Government’s attention shifts to Niger Delta creeks- renews efforts to vaccinate every eligible child in Bayelsa 

Vaccination-of-Child-in-Riverine-Areas-in-Niger-Delta

Yenagoa, 7 November, 2019-  In renewed efforts, not to leave any child needlessly exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the authorities in Bayelsa are seeing a marked improvement in immunization coverage in the State. This follows the adoption of innovative approaches to reach all children – even those living along its hazardous creeks and remote jungles. 

Healthcare workers in Federal Capital Territory re-commit to improving maternal care

A QoC facility QI meeting facilitated by a QI coach at a PHC in the FCT

Abuja, 7 November, 2019 - Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are stepping up efforts to improve the quality of care (QoC) given to new mothers at their facilities. Maternal mortality is an issue of concern in Nigeria. Every year, at least 58,000 Nigerian women die while giving birth, and at least 800 women die in every 100,000 live births. (WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA ).

Nine African countries agree to begin journey towards pooled procurement to increase their access to affordable life-saving vaccines

Nine African countries agree to begin journey towards pooled procurement to increase their access to affordable life-saving vaccines
Nine middle-income countries in Africa have agreed to work towards pooled procurement mechanisms by first sharing vital information on their vaccine purchasing practices, including the prices they pay and their suppliers. Sharing information and ultimately pooling their orders will better leverage their individual purchasing power and thus strengthen their vaccine security and increase their access to affordable life-saving vaccines.

Stopping the spread of disease and saving lives through timely risk communication and community engagement in South Sudan

Group photo

Juba, 1 November 2019: “Timely risk communication and community engagement results in preventing the spread of diseases and better management of hazards at household and community level,” said Dr Atem Nathan, the Director General for Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health.

Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) are critical to health emergency preparedness and response as key strategies for International Health Regulations (2005) and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework.

The Ministry of Health and the United Nations condemn attack on health worker supporting the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Ministry of Health and the United Nations condemn attack on health worker supporting the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The interministerial technical secretariat of the response to the Ebola outbreak, the Ministry of Health and their partners from the United Nations (the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and  the United Nations Emergency Ebola Response Operations (UNEERO)) condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence that took place last night in Lwemba in Ituri Province, in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

UN-Gambia promotes Voluntary Blood Donation in Commemoration of UN Day

WHO Rep. voluntarily donating blood demostrates his leadersip role in health to saving lives

 

“Blood donation to save lives”, was conceived by the UN Heads of Agencies as part of activities marking UN@74, which is in line with WHO’s challenge to countries to get 100% of their blood from voluntary blood donation.

The World Health Organization Country Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) spearheaded this exercise in Soma District Hospital, Lower River Region of The Gambia. Heads of the different UN Agencies and staff participated in the event.

Access to Affordable Vaccines for Middle Income Countries Workshop kicks off in Eswatini

Participants of the workshop

The Minister of Health, Honourable Lizzie Nkosi opened the second consultative workshop for improving access to affordable vaccines for Middle Income Countries (MICs) in Africa, at the Royal Swazi Convention Centre in Ezulwini on 30 October 2019. This meeting, organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa is attended by stakeholders involved in the procurement and use of vaccines from seven Middle Income  Countries in  African. 

EWARS- improving early detection and prompt response to acute public health events

EWARS- improving early detection and prompt response to acute public health events

Maiduguri, 1 November, 2019 - Not so long ago, collecting and evaluating large amounts of data in the field on disease trends and patterns – an activity known as surveillance – was a cumbersome process. Surveillance officers noted information by hand on paper and sent hard copies of weekly reports to the local government area (LGA) secretariat via disease surveillance and notification officers (DSNOs).