23 July 2015, Geneva -On World Hepatitis Day (28 July) WHO highlights the urgent need for countries to enhance action to prevent viral hepatitis infection and to ensure that people who have been infected are diagnosed and offered treatment.

Monrovia, 28th July, 2015:- The Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) Division of the Ministry of Health of Liberia convened a 3-day stakeholders’ meeting to share, harmonize and map partners’ planned support for epidemic preparedness, disease surveillance and response - one of the key areas of the strategic health investment plan for building a resilient health system and strengthening health security for the Liberian people.

Brazzaville, 27 July 2015 – Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Chris Elias, President of the Global Development Division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Dr Trevor Mundel, President of the foundation’s Global Health Division, have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen collaboration between the two organizations in the WHO African Region.

The World Health Organization convened 75 mental health experts to discuss the social and mental health impacts of the Ebola epidemic in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and ways to strengthen response plans in the event of a future Ebola outbreak.

Banjul, The Gambia, 1st September 2015 - On 28 July 2015, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Medical Research Council (MRC) and other partners commemorated World Hepatitis Day under the theme: “Prevent Hepatitis – Act now”.  The theme this year focuses on the prevention of hepatitis B and C that affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic liver disease and killing close to 1.5 million people every year.

The ongoing Ebola outbreak clearly demonstrates how the inability to prevent, detect, and control a threat in one part of the world poses a threat to everyone, everywhere. It has the potential to cause enormous damage in terms of lives lost, economic impact and human development around the world.

Yaoundé, 23 July 2015 – The World Health Organization (WHO) African Region continues to be challenged by frequent natural and man-made emergencies as well as large-scale disease outbreaks that cause injuries, deaths, population displacements, destruction of health facilities and disruption of health care services.

An HIV self-testing project in Malawi raises the rate of adolescents tested to over 80%. WHO encourages countries to conduct pilot programmes on HIV self-testing so information can be gathered and the role self-tests can be evaluated. Better access to self-testing helps adolescents who need further support for prevention, treatment and care of HIV. Concerns about confidentiality and privacy are one of the key barriers to HIV testing services for adolescents.

Brazzaville, 21 July 2015 - A high level delegation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has begun a four-day official visit to the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in Brazzaville, Congo from 21-24 July 2015.

Christophe Harerimana, a school teacher for more than 20 years in Rwanda, became worried in recent years. Many of his students were coming to class ill and were having trouble concentrating.

“The children were having abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea. This made it difficult for them to follow the lessons,” says Harerimana, who teaches science and Kinyarwanda, the local language of his village, in the Musanze District.