Abuja, 04 March 2019 – While the number of new Lassa fever cases have significantly reduced over the past weeks, intensified response activities are on-going to control the outbreak across Nigeria.  To fully contain the outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) remains mobilized and is  supporting Nigeria to stem further spread of the disease.

Gaborone, Botswana - 19 February 2019: The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) requested for technical support from WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS and CDC to review data processes and assist the country in determining the best modalities for data quality improvement and priority actions for the country to progress toward the path to elimination.

Abuja, 28 February 2019 - As Nigeria experiences measles and rubella outbreaks, the World Health Organization (WHO) has constituted, in collaboration with the Nigerian government, an Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) team to mitigate further spread of measles and rubella in the country. 

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Hon. Dr.

Twenty four  (24) health care workers graduated from a 3 month programme on field epidemiology and laboratory training programme with support from WHO and CDC.  The trainees were selected from health districts affected by the ongoing HEP E virus outbreak.  Although the programme cuts across public health emergencies and threats, the trainees are expected to strengthen surveillance on hepatitis E virus and improve daily reporting of cases.  The training was a response to findings of the WHO Rapid Assessment report which highlighted active case search and weekly reporting

A case of Guinea worm disease (GWD) was confirmed in Angola in June 2018.  The case, an eight-year girl, hails from the Cunene Province in Angola, which borders Ohangwena and Omusati Regions in Namibia.  In response, Angolan authorities, with WHO support, carried out further case searches in three southern provinces of the country, including Cunene.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has recommitted itself to ending the Hepatitis E virus Outbreak which has claimed 41 lives since December 2017.  A National Health Emergency Management Committee was activated since confirmation of the outbreak and the Ministry has engaged partners and mobilized resources to respond to the outbreak.  Despite these control measures, the disease persists and has now spread to more than 7 of the 14 regions in the country. 

Namibia hosted the 2^nd National Health Assembly on 21 February to take stock of achievements of the past year and coordinate health interventions of partners in the country.  During his opening remarks, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Hon. Dr Kalumbi Shangula, reiterated the government’s commitment towards the health of its people which has translated in major milestones in the health sector.