The WHO Representative meets the Mayor of Gaborone on Health Partnership

His Worship Mr K Thutlwe (Mayor of Gaborone City - left) in a discussion with Dr M Ovberedjo (WHO Representative)

Gaborone, Botswana - 14 May 2019: His Worship Mayor of Gaborone City Mr Kagiso Thutlwe welcomed WR Dr Martins Ovberedjo and Mr Gaborone to his Office and thanked WHO for support and partnership on HIV/AIDS. He intimated that as a council, they have interest in strengthening their work in Health and Environment as well as Non-communicable diseases, emphasizing the fact that the safety and cleanliness of Gaborone is one of their primary mandates. He said the wellbeing of Gaborone residents is their calling.

Reconstructing and finding the inner strength of Beira – The profound role of technology following Cyclone Idai

Ebel Diogo, Director of a local NGO, Empowering Mozambique

9 May 2019, Beira – In an era of intensified natural disasters and catastrophic impact, communities in Africa are discovering that taking care of themselves and rising from rubble is within their reach – provided they have the right connection. 

In Cyclone Idai-affected communities of Mozambique, for instance, they have learned that when they connect to the right information, they can strengthen their resilience and begin rebuilding their environment, without waiting for outside help to reach them.

Promoting Cycling for Health, Environment Protection and Road Safety

 Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius, Hon. Mr Stephan Toussaint, Minister of Youth and Sports and Lord Mayor of Port Louis, Mr Daniel Laurent ready to start the cycling trip in view of promoting health and road safety as well as environment protection
All were set for the members of the public present at Roche Bois Youth Centre to start the road cycling activity ‘Pédaler en toute securité', organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders on 13 May 2019.  The objectives of the activity were to encourage the population to practice cycling on a regular basis as a leisure activity and for physical fitness.  It also aimed at creating public awareness on road safety and cycling as a safe and healthy form of transportation.   Hon. Mr Stephan Toussaint, Minister of Youth and Sports, Lord Mayor of Port Louis, Mr Daniel Laurent and Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius, all dressed in sports-wear and on their bike, started the cycling trip from Roche Bois Youth Centre to City Centre in  Port Louis.  People from different age groups responded positively to the invitation and cycled some 14 kilometres in the streets of Port Louis.

The US Ambassador to South Sudan and Hon Minister of Health visit Ebola Vaccination site in Juba

US Amb in a group photo with Hon Minister of Health, WHO Rep, CDC Country Director and other senior officials

Juba, 8 May 2019 – Alice Baku (not real name) a clinician at the Juba teaching hospital said “I am glad I was vaccinated against Ebola Virus disease because prevention is better than cure”

South Sudan started vaccination of frontline and health care workers against Ebola on 28th January 2019 as one of the preparedness measures to stop Ebola from spreading into the country.

New interactive technology for real time surveillance quality improvement adopted by Botswana

MoHW personnel getting a feel of the interactive equipment at the MoHW Headquarters

Gaborone, Botswana – 10 May 2019: The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO), as part of its effort to support member countries to provide "real-time" data, which could be verified and validated for polio surveillance, routine immunization and field supportive supervision procured and delivered equipment to Botswana’s Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW).

WHO supports World Malaria Day commemoration in Zambia.

Malaria testing services were offered during the commemoration

Malaria is among the important factors affecting socio-economic development in Zambia. It kills approximately over a thousand people per year with about 311 cases per 1000 population. Despite the government’s increased domestic funding and good external support to the malaria programme, resource gaps remain. This has necessitated the development of an investment case, continued advocacy for increased resources and creation of awareness in the communities to accelerate malaria elimination efforts.