Angola strengthened the institutional capacity of the national response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a joint technical mission organized by the Ministry of Health, with specialized support from the World Health Organization (WHO), involving experts from Headquarters, the Regional Office for Africa, and the WHO Office in Angola.

Jwaneng—Health leaders and polio experts from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa convened in Jwaneng for the 25th Inter‑Country Certification Committee (ICCC) meeting, reinforcing regional solidarity and shared responsibility to sustain a polio‑free Africa.

Over the course of three days, participants reviewed progress, assessed remaining risks and agreed on priority actions to strengthen cross‑border collaboration, routine immunization and disease surveillance, against the backdrop of a shifting global polio landscape.

Dr Lasuba’s courtesy call on Hon. Moses F. Moyo, Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia

Zambia continues to demonstrate strong political will and national ownership in advancing health and well-being. Increased investment in health financing, disease prevention, and system strengthening reflects the understanding that health is the foundation of development. WHO, now over seven decades old, shares this vision, working to save lives and promote well-being for all.

Victoria—The African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Pooled Procurement Initiative has been awarded the 2025 SIDS Partnership Award in the economic category.

Dar es Salaam—Tanzania joins the world in marking Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2025 under the global theme “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!”. A call to action to ensure that no one is forced to choose between health care and basic needs such as food, education or housing.

Across the African Region, as noted by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, financial hardship continues to push millions into poverty, despite progress in service coverage. Out-of-pocket payments remain among the biggest barriers to accessing care.

Dakar – Anaemia remains one of the most critical public health challenges in the African Region, affecting millions of women and children and holding back progress in health, education and economic development. Recognizing the urgent need for action, technical experts representing governments from 21 countries in the Region and development partners gathered in Saly, Senegal, from 2 to 4 December 2025, for a regional workshop on accelerating the reduction of anaemia among children and women of reproductive age.

Maseru—High in the mountains of Lesotho, where villages cling to steep slopes and winding paths cut through valleys, a remarkable health campaign unfolded. The measles-rubella (MR) vaccination drive reached even the most remote corners of Qacha’s Nek and Mokhotlong Districts, led by the determination of Village Health Workers (VHWs), local chiefs, and parents who refused to let geography stand in the way of their children’s health.