WHO and the Government of Japan establish a port health facility at Juba International Airport to enhance public health security in South Sudan

Dr Fabian Ndenzako, the WHO Representative a.i. for South Sudan during the handover ceremony at Juba International Airport

17 September 2021, Juba -  to improve capacity for coordination and communication to mitigate the risk of cross-border spread of disease and other public health threats, WHO with support from the Government of Japan has established and handed over a port health facility at the Juba International Airport to the Ministry of Health in South Sudan.

WHO Botswana commemorates World Patient Safety Day in Maun

Health Workers including nurses and matrons during the World Patient Safety Day commemorations

The World Health Organization (WHO) in Botswana and the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) commemorated the World Patient Safety Day 2021  "Safe maternal and newborn care" by organizing activities in Maun, which, with a population of 55,784 people is the fifth-largest town in the country.

Cholera outbreak-WHO supports Niger State to strengthen sanitation systems 

The Secretary to the Government of Niger State (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, and members of the state Sanitation Steering committee

Minna, 17 September, 2021 - Most people do not know what happens to their excreta when they flush the toilet or passed it out into the environment. But, for some houses in Niger state municipal, the sewages are broken down or blocked leading to improper disposal of untreated human waste into the environment.

WHO holds health systems strengthening dialogue with private sector

WHO holds health systems strengthening dialogue with private sector

WCO Lesotho held a one-day dialogue with private health service actors with the ultimate objective to strengthen health systems in Lesotho through the Access to COVID19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) programme.

The ACT-A programme funded by the Canadian government is a novel initiative that brings together governments, scientists, businesses, civil society, philanthropists and global health organisations to address COVID-19 challenges and help protect everyone from the virus and its impact.

Africa faces 470 million COVID-19 vaccine shortfall in 2021

Africa faces 470 million COVID-19 vaccine shortfall in 2021
As the COVAX Facility is forced to slash planned COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to Africa by around 150 million this year, the continent faces almost 500 million doses short of the global year-end target of fully vaccinating 40% of its population. This shortfall comes as Africa tops 8 million COVID-19 cases this week.   

Guinea declares end of Marburg virus disease outbreak

Guinea declares end of Marburg virus disease outbreak
Guinea today declared the end of the Marburg virus disease outbreak having recorded no new cases over the past 42 days—two incubation periods, or the time between infection and the onset of symptoms. The virus was confirmed on 9 August, marking the first time the disease emerged in the country and in West Africa.

Ghana launches National Breastfeeding Week

Breastfeeding mother

The World Health Organization has joined the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and partners to launch the 2021 National Breastfeeding Week celebration under the theme, Protect Breastfeeding: A shared responsibility. 

This year’s event will focus on raising awareness and galvanizing action on protecting breastfeeding to improve public health. The week-long celebration will be marked with a call on stakeholders to make investments and commitments to support actions aimed at reducing   malnutrition amongst newborns, infants, and young children in Ghana.