHO Country Representative Dr Owen Kaluwa and Resident Coordinator of the UN in South Africa, Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas.

New malaria innovative project shows promise

A promise of lowering malaria infection rate is evident in communities that benefit from phase two of the China-Tanzania Malaria project in Kibiti, Kilwa and Rufiji districts in Coast Region of Tanzania. Malaria is endemic in the three districts in the lower reaches of the Rufiji. More than 269,000 people are direct beneficiaries of the project.

The country office of the World Health Organization is the technical evaluator of the project, which is part of the global High Burden High Impact Initiative to roll back malaria.

Update COVID-19 16 August 2020

16 August 2020 — A hundred and one (101) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4796 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to two thousand, four hundred, and fifty-three (2453). To date, one thousand, six hundred and forty-eight (1648) patients have recovered and been discharged, including seventeen (17) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is seven hundred and ninety-seven (797) and eight (8) deaths.

South Sudan strengthens the capacity of health care workers to improve COVID-19 case...

Juba – to establish optimal capacities for effective COVID-19 patients care, the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) trained over 350 health care workers in the 10 states and 4 prioritized COVID-19 locations in South Sudan.

The training aims to build the capacity of health workers for COVID-19 Case Management and emergency response in the context of COVID-19 and enhance understanding of the heightened risks and provide adequate knowledge and skills on infection prevention and control.  

Update COVID-19 15 August 2020

15 August 2020 — Fifty-nine (59) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 5569 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases to two thousand, three hundred, and fifty-two (2352). To date, one thousand, six hundred and thirty-one (1631) patients have recovered and been discharged, including twenty-seven (27) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is seven hundred and thirteen (713) and eight (8) deaths.