Invest in breastfeeding, invest in the future! Breastfeeding isn’t just a personal choice—it’s a public health investment. Breast milk nurtures stronger immune systems, reduces childhood illnesses and supports lifelong health, that reduces burdens on health systems. By supporting breastfeeding at work, we are building healthier families, communities, and workforces. At the World Health Organization (WHO)

Invest in breastfeeding, invest in the future! Breastfeeding isn’t just a personal choice—it’s a public health investment. Breast milk nurtures stronger immune systems, reduces childhood illnesses and supports lifelong health, that reduces burdens on health systems. By supporting breastfeeding at work, we are building healthier families, communities, and workforces. At the World Health Organization (WHO)

Makeni, Sierra Leone – July 2025 When Mr. Bambay Sawanneh first felt cold and fever one evening, he did what many in his community would do, he stayed in bed, applied ointments, and took malaria tablets. As a busy community leader, head of an orphanage, school proprietor, and football club manager, Mr. Sawanneh assumed it

Pujehun District, Sierra Leone – August 2025 Helinda Saffiatu Sandi is no stranger to the challenges of public health service delivery. At 37 years old, the trained nurse from Pujehun Government Hospital has dedicated the past five years to caring for her community, first at a Peripheral Health Unit (PHU), and now as a member

Declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 14 August 2024, mpox remains a health challenge across several African countries, including Malawi. The country confirmed its first mpox case on 16 April 2025, followed by an official outbreak declaration from the Ministry of Health the next day. As of 11 July 2025, the Public

Africa must prioritize pharmaceutical self-reliance by boosting local medicine production rooted in global quality standards, said Dr Owen Laws Kaluwa, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, in a keynote address delivered at a regional training workshop on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) held in Addis Ababa. The two-day hands-on workshop, held from 22–23 July 2025, brought together 26

Mberra Camp – When children in Mberra refugee camp began arriving at health posts with sore throats, low-grade fevers and swollen necks early this year, health workers feared the worst. Within days, breathing difficulties and the tell-tale thick grey coating in some throats confirmed an outbreak of diphtheria. In a densely populated refugee setting with limited

Kampala, Uganda –  Uganda joined the global community in commemorating World Breastfeeding Week 2025 with a high-level breakfast meeting in Kampala under the theme: “Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future.” The theme aligns with World Health Organization (WHO)’s ongoing campaign dubbed  “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures”, that urges governments and the health community to intensify

By Shenaaz El-Halabi, World Health Organization Representative South Africa and Christine Muhigana, Representative, UNICEF South Africa Pretoria - Breastfeeding is crucial as it is a baby's first vaccine, providing essential protection from diseases and supporting brain development. There is clear and compelling evidence that a decreased or lack of breastfeeding can seriously contribute to poor

Brazzaville – One year since World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), African countries have scaled up response measures and made progress to curb the spread of the virus. Coordinated action between governments, WHO, Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), communities and partners has helped

The Ethio-Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Project held its first Annual Review Meeting from 9 to 11 July 2025 in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The review brought together high-level government officials, technical experts, UN representatives, and other partners committed to advancing Ethiopia’s pandemic preparedness through a unified One Health approach. Participants included representatives from the Ministry

Juba – South Sudan is taking a significant step forward in protecting its children from Measles with the nationwide introduction of the second dose of the Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV2) into the routine immunisation schedule. The two-dose regimen is part of the 2017 recommendations by the World Health Organisation to all countries. As of 12