Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Seven out of 10 people protected by at least one tobacco control measure

In the last 15 years since WHO’s MPOWER tobacco control measures were introduced globally, smoking rates have fallen

A new World Health Organization (WHO) report highlights that 5.6 billion people – 71% of the world’s population – are now protected with at least one best practice policy to help save lives from deadly tobacco – five times more than in 2007. In the last 15 years since WHO’s MPOWER tobacco…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 could reverse decades of progress toward eliminating preventable child deaths, agencies warn

In May, initial modelling by Johns Hopkins University showed that almost 6,000 additional children could die per day due to disruptions due to COVID-19

With the number of under-five deaths at an all-time recorded low of 5.2 million in 2019, disruptions in child and maternal health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic are putting millions of additional lives at stake. The number of global under-five deaths dropped to its lowest point on record in…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

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…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Cholera Vaccination Campaign Begins In Mozambique

Following Cyclone Idai devastation, nearly 900,000 people will receive the vaccine from the Gavi-funded stockpile

An oral cholera vaccination campaign to protect survivors of Cyclone Idai begins today in Beira, Mozambique. Funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the campaign will be carried out by the Mozambique Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, including UNICEF, the International Federation…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization Director-General: invest in health to end plague in Madagascar

WHO urgently requires an additional US$ 4 million to sustain response operations over the next three months and until April 2018

The Director-General of WHO has outlined his vision for a Madagascar free of plague epidemics during a three-day visit to the island nation that started on 7 January 2018.   "Madagascar can make plague epidemics a thing of the past through strategic investments in its health system – including better…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Madagascar plague: mitigating the risk of regional spread

From August to late October 2017, more than 1800 suspected, probable or confirmed plague cases were reported, resulting in 127 deaths

This year plague came early to Madagascar and spread quickly. When it began to move out from the areas where it traditionally occurs, people became increasingly alarmed – both within the island nation and in neighbouring territories and countries. From August to late October 2017, more than 1800 suspected, probable…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Suspected cases from Seychelles test negative for plague

World Health Organization is working with the Seychelles health authorities to reduce the risk of plague spreading from neighbouring Madagascar

Samples from patients in Seychelles suspected to be ill with pneumonic plague tested negative at a World Health Organization (WHO) partner laboratory in Paris, France on Tuesday (17 October). The ten samples were shipped by the Seychelles Ministry of Health and WHO to the collaborating centre for Yersinia at the Institut Pasteur…