One of the cornerstones of a successful response system to a disease outbreak such as the Sudan virus disease (SVD) is the effective coordination of partners. For this reason, this role is usually the preserve of the Ministry of Health (MoH), closely supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) as co-chair. Should partner coordination fail

Cotonou, April 4, 2025 – Dr. Kouamé Jean KONAN, recently appointed Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Benin, officially presented his crendentials on Friday, April 4, 2025, to His Excellency Mr. Olushegun Adjadi BAKARI, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin. Dr. Kouamé Jean KONAN thus becomes the 12th WHO Resident

Brazzaville – Eight Southern African countries have embarked on a landmark effort to bolster emergency preparedness and response systems in the face of increasing climate-related health threats.  With financial support from the Pandemic Fund, and technical assistance from World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region and other partners, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia

Brazzaville – Africa faces a chronic shortage of oral health workers due to underinvestment, leaving millions of people without adequate care and vulnerable to preventable oral diseases, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) workforce fact sheet on oral health released today.  The WHO fact sheet states that the region has been experiencing the highest

Freetown, 7 April 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Sierra Leone, joined the global community to commemorate World Health Day 2025 under the theme: "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures a Call to Action to strengthen systems and partnerships that ensure every woman and newborn survives and thrives.  The

Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO), with financial support from the Global Fund, has handed vital medical supplies and two brand-new Toyota minibuses to the Ministry of Health (MOH), Sierra Leone worth USD 432,000 to strengthen the country's health system's capacity. This donation forms part of the WHO's World Health

On April 7th, WHO Zambia hosted a significant advocacy meeting at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel to commemorate World Health Day. This year’s theme, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” emphasizes the importance of maternal and newborn health and highlights the need for more investments in quality healthcare services to ensure a healthy start for mothers and their

Kampala, Uganda. Ireland’s Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, has announced €1 million contribution to support the World Health Organization (WHO)-led efforts to tackle the outbreak of the Sudan virus disease (SVD) as part of the UN Uganda Emergency Appeal. This will be used to support surveillance, infection prevention and control, and

On World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for urgent action to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and ensure that every mother and baby not only survive but thrive. This year’s theme, Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, is a reminder that health starts at birth and must be protected throughout life. To mark

On World Health day, Uganda reflects on progress, challenges, and collaborative strategies to reduce maternal and newborn mortality under the theme "Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,".  This theme calls for intensified efforts by governments and communities to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths and prioritize women’s long-term health. Marking the start of a yearlong campaign, the

The agony experienced by mothers during childbirth evokes sorrowful memories for Mrs. Atto Christine Lino, a midwife in South Sudan. Mrs. Lino, a 28-year-old midwife, working at Gurei Primary Health Care Centre in Juba, highlights the severe challenges mothers go through while delivering babies in South Sudan. “It is always a very painful experience, working

Brazzaville – The African region has made progress in lowering maternal mortality since 2000 but needs a 12-fold increase in the annual reduction rate to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100 000 live births by 2030, new estimates by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Interagency Group show.