LIKATI: First joint visit of the Minister of Health and the WHO Representative to the epicentre of the Ebola virus disease outbreak.
KINSHASA, 17 May 2017: From 17 to 18 May 2017, Dr Oly Ilunga Kalenga, Minister of Public Health, and Dr Allarangar Yokouidé, WHO Representative in the DRC, will carry out a first visit to assess the Ebola outbreak that has been reported in Nambwa, epicentre of the disease, in the Likati health district, Bas-Uélé Province, located over 1400 km from Kinshasa, to the north of the DRC.

Abuja, 09 June 2017 - With the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the northwestern states of Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara, the World Health Organization (WHO) through its collaborative networks, has developed the capacity of the existing laboratory in Ahmed Sani Yeriman Bakura specialist hospital Gusau, Zamfara state to a standard public health laboratory. The upgraded facility is now capable of meningitis diagnosis and isolation of meningitis organisms, thus enabling meningitis diagnosis.

May 31 2017 - The World No-Tobacco Day in Kenya was marked with calls for effective policies, reduced exposure and tightening of loopholes to combat tobacco consumption. Speakers particularly emphasized on the theme, “Tobacco- a threat to Development” and on health and other risks associated with tobacco consumption.

The day was also observed with the launch of the National guidelines for Tobacco Dependence Treatment and Cessation which will provide guidance for intervention in healthcare services.

Lusaka, 9 June 2017 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti has appointed Dr. Custodia Das Dores Isaac Mandlhate, a national of Mozambique as the Acting WHO Representative for Zambia. Dr. Mandlhate takes over from Dr. Jacob Mufunda who has been reassigned to the WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville. Dr. Mandlhate arrived in Zambia on 6 June 2017. She was warmly welcomed by the WHO Country Office staff.

From 4-6 April, a strategic partnership for country planning consultation took place to develop Eritrea’s five year national action plan for health security at Hotel Asmara Palace. The main objective of the workshop was to clarify the need for a unified National Action Plan for Health Security.

The President of Uganda H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched “The Presidential Fast-track Initiative on ending HIV&AIDS in Uganda by 2030.” This is the first such initiative in Africa and the entire world.

31 May 2017, Selebi-Phikwe, Botswana: Botswana commemorated World No Tobacco Day in the copper mining town of Selebi-Phikwe. The commemoration was headlined by the Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness Honourable Phillip Makgalemele, who pleaded with the public to monitor and curb the impact of tobacco on their health, income and social life.

Juba, 8 June 2017 - In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has rolled out an electronic surveillance system called Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS) to enhance the collection, management and analysis of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) data.

In the busy corridors of a Yaoundé hospital, Esther Sabouangis is attending an antenatal appointment. She is in her early thirties and expecting her third child.

7th June 2017, Monrovia : The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), in collaboration with the Epidemic Preparedness and Response (EPR) Consortium and the World Health Organization (WHO), has been working to strengthen Liberia’s emergency response capacity to epidemic prone diseases. This objective is in line with the National Investment Plan 2015, to build a resilient health system through epidemic preparedness.