Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO) Global Malaria Programme launches new operational strategy

In recent years, progress towards critical targets of the WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030 has stalled, particularly in countries that carry a high burden of the disease

Ahead of World Malaria Day, the WHO Global Malaria Programme published a new operational strategy outlining its priorities and key activities up to 2030 to help change the trajectory of malaria trends, with a view to achieving the global malaria targets. The strategy outlines 4 strategic objectives where WHO will focus its efforts,…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

In world first, Nigeria introduces new 5-in-1 vaccine against meningitis

Health workers rollout immunization campaign aiming to reach one million people

In a historic move, Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (called Men5CV) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five strains of the meningococcus bacteria. The vaccine and emergency vaccination activities are funded by Gavi, the Vaccine…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO) and Makerere School of Public Health plan to advance the health research agenda in Uganda

The collaboration has generated a lot of data which complements the support to the Ministry of Health and the global health arena

The World Health Organization and Makerere School of Public Health (MakSPH) are engaged in discussions on how MakSPH may qualify as a WHO Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) in Uganda. This came up during the meeting to review the performance of the five-year memorandum of understanding between the two institutions on planning…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Liberia rewriting cervical cancer narrative, one dose at a time

In Liberia, cervical cancer is the leading cancer among women, followed by breast cancer, making it the primary cause of female cancer-related deaths

Protecting her 13-year-old daughter, Jamsetta Kumeh, from human papillomavirus (HPV) overrode Buludi Martin’s reservations about the vaccine that prevents the infection that can cause cervical cancer. Today she is content that she made the correct decision. “I was afraid, of course,” she admits. “There are so many stories about vaccines,…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO) updates its guidance for Ebola and Marburg disease

New recommendations represent an advance but also highlight need for more evidence to inform effective infection measures, say experts

Ten years on from the West African Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its infection prevention and control guidelines for Ebola and Marburg disease. The key recommendations are summarized in The BMJ today with an infographic and the full guideline is available on both the WHO website and…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO) and Tanzania Ministry of Health take action to improve access to essential medicines for epilepsy and Parkinson disease

Population-based prevalence studies in Tanzania estimate that 450,000 people live with epilepsy, and 36,000 live with Parkinson disease

Tanzania is paving the way in the African region on the implementation of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022-2031 (IGAP). Using epilepsy and Parkinson disease as tracer conditions, WHO and Tanzania Ministry of Health are working together to identify barriers to medication access and…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Breaking the chain of measles spread amongst children in Tanzania

Measles is one of the most contagious infections known to humans and ranks among the top four childhood killers worldwide

Nearly 8 million children in Tanzania have received vaccinations to stay protected against measles-rubella following the recent sporadic and hot spots of measles outbreaks in different areas of the country since July 2022.  In response, the Ministry of Health together with the World Health Organization and partners conducted several periodic…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Global measles threat continues to grow as another year passes with millions of children unvaccinated

Of the countries experiencing outbreaks, 28 were in the WHO Region for Africa

Following years of declines in measles vaccination coverage, measles cases in 2022 have increased by 18%, and deaths have increased by 43% globally (compared to 2021). This takes the estimated number of measles cases to 9 million and deaths to 136 000 – mostly among children – according to a…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance pass the mid-point of the global 10-year strategy to eliminate yellow fever epidemics

The Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) Strategy – a partnership led by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance – launches a report following its mid-term evaluation in 2022

Following devastating outbreaks in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2016 that saw exportation of cases to China, the EYE Strategy  –  a global coalition of over 50 partners in 40 countries  – was launched to accelerate efforts to prevent outbreaks, protect at-risk populations, and save lives across the continent.  The…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

A new resolve to eliminate cholera in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Although vaccines are important, eliminating cholera needs many parts of society to work together, with a focus on getting people safe water and well managed toilet systems

The complex health crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has worsened since the beginning of 2023. In the east of the country, entire villages have been burned to the ground as intercommunal clashes and armed conflict rage, forcing people to leave their homes for their safety and…