Senegal reports first COVID-19 case

COVID-19
Senegal today reported its first case of COVID-19, becoming the fourth country in Africa to confirm the virus. The patient is a French national and a resident of Senegal who returned to Dakar on 26 February.

Ministry of Health evaluates its emergency response capacity from lessons from the November 2019 upsurge of Lassa fever cases in Tonkolili District

L-R: the Director of Health Security and Emergencies, the Chief Medical Officer of the Mnistry of Health and Sanitation and the WHO Country Representative in Sierra Leone
In November 2019, a health care associated Lassa Fever infection in Tonkolili District led to the onset of cases of the disease and death including healthcare workers. The event occurred when two patients presented at the Masanga Hospital with fever and other complications and were treated for their conditions but subsequently died. The cause of their deaths proved to be Lassa Fever, which later spread to three other people including healthcare workers with one additional death

Making school environment healthy and conducive for learning in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has commenced the process of developing a National School Health Policy and Strategy to create a safe, healthy school environment for learning with the aim to improve social inclusion and sustainable human capital development. The process is being coordinated by an interministerial core group led by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The World Health Organization in collaboration with other United Nations agencies are providing strategic technical assistance to the government for the development of these national documents with funding from the British Government through DFID.

Nigeria targets nearly 12 million in Yellow fever vaccination across two high risk States

01 Children displaying YF cards as proof of vaccination

Abuja, 28 February 2020 – Determined to protect the country against an outbreak of Yellow fever, the Government of Nigeria with support of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is launching a Yellow fever preventive mass vaccination campaign to commence in Rivers State on the 28 February 2020, aimed at reaching nearly 12 million persons in Rivers and Anambra States.

WHO reaffirms commitment to support Nigeria in response to COVID19

A cross section of the press conference

Abuja, 28 February, 2020 - Following the confirmation of the COVID19 (novel Corona Virus) case in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has reassured the country that government is putting efforts to urgently control and contain the situation. 

Nurses’ and midwives’ critical role to the provision of health services in the Seychelles strongly articulated at the launching of the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife”

Group photo of delegates at the launching ceremony

Seychelles 21 February 2020 - Nurses and midwives are the backbone of every health system. They account for 50% of the global health workforce, their roles diverse from devoting their lives to caring for mothers and children, giving lifesaving immunizations and health advice and looking after all age group including the older people. They are often, the first point of care in the communities. However, the nursing’s contribution to the achievements in health has received limited recognition to date.

New Cancer Cases on the decrease in Mauritius

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Hon. K. K. S. Jagutpal handing over a copy of the National Cancer Registry Report 2018 to Dr L. Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius
New cancer cases are on the decrease in Mauritius.  According to the National Cancer Registry Report 2018, released on the occasion of the World Cancer Day 2020, new cancer cases have decreased by 3.3% in 2018 as compared to 2017. The three most common types of cancer among females are breast cancer, colorectal and ovaries cancers while prostate, colorectal and lung cancers are more prevalent among males in Mauritius.  There were 2380 new cancer cases, that is, 959 among males and 1421 among females in 2018 in Mauritius, which represents a general decrease of 2.8 % of new cancer cases. The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Hon. Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal,  during the official launching of activities to mark World Cancer Day 2020 at L’Escalier Mediclinic, made an appeal to the population to go for free screening services available across the country.  Dr Hon. K. K. S. Jagutpal pointed out the fact that “early detection of cancer greatly increases the chances for successful treatment and reduces the risks of premature death”.