Publications

The new five-year agenda of WHO in Africa, The Africa Health Transformation Programme, 2015–2020: a vision for universal health coverage, is the strategic framework that will guide WHO’s contribution to the emerging sustainable development platform in Africa. It articulates a vision for health and development that aims to address the unacceptable inequalities and inequities that have kept our region lagging far behind others in terms of health indices and enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of life. For example, in 2013, child mortality in the region was almost double the global average (90 vs 46 per 1000 live births respectively)1 while life expectancy at birth was 13 years lower than the global average (58 vs 71 years respectively).

WHO’s Regional Office for Africa will provide leadership in the transformation of the health and wellbeing of the African people, with a clear set of priorities and a renewed and expanded commitment to accountability for results, and the values of equity, transparency, integrity, professionalism and openness. The transformation programme is based on the principle of an Africa speaking out for itself, assuming ownership and engaging in joint leadership to effect change at a critical moment.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa has recognized the commendable global solidarity that emerged in response to the 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa, and how the outbreak spotlighted the central role that health plays in economic and social development...