First COVID-19 COVAX vaccine doses administered in Africa

First COVID-19 COVAX vaccine doses administered in Africa
As the global rollout of COVAX vaccines accelerates, the first COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in Africa using COVAX doses began today in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. These campaigns are the among the first to use doses provided by the COVAX Facility’s Gavi COVAX Advanced Market Commitment (AMC). 

A Teacher’s tale of COVID-19 Stigmatization and WHO’s Invaluable Assistance

Addressing the community members about COVID-19

Edrine Mukalazi a teacher of Literature and English at Insula Secondary School in Kitasiba village in Kyotera district about 60km from Kyotera town on the Mutukula highway has a stunning experience with COVID-19 infection he will never forget. A positive test result and the consequent mandatory isolation made him a village pariah and he nearly starved to death.

Update COVID-19 27 February 2021

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

27 February 2021 — One hundred and thirty-six (101) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4162 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases eighteen thousand, seven hundred and ninety (18790). To date, seventeen thousand, three hundred, and two (17307) patients have recovered, including five (5) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one thousand, two hundred, and twenty-two (1222) and two hundred, and sixty-one (261) deaths. 

Update COVID-19 26 February 2021

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

26 February 2021 — One hundred and thirty-six (136) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4163 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases eighteen thousand, six hundred and eighty-nine (18689). To date, seventeen thousand, three hundred, and two (17302) patients have recovered, including twenty-three (23) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one thousand, one hundred, and twenty-nine (1129) and two hundred, and fifty-eight (258) deaths. 

WHO launches first Mass Casualty Management (MCM) training in Addis Ababa

WHO launches first Mass Casualty Management (MCM) training in Addis Ababa

WHO Emergency Medical Team (EMT) in collaboration with WHO Academy held the first Mass Casualty Management (MCM) training course in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on February 8–11, 2021. The training was facilitated in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH) and WHO Ethiopia.  Thirty-one healthcare workers drawn from federal, regional, and private hospitals participated in the training.

Update COVID-19 25 February 2021

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

25 February 2021 — One hundred and ten (110) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 4425 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases eighteen thousand, five hundred and fifty-three (18553). To date, seventeen thousand, two hundred, and seventy-nine (17279) patients have recovered, including fifteen (15) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is one thousand, and sixteen (1016) and two hundred, and fifty-eight (258) deaths. 

Mauritius launched the Maternal Child Health Handbook to improve Mother and Child Health

Launching of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook to improve the health of Mothers and Babies by Dr Hon K. K. Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness in the presence of Regional Health Directors, Director General Health Services and WHO Representative in Mauritius, Dr Laurent Musango
Port Louis.  The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Honorable Kailash Kumar Jagutpal launched the Maternal Child Health (MCH) handbook on 24 February 2021 at the Caudan Arts Centre, Port Louis, in the presence of Director General Health Services, Regional Health Directors, the Permanent Secretary and Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius.   This important tool will allow for systematic recording of personal health data for the mother during pregnancy and for the child since birth up to until the age of 5. The production of this handbook is one of the recommendations of the National Roadmap Framework for Maternal and Child Health launched last year by the country with two important goals.  First, to reduce morbidity and mortality among children under five years to one digit in the next 5 years and secondly, to reduce perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality rate. The MCH handbook, being a good source of information and knowledge on care during pregnancy and early childhood, will also guide healthcare professionals in dispensing the appropriate care to mothers and babies. 12000 copies of the MCH Handbook produced in close collaboration with WHO will be distributed to mothers attending the antenatal clinics across the island. 

Update COVID-19 24 February 2021

COVID_19 Update Rwanda

24 February 2021 — One hundred and eighteen (118) new COVID-19 cases were identified out of 5252 samples tested today. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases eighteen thousand, four hundred and forty-three (18443). To date, seventeen thousand, two hundred, and sixty-four (17264) patients have recovered, including thirteen (13) in the past 24 hours. The number of active cases is nine hundred, and twenty-five (925) and two hundred, and fifty-four (254) deaths. 

COVID-19 patients on admission receive Dignity Kits from WHO

Dr Kasolo handing over items to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr Kwabena Boadu Oku-Afari

The World Health Organization Ghana has donated 6000 Dignity Kits valued at GHS 447,300.00 to the Ministry of Health to be distributed to the various COVID-19 treatment centers across the country. 
Presenting the items, the WHO Country Representative for Ghana, Dr. Francis Kasolo said he was confident that the supplies would go a long way in helping admitted COVID patients perform basic daily activities.  
Each dignity kit contains personal effects such as toothpastes, sanitary packs for women, soap, toiletries, comb and hairbrush.

West African countries ramp up Ebola preparedness

West African countries ramp up Ebola preparedness
As Ebola immunization scales up in Guinea, the country’s neighbouring nations are on high alert, urgently preparing to detect, isolate and manage any cases and quickly stamp out potential cross-border outbreaks.