Coronavirus - Liberia: National Incident Management System convenes Health Donors Conference six months into Emergency COVID-19 Response

Since the reporting of the first COVID-19 confirmed case on 6 March 2020, Liberia has reported a total of 1,056 confirmed cases as of 14 July 2020 in 14 out of 15 counties

Nearly six months into the COVID-19 response, Liberia National Incident Management System (IMS) on 15th July 2020 conducted its first comprehensive review of the response activities to address the health needs and livelihood of nearly 5 million people. The objective of the conference was to review the ongoing response, identify…

Coronavirus - Africa: Situation update for the WHO African Region, External Situation Report 9 (29 April 2020)

As of 28 April 2020, a cumulative total of 22 376 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 899 deaths (case fatality ratio 4.0%) have been reported across the 45 affected countries in the region

A steady increase in the number of cases has been observed in the WHO African Region since the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported on 25 February 2020 in Algeria. All Member States have since been affected, with the exemption of Comoros and Lesotho where there have…

WHO Executive Board appoints directors for Africa and Europe

Re-appointed Dr Matshidiso Moeti for a second term as WHO Regional Director for Africa

The WHO Executive Board, currently holding its 146th session in Geneva, has re-appointed Dr Matshidiso Moeti for a second term as WHO Regional Director for Africa and Dr Hans Kluge as Regional Director for Europe in his first term. Re-election of the Regional Director for Africa “I am greatly honoured…

WHO announces four new goodwill ambassadors for promoting global health

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Cynthia Germanotta, Alisson Becker and Natália Loewe Becker to champion global health

World Health Organization today announced today the appointment of four new goodwill ambassadors, from the fields of sports, politics and community mobilization, to promote healthier lives, stronger health workforces and improved mental health globally. The new ambassadors are: Alisson Becker, goalkeeper of the Brazilian national and Liverpool football teams, and…

Address to the Seventieth World Health Assembly Geneva, Switzerland, 22 May 2017

By Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization

Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization: Madame President, Excellencies, honourable ministers, ambassadors, distinguished delegates, friends and colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,   I thank Member States for the trust shown when you appointed me as your Director-General more than ten years ago. I promised to work tirelessly, and…

Unexplained cluster of deaths – Liberia

As of 4 May 2017, a total of 28 cases including 12 deaths (case fatality rate: 43 %) were reported

On 25 April 2017, the Ministry of Health of Liberia notified WHO and partners of a cluster of sudden deaths of unknown aetiology in Sinoe County. The event started on 23 April 2017 when an 11-year-old child had been admitted to hospital presenting with diarrhoea, vomiting and mental confusion after…

Leaders gather in Guinea to celebrate Ebola vaccine successes

Dr Chan joined the President of the Republic of Guinea, HE Professor Alpha Conde, His Excellency Minister of Health, Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, and representatives from the Governments of Liberia and Sierra Leone, in celebrating the successful development of the world’s first vaccine against Ebola

“The world is far better prepared for another Ebola outbreak,” said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, today at a celebratory event to recognize the Governments and people of the three most-affected countries for their contribution to the control of the Ebola outbreak in 2014-15. Dr Chan…

From coast to coast: Africa unites to tackle threat of polio

116 million children to be immunized from coast to coast across the continent, as regional emergency outbreak response intensifies

More than 190 000 polio vaccinators in 13 countries across west and central Africa will immunize more than 116 million children over the next week, to tackle the last remaining stronghold of polio on the continent.   The synchronized vaccination campaign, one of the largest of its kind ever implemented…

Final trial results confirm Ebola vaccine provides high protection against disease

The vaccine is the first to prevent infection from one of the most lethal known pathogens

An experimental Ebola vaccine was highly protective against the deadly virus in a major trial in Guinea, according to results published today in The Lancet. The vaccine is the first to prevent infection from one of the most lethal known pathogens, and the findings add weight to early trial results…

WHO declares the end of the most recent Ebola virus disease outbreak in Liberia

Today the World Health Organization (WHO) declares the end of the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia. This announcement comes 42 days (two 21-day incubation cycles of the virus) after the last confirmed Ebola patient in Liberia tested negative for the disease for the second time. Liberia…