Cameroon - Martin Pascal Etoundi

Martin Pascal Etoundi
For sixteen years, Martin narrowly escaped death time and again. Today he describes himself as the phoenix reborn, alive and thriving, despite – or perhaps because of – living with HIV. At 24, this young man has already survived more hardships than most people face in a lifetime.

The Gambia launches new partnerhip platform for health governance

Minister for Health & Social Welfare Hon. Dr. Isatou Touray delivering her keynote address at the Launch
The much awaited Country Health Compact has finally taken off ground.  The Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Isatou Touray, this morning, launched the Gambia’s Health Compact. The Health Compact paves the way for renewed and strategic partnership between the Government of the Republic of The Gambia and health development partners. This partnership is eventually expected to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage, i.e. access to high quality and affordable health care that will lead to improved and equitable health outcomes for all Gambians. The Health Compact is guided by the principles outlined within the framework of the International Health Partnership Plus (IHP+), the 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the 2008 Accra Agenda for Action.

With WHO support, South Sudan enhances meningitis preparedness and response

Dr Wamala making a presentation on meningitis surveillance

Juba, 28 November 2018 – To establish optimal in-country capacities to detect, investigate, test, confirm and respond to meningitis cases in South Sudan, the Ministry of Health (MoH)  with support from WHO conducted a training of trainers workshop involving over 60 Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) managers, state surveillance officers, and state laboratory focal points from 26 to 28 November 2018 in Juba.

Kenya - Asunta Wagura

Asunta Wagura
It was 1988 when Asunta Wagura was diagnosed with HIV – a time when such a diagnosis was literally a death sentence. Rejected by family and friends, Asunta found herself on the streets of Nairobi with nothing. Together with several friends, Asunta started an association to help others in her situation known as KENWA (the Kenyan Network of Women with AIDS).

Malaria control campaign launched in Democratic Republic of the Congo to save lives and aid Ebola response

Malaria control campaign launched in Democratic Republic of the Congo to save lives and aid Ebola response
A spike in malaria cases is threatening the health of people in parts of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where health workers are also battling an Ebola outbreak.  In response, a four-day mass drug administration (MDA) campaign was launched today in the Northern Kivu province town of Beni, with a target to reach up to 450 000 people with anti-malarial drugs combined with the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

Congo - Thierry Maba

Thierry Maba

Thierry Maba had a plan. It was 1991 and he would leave his native Congo to pursue his education in Algeria. A compulsory blood test was a standard part of the admissions procedure and Thierry didn’t think anything of it. But when the test revealed that he was HIV-positive, the university cancelled his scholarship and suddenly, at 19 years old, Thierry no longer had a plan.

Uganda - Moses Nsubuga

Moses Nsubuga
Moses “Supercharger” Nsubuga, a musician and radio host in Uganda, has been living with HIV since 1994. “I lived in denial for four years and did not want anyone to know that I had HIV”, he says. He points out that given the nature of his work, admitting his status meant risking the loss of his audience and being stigmatized. “However, living in denial didn’t help me at all. I fell sick, became weak, lost weight and could barely work”, he says.

Ghana launches Sub National Immunization Days (NIDs) against Yellow Fever

Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Director General of the Ghana Health Service delivering the keynote address at the Launch

The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and UNICEF has launched a sub national campaign aimed to vaccinate 5.3 million people against yellow fever in nine regions in Ghana. The event took place in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.