News Releases

11 May 2018 | Ebola Disease

WHO and partners working with national health authorities to contain new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The World Health Organization (WHO) and a broad range of partners are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) working with the Government to contain an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Bikoro health zone, Equateur Province. The outbreak was declared three days ago.  WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will travel to the DRC over the week-end to take stock of the situation and direct the continuing response in support of the national health authorities.

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ESPEN receives 1 million USD grant from OFID

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti signed an agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Cooperation (OFID) which will provide US$1-million to ESPEN to support the control and elimination of five neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) amenable to preventive chemotherapy. ESPEN is one of the special projects of AFRO's Transformation Agenda, set up in a spirit of partnership between endemic country governments, WHO and all NTD partners and donors.

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9 May 2018

WHO and International Federation of Red Cross strengthen collaboration in Africa

The Regional Offices of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have agreed to intensify their partnership and improve health in communities across Africa. Dr Fatoumata Nafo-Traoré, IFRC Regional Director met with Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa during a one day official visit to the regional headquarters on 7 May, 2018 in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo.

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8 May 2018

Largest cholera vaccine drive in history to target spike in outbreaks

A spate of cholera outbreaks across Africa has prompted the largest cholera vaccination drive in history, with more than two million people across the continent set to receive oral cholera vaccine (OCV).                                                                                                  The vaccines, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, were sourced from the global stockpile and are being used to carry out five major campaigns in Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, South Sudan and Nigeria. The campaigns, which will be completed by mid-June, are being implemented by the respective Ministries of Health supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC), and mostly in reaction to recent cholera outbreaks.

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8 May 2018 | Emergencies

WHO supports six African countries conduct first joint health emergency operations exercise

With the increasing threat of health emergencies crossing borders, six African countries are building their capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to acute emergencies. Together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners, the Senegal Ministry of Health and Social Action is hosting a regional simulation exercise, which will include Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Zambia from 8-9 May 2018.

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