Infographics

Freetown, Sierra Leone – Christiana Kamara, 43, is one of four women who recently underwent life-saving surgery for early-stage invasive cervical cancer in Sierra Leone. A mother of four, her story reflects the personal and health system challenges many women in the country face, but also, the increasing availability of effective care close to home.

“It started with some sharp pain, especially during sex,” Christiana says. “Then I noticed weight loss and a reduction in my body size. That’s when I became really concerned.”

Leribe – To address the severe impact of parasitic worm infections on children's health, nutrition, and education, the Ministry of Health in Lesotho, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has initiated steps to re-establish its Mass Drug Administration (MDA) program for Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) through the annual administration of albendazole tablets to target both preschool-aged children (1–5 years) and school-aged children (6–15 years).

Kampala, Uganda. The Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) convened a high-level national policy dialogue to mark the conclusion of the health system strengthening project for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) in Busoga sub region. The dialogue provided a platform to assess progress, share lessons, and chart the way forward for RMNCAH in Uganda.

Freetown, Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone has taken another step forward in strengthening national capacity for cervical cancer care through the successful completion of a second round of complex surgical procedures for women diagnosed with early-stage invasive cervical cancer.

Addis Ababa – To address gaps in sexual and reproductive healthcare access,

Namibia is intensifying efforts to end preventable maternal and child deaths through strong leadership, robust data systems, and continuous quality improvement. In 2023, the country released the second edition of its National Guidelines for Reviewing and Responding to Maternal Deaths, Near Misses, Stillbirths, and Neonatal Deaths. These guidelines inform the work of the National Maternal Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Review Committee (NMSNDRC), which analyses avoidable deaths and recommends corrective measures to improve outcomes.

Juba - In line with this year’s theme marking the World Blood Donor Day celebrated on 14 June the South Sudan National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) conducted several activities. With support from World Health Organization (WHO) and the Red Cross, NBTS organized a blood donation campaign and drive to raise awareness of the life-saving role of blood and plasma donation and to encourage regular donation from first-time and long-term donors.

Bo district  - Sierra Leone has entered a critical phase in strengthening its pandemic preparedness and response capacities, officially flagging-off the operationalisation of the Pandemic Fund. This milestone signals the country’s continued commitment to protecting communities and contributing to global health security.

In the Angolan province of Huíla, where the Serra da Leba rises like a poem carved in stone and the mountainous plateau borders Namibe, home to one of the oldest deserts in the world, dozens of unsung heroes rise every dawn with a noble mission: to save lives from cholera.