As of 22nd April 2021, 83% (883 out of 1060) of health workers in both public and private health facilities in Tororo district, had received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine which provides protection against severe COVID-19 disease, hospitalization, and possibly death in some instances. This is a resounding success considering that in many districts, the exercise has been hindered by hesitancy, even among health workers leading to poor coverage. 

Worldwide, COVID-19 has overwhelmed the health systems and caused widespread social and economic disruptions. The WHO and The Republic of Korea are the latest to handover donations of lifesaving equipment and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test kits for COVID-19 response. The materials were officially handed over to Honourable Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health (MOH) by WHO Representative, Dr Desta Tiruneh on 26 April 2021.

26 April 2021 — Eighty-four (84) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 5324 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases twenty-four thousand, six hundred, and seventy-seven (24677). To date, twenty-three thousand, and five (23005) patients have recovered, including sixty-four (64) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one thousand, three hundred, and forty-two (1342) and three hundred and thirty (330) deaths. 

Gaborone, 27 April 2021: Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) through the National Health Laboratory (NHL) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) country office, conducted on 30-31 March and 12-16 April two training sessions on quality improvement programmes for the staff working at the National Health Laboratory. The programme is financially supported by the EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) project on COVID-19 response.

Port Harcourt, 27 April, 2021 - The World Health Organization Country Representative Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo has made his first visit to Rivers State Government House to meet with His Excellency, Governor Nyesome Wike on 26 April 2021.

South Africa has a national clinical guideline for implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act from 2019. However, there was a need to have one standard national training materials as different institutions are using different training materials. As we know, capacity building of health workers is a key activity to increase the number of health workers and improve their skills and attitude towards SRHR and particularly abortion- related services and SRHR services for underserved groups.

25 April 2021 — Fifty-eight (58) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4341 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases twenty-four thousand, five hundred, and ninety-three (24593). To date, twenty-two thousand, nine hundred, and forty-one (22941) patients have recovered, including seventy-five (75) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one thousand, three hundred, and twenty-two (1322) and three hundred and thirty (330) deaths. 

As the COVID-19 vaccination gains momentum in various districts of Uganda, financial, material, human, and logistical resources are becoming increasingly scarce due to the prolonged nature of the pandemic. However, innovative health workers have continued implementing mitigating measures to ensure the COVID-19 vaccination exercise succeeds in the low-resourced environment.

Banjul - The Gambia commemorates the World Malaria Day (WMD) under the theme, “Zero Malaria- Draw the Line Against Malaria.” The Gambia is one of six countries in World Health Organization African Region that have achieved the 2020 milestones of reducing malaria cases and deaths by 40% compared to 2015. This was declared at a media briefing held to commemorate the WMD 2021 on 23rd April 2021. This achievement ensues while the country is still fighting COVID-19 pandemic.