Accra, Ghana - The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of communities as foundational bedrock for dealing with public health emergencies. Countries need to regularly assess their operational readiness of preparedness activities, especially at the community level to detect and respond to outbreaks of epidemic and pandemic potential more effectively. In Ghana, a three (3) day

Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District, Ghana - Community engagement and participation play a significant role in the health system delivery. Community actors are uniquely positioned to drive demand for health services and champion community ownership of public health interventions, especially at the primary level of health care. In the Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira-District (THLDD), activities of Maame Sofo Sarah Pamful, and

The Ministry of Health (MoH) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, convened a two-day multi-sectorial workshop in Freetown from February 13 to 14, 2024. The purpose was to prepare the 2023 International Health Regulations (IHR) State Party Annual Report (SPAR), marking another stride in strengthening global health security in line

Yambio, 13 February 2024 – In response to the confirmed outbreak of yellow fever on 24 December 2023, with two laboratory-confirmed cases identified in Western Equatoria State, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners, has initiated a reactive Yellow Fever vaccination campaign as part of preventive

Brazzaville – Nearly 10 000 children in Burkina Faso and Cameroon have now received the RTS,S malaria vaccine since being introduced this year. A wider malaria vaccine rollout is underway this year in several African countries, with Cameroon being the first outside the malaria vaccine pilot programme to do so. Cameroon launched the vaccine on

Mauritius celebrated World Cancer Day 2024 against a backdrop of rising cancer cases, in line with global trends. In fact, the International Agency for the Research on Cancer (IARC) and World Health Organization (WHO) predict that  n ew cases worldwide will increase by 50% annually over the next 15 years, and 77% by 2050.  This

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  In a remarkable move towards strengthening its defenses against potential pandemics, Ethiopia officially launched the Ethiopian Pandemic Multi-Sectoral Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Project (EPPR) on Monday, January 29, 2024.  Held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the project launch was attended by H.E. Dr. Lia Tadesse, Minister of Health, H.E. Dr. Girma Amente, Minister of

Abuja, 06 February, 2024 -  When 11-year-old Morenike Ayeni received the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV), she became one of the millions of adolescent girls to get vaccinated against cervical cancer in Nigeria.  “Hearing that the government was giving HPV vaccines to girls aged 9 to 14 years, I made sure my daughter got her shot

In response to the increasing number of cholera cases in Zambia’s Central Province, WHO Zambia has undertaken a crucial mission to assess the situation on the ground and map areas for immediate support. On 15 December 2023, Central Province recorded its first cholera case in Mumbwa district. Since then, the province has witnessed a surge

02 February 2024 Today, the Republic of Angola had the honor of chairing the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on the urgent cholera situation in the region. Heads of States and Government were joined by the Executive Secretary of SADC, alongside representatives from vital

Lusaka – Zambia has the third highest burden of cervical cancer in the world, with an incidence rate of 65.5 per 100 000 women and a mortality rate of 43.4 per 100 000 women in 2020. Despite being a preventable and treatable disease, cervical cancer accounts for about 23% of all new cancer cases in

01 February 2024 After a successful pilot phase of the Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) mass distribution pilot campaign in Bo district in November 2023, the MoH with support from WHO and other partners has initiated a nationwide rollout in the remaining 15 districts with a comprehensive four-day training program for 93 Independent Monitors from the