In Kigoma Region, a quiet but important change is transforming the fight against tuberculosis (TB). People who are suspected to have TB are now getting accurate results within hours instead of days. This means they can start treatment much earlier, recover faster, and reduce the risk of spreading the disease to others.

Maseru—To mark World TB Day, the World Health Organization supported the Ministry of Health in launching rapid, community-led tuberculosis (TB) screening campaigns across all districts. Guided by the global theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Led by countries, powered by people,” the initiative brought residents together for free testing, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to early detection, treatment, and reducing TB-related morbidity and mortality.

Zimbabwe continues to take important steps towards strengthening its health system and ensuring that quality services reach all communities across the country. In late February 2026, a high-level delegation of the Ministry of Health and Child Care conducted a joint mission to several health facilities in Matabeleland South Province to better understand progress on the ground and identify opportunities for improvement.

Dar es Salaam— The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania today launched a subnational polio vaccination campaign in the Lake Zone targeting over 6.7 million children the country. 

This is following the detection of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) through environmental surveillance. This campaign underscores Tanzania’s strong commitment to protecting every child and sustaining its polio-free status, built on resilient health systems, high-performing immunization programs, and decisive government leadership.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — March 2026 The World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia Country Office played a decisive role in the rapid containment of the Ethiopia ’s first-ever Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak, successfully interrupting transmission within a short period and enabling the official closure of the outbreak on 26 January 2026. The achievement marks a major milestone in Ethiopia’s public health response and demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated, multi-level emergency operations.

Kampala, Uganda: Uganda has taken a significant step in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) following the handover of 300 WHO AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) antibiotic books to the National Drug Authority (NDA). The support comes at a time when the country, like many low and middle-income nations, continues to grapple with rising resistance to commonly used antimicrobials, a trend that threatens decades of medical progress.

Dodoma — The 25th Joint Annual Health Sector Technical Review Meeting (JAHS‑TRM) took place from 17–18 March 2026 in Dodoma, bringing together Government leaders, development partners, non‑state actors and the private sector to review health sector performance for 2025 and set priorities for the 2026/27 financial year. The meeting was held under the theme “Accelerating achievement of Universal Health Coverage through Transformative Leadership, Accountability and Digital Innovation in Ensuring a Healthy Society.” It was chaired by Prof.

Just three years ago, Malawi faced a daunting challenge. A wave of emergencies including COVID-19, cholera, cyclones, floods, and even a wild polio virus outbreak that strained the health system. Immunization rates dropped, and thousands of children missed critical vaccines. Behind these numbers were real stories, of fathers that are unaware of the importance of vaccines, and of cultural norms that hindered women from seeking health care services.

For years, Malawi’s Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) laboratory has served quietly but decisively as the national hub for confirming measles and rubella cases. Its work underpins the country’s immunization programme validating suspected outbreaks, guiding vaccination campaigns, and helping health teams distinguish local transmission from imported cases. Until recently, this essential laboratory operated under provisional WHO accreditation, reflecting both its commitment and the journey still ahead to meet every global standard.