News Releases

5 March 2019 | Immunization Measles

The Republic of Congo starts vaccinating 2.2 million children against Measles and Rubella

Under the high patronage of the President of the Republic of Congo, His Excellency Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, the Government of Congo launched today a measles and rubella vaccination campaign, which aims to provide protection to more than 2.2 million children. This campaign, which targets boys and girls aged 9 months to 14 years will cover 43% of the country's population and will also include Vitamin A supplementation and mebendazole deworming for children aged 9 to 59 months.

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4 March 2019

Africa’s first-ever mass typhoid fever vaccination campaign ends in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe concludes an eight-day, mass typhoid fever vaccination. The campaign was the first of its kind in Africa and targeted 370 000 people, mostly children and adolescents.

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23 February 2019

Dr Moeti wraps up official visit to Cameroon

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti leaves Yaounde this morning after wrapping up a three-day maiden visit to Cameroon. The visit took place from 21-23 February 2019. While in Yaounde, she paid c…

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18 February 2019

Burkina Faso knows, it takes a prepared team to respond to outbreaks and other emergencies

In emergency situations, such as outbreaks, disasters and mass casualty events, “good intentions” are not enough. Well-prepared teams are imperative to withstand the impact of any emergency, let alone the increasing frequency of them.

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15 February 2019 | Universal Health Coverage

WHO reaffirms support to improve health and well-being of Algerians

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has re-affirmed WHO’s support to improve the health and well-being of Algerians. She made the remarks during a courtesy call on His Excellency Ahmed Ouyahia, Prime Minister of the Republic of Algeria.

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8 February 2019 | Female Genital Mutilation

In Kenya, men are challenging the male role in the female circumcision problem

Two men in Kenya are rallying against the myths that perpetuate the violation of women’s and girls’ human rights through the centuries-old cultural tradition of female circumcision, more commonly known as female genital mutilation.

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8 February 2019 | Lassa Fever

WHO supports five countries to fight Lassa fever outbreaks

WHO sets up a regional coordination system to help stem Lassa fever outbreaks in Benin, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Togo. In Nigeria along there were 213 confirmed cases, including 42 deaths.

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6 February 2019 | Female Genital Mutilation

House by house, telling girls and families the dangers of female circumcision in Kenya

For three days, Sadia Hussein struggled in labour with the birth of her first daughter. The traditional birth attendant could not deliver the baby due to the constricted birth canal – the direct result of the female circumcision Sadia was subjected to when she was 10 years old.

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