WHO, UNICEF help boost West Africa’s capacity to respond to polio outbreaks

WHO, UNICEF help boost West Africa’s capacity to respond to polio outbreaks

Lomé, 26 November 2019 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today kicked off a four-day regional emergency preparedness workshop in Lomé, Togo for senior public health officials to strengthen the capabilities within West African countries to respond to polio outbreaks.

Calling upon Families to Act on Diabetes Now

“Diabetes remains very high on the agenda of my government which views with much concern the health problems of the population caused by NCDs”, said Dr Hon K. Jagutpal 

The new Minister of Health and Wellness of the Republic of Mauritius, Dr Hon Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal launched a series of activities in the south of the country on 23 November 2019 to mark the World Diabetes Day at national level.  The objective of the World Diabetes Day was to raise global awareness about the increasing burden of diabetes, and the lifestyle measures that can be taken to prevent it.  Eminent personalities participated in the event including Dr Hon M. I.

Namibia needs over N$ 500 million to realize its health security plan

WHO Representative, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses with the Executive Director of MOHSS, Mr. Ben. Nangombe

Country Context
Namibia is situated in the south-western part of Africa bordered by Angola in the north, Zambia and Zimbabwe in the northeast, Botswana to the east, South Africa in the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.  It is the thirty-fourth largest country in the world occupying an area of 824,292 km2 and the least densely populated country second to Mongolia.  Ninety two percent of the land area is defined as hyper-arid, arid or semi-arid. The county is also characterized by a high income inequality with a Gini coefficient of 0.572.

Malaria control: Households receive over eight million nets in Kano

Women Sleeping in an Treated Insecticide treated net

Kano, 21 November, 2019 - Every time one of Asabe Mohammed’s children fell ill with malaria, she had to scramble to find a way to pay for medication to treat the disease. 

“My children and I usually sleep outside with no form of protection and that has exposed all my children to malaria-carrying mosquitoes,” explains Asabe, who lives in Gwale Local Government Area (LGA) in Kano State. “I had to sacrifice their school fees to buy medicine.” 

Weak vaccine-preventable disease surveillance could cost the African Region $22.4 billion over the next decade, WHO warns

Weak vaccine-preventable disease surveillance could cost the African Region $22.4 billion over the next decade, WHO warns
In its newly launched Investment Case for Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance in the African Region 2020-2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa highlights the drastic consequences that could be in store for the region if countries do not invest in disease surveillance efforts, including a US$22.4 billion economic burden over the next decade.

Nigeria commemorates third noma day – resolves to eliminate disease by 2030

Honorable Minister of Health Dr Osagie Emmanuel Enahire 5th right and others at the event

Abuja, 20 November 2019 - Nigeria has marked its third National Noma Day with a strong commitment   to eliminate the debilitating disease by 2030. 

The theme for this year’s event, marked on 18 November, was: “Timely recognition averts deformity – raise awareness to prevent noma” and the Nigerian government indicated commitment towards raising awareness on the disease and fully eliminating it from the country.