Kenyan Senate Speaker Urges African Scientists to Champion Homegrown Health Solutions

Participants at the summit in a group photo

The Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Kenya, Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffah Kingi, has called for bold, African-led strategies to tackle the continent’s health challenges. Speaking as Chief Guest at the Inaugural Africa Health Summit in Kampala, held under the theme “Reclaiming Africa’s Health Future: From Dependency to Sovereignty through Innovation and Solidarity”, Hon. Kingi emphasized that Africa must move beyond diagnosing problems to delivering solutions at scale.

Strengthening Zambia’s public health: WHO walk-through at UTH virology laboratory

On 13 November 2025, the WHO Country Office in Zambia led a walk-through visit to the Virology Laboratory at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. The visit, attended by WHO Country Representative, Dr Clement Peter Lasuba, WHO staff from the EPI cluster, the GPEI Coordinator, and representatives from the Ministry of Health’s Laboratory Services, aimed to review progress on the refurbishment of the National Polio Laboratory, a cornerstone of Zambia’s disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness.

Ethiopia confirms first outbreak of Marburg virus disease

Ethiopia confirms first outbreak of Marburg virus disease
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the South Ethiopia Region, the first of its kind in the country, following laboratory testing of samples from a cluster of suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever.

A Review of the National Community Health Policy to strengthen gains and accelerate reforms

A Review of the National Community Health Policy to Strengthen Gains and Accelerate Reforms
From 15 to 18 July 2025, the national review workshop of the National Community Health Policy (PNSC) provided a platform for exchange aimed at assessing the implementation of the policy and setting the priority directions for the years ahead. Organized by the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF, WHO, the U.S. Government, WAHO and other partners, the meeting brought together institutional actors, local authorities, community organizations and the entire network of technical partners involved in the initiative.

Benin publishes its first health sector report and reviews a decade of progress

Health Sector Status Report (RAESS)
Benin presented its first national report on the state of the health sector on Tuesday in Cotonou. Developed by the Health Sector Regulatory Authority (ARS) with the support of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), this document provides a structured analysis of the functioning of the health system and the developments recorded over the past years. It highlights the progress achieved, the persistent gaps, and the priorities that need to be strengthened in the years ahead.