EVD - Rwanda conducts a Full Scale Simulation Exercise

Labeling and triple packaging of blood samples

In the context of the on-going outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces of the DRC that declared on 1st August 2018, Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda as priority one countries based on proximity, insecurity and high population across the border, the Rwandan Ministry of Health, supported by partners has developed, and is implementing an EVD preparedness and contingency plan. The objective: strengthen preparedness capacities for the prevention, earlier detection, response and containment of a potential case of EVD in Rwanda.

Promoting Global Cooperation in the area of NCD Prevention and Control

The delegation from St Helena Island in the company of Dr L. Musango, WHO Representativ, the Health Minister, Dr Hon. A. Husnoo (in the centre) and high level officials of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life
A delegation from St Helena Island, a British Overseas territory in the Atlantic Ocean, is on a Study Tour in Mauritius from 07 to 19 January 2019 to learn from the country’s experiences in the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.  On the first day, the delegation met Dr Laurent Musango, the WHO Representative in Mauritius to discuss the supporting role of WHO in facilitating the sharing of experiences between the two islands.  The members of the delegation then had a meeting with the technical team at the WHO local office to understand the NCD situation in the country and for an update on measures taken so far in view of reducing the NCD burden.  In the afternoon, the mission team had a meeting with the Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Dr. Hon. Anwar Husnoo and the high level officials.  The expected outcomes of the study tour and possibilities of cooperation between the two islands were discussed.

Ethiopia launched new guideline for reaching missed tuberculosis cases

TB patients in a hospital
The Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health, the National TB Program in collaboration with WHO and partners conducted a workshop from December 17 to 18, 2018 to launch a new guideline for reaching missed tuberculosis cases. In her opening remark, Dr Lia Tadesse, State Minister of Health, noted TB is one of the priority diseases closely supported in the Ministry of Health and the MoH continues to work very closely with partners, private sectors, civic societies, universities and other important stakeholders in order to identify missed TB cases, abort TB transmission to familiies, and public as well. Ethiopia is one of the 30 High burden countries for Tuberculosis including Drug resistant Tuberculosis. According to 2018 global TB report, 117,705 TB cases were reported in the country. The TB treatment coverage for Drug sensitive TB is 68%. And only 25% of Estimated RR MDR TB (Rifampicin Resistance and Multi Drug Resistance TB ) cases are detected and treated.

Ministry of Health urges partners to support government to build sustainable systems to respond disease outbreaks in Uganda

Minister of Health Dr Jane Ruth Aceng addresses the partners

Kampala 24th December 2018: - The Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has lauded government partners for their support in the current Ebola preparedness response in Uganda and urged them to support the government to build systems for future disease outbreak responses.

This was at a meeting held at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, where partners in the Ebola preparedness response briefed Ministry of Health (MoH) leadership and donors about their work to ensure that Uganda is prepared to manage an EVD outbreak, should there be one.

Kenya rolls out Universal Health Coverage

Dr Tedros with President Uhuru Kenyatta (on his left) and other Kenyan leaders during the UHC programme roll out, Kisumu city


 The WHO call for ‘Leaving no one behind’ and ‘delivering the Triple Billion Together!’ found great resonance in Immaculate Otene’s words. The mother of four who attended the Kenyan launch of the Universal Health Coverage, UHC, programme in Kisumu City recently expressed her gratitude for the newly launched  UHC pilots which she said promised  better health and future for her and her family. 

WHO HTS Info app: from concept to reality

This app provides easy, on-the-go access to current HIV testing services (HTS) guidelines and information on your smartphone or tablet, whether you are online or offline. This story summarizes how the app was developed and highlights its key features and plans.

Why create an app?

WHO conducted pre- and post-test guidelines development surveys for the 2015 “Consolidated guidelines on HTS” and the 2016 supplement “Guidelines on HIV self-testing and partner notification”.