Johannesburg – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, in partnership with Member States and key stakeholders, has concluded a landmark week of working sessions in Johannesburg aimed at transforming Africa’s health workforce landscape. Held from 7 to 12 July 2025, the sessions focused on strengthening workforce data systems to track health labour market, operationalizing the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter, and shaping the next regional plan for health workforce development.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) affect over a billion people globally, with schistosomiasis, an acute and chronic disease caused by parasitic worms, remaining a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Praziquantel, the medication used to treat these infections, donated by Merck through WHO’s drug donation programme, is the cornerstone of Zambia’s fight against schistosomiasis.   But challenges in ordering and distribution have led to stock imbalances, expiry risks, and delays in mass drug administration campaigns, threatening the sustainability of the programme.

Morogoro — Tanzania has marked a significant milestone in its public health preparedness journey by validating its first-ever Infodemic Management Strategy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The two-day workshop, held in Morogoro, brought together government officials, health communication experts, and development partners to critically review and endorse a framework designed to counter misinformation during health emergencies.

Luanda, July 4, 2025 - With the number of cholera cases showing a sustained downward trend and no deaths reported in recent days, Angola today received 2 million oral cholera vaccines, in a joint effort between the Ministry of Health, Gavi - the Global Alliance for Vaccines, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the European Union and other partners in the health sector.

In preparation for the rollout of the new Business Management System (BMS), WHO Office in South Sudan conducted a five-day BMS Human Capital Management (HCM) Lab to familiarize staff with WHO’s new BMS, which will replace the current GSM-based system to enhance efficiency and streamline operations.

When a public health emergency strikes, it leaves more than just a medical footprint—it exposes deep social vulnerabilities and tests the resilience of communities. In the districts of Fort Portal, Kabarole and Kyegegwa, in western Uganda, the recent Ebola outbreak did not only affect health of individuals, health care delivery and disruptions in services but caused a drift in social-economic and psychological vulnerabilities impacting production rates and risks for economic threats.

Brazzaville – Experts, policymakers and global health partners have called for stronger, coordinated action to prevent backsliding on progress made against vaccine-preventable diseases in the African Region, where millions of children are still at risk.

Bulamagi, Iganga District, Uganda — In a landmark achievement for public health in eastern Uganda, the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has officially commissioned 28 newly refurbished health facilities across five districts in the Busoga region. This milestone marks a transformative step toward achieving universal health coverage and improving the quality of care for millions.

Juba - Amidst the ongoing cholera outbreak in South Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed gratitude for the critical support provided by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and WHO’s Standby Partners (SBPs). Their timely and coordinated assistance has significantly enhanced WHO’s capacity to support the government of South Sudan’s efforts to contain the outbreak.

BENGUELA, 3 July 2025 — The World Health Organization (WHO) in Angola participated in the International Congress of Medicine hosted by the Private University of Angola (UPRA) in Benguela, underscoring its continued collaboration with academic institutions to advance universal health coverage and health systems strengthening in Angola.