Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus: How polio personnel are pivoting against COVID-19

On World Polio Day, we recognize the immense contributions of polio workers to COVID-19 response and acknowledge the major challenges ahead

World Polio Day, on 24 October, is when the world comes together to celebrate the determination that has brought us 99% of the way to ending polio, and reflect on the heights we must scale to defeat the disease completely.    This year, Africa was declared free of wild poliovirus, a…

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 - South Sudan: With EU support, WHO enhances standard infection prevention and control practices in laboratories to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in South Sudan

Since COVID-19 outbreak was declared in South Sudan, surge laboratory personnel have been engaged to support additional testing needs in National Public Health Laboratory

Over 50 health workers in Juba have been trained this past week with the aim to enhance standard infection prevention and control practices in laboratories and reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection and other infectious diseases. With funding from the European Union (EU), the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - South Sudan: Amidst coronavirus pandemic, WHO and partners vaccinated 94 019 children aged 6 to 59 months against measles in Aweil East County of South Sudan

The campaign that ended on 3 July 2020 was implemented within the national and WHO guidelines for implementing mass vaccination campaigns in the context of COVID-19

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in the country, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other partners have vaccinated over 94 019 children aged 6 to 59 months against measles in Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State to interrupt the transmission. Following the reported cases of measles in…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - Middle East and North Africa: Joint Statement - Food crisis likely to worsen in the Middle East and North Africa as COVID-19 continues

Countries in the region already facing food crisis are hit hardest by the pandemic

Joint statement from the Regional Directors of UNICEF, FAO, WFP and WHO “Governments and partners across the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) are working around the clock to protect communities from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). While these efforts are saving many lives, they are having a critical impact…

World Health Organization (WHO)
Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - South Sudan: Improving access to COVID-19 treatment in South Sudan

The expansion of the Infectious Diseases Unit (IDU) has augmented the bed capacity in the IDU from 24 to 82 to bridge the demand gaps for admission

To provide supportive treatment for severe and critical COVID-19 patients, the World Health Organization (WHO), working with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Medical Corps (IMC) has supported the Ministry of Health to upgrade and equip the Dr John Garang Infectious Diseases Unit (IDU). The expansion of the…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - South Sudan: WHO prepositions supplies to speed-up testing of suspected COVID-19 cases in South Sudan

The supplies delivered include 590 viral transport medium and personal protective equipment for sample collection

In a bid to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the country, WHO in support of the Ministry of Health prepositioned COVID-19 supplies as part of the national COVID-19 preparedness and response plan to twenty different locations including Juba to collect samples, package and transport for testing in Juba. The…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - South Sudan: Increasing access to life-saving treatment for COVID-19 patients in South Sudan

Given the high risk of spread of COVID-19 in South Sudan, expanding the Dr John Garang Infectious Diseases Unit (IDU) is one of the key activities which will help protect South Sudanese citizens

COVID-19 cases have been reported in 52 African countries; many having wide-spread community transmission. Given the high risk of spread of COVID-19 in South Sudan, expanding the Dr John Garang Infectious Diseases Unit (IDU) is one of the key activities which will help protect South Sudanese citizens and residents. To…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19, Situation update for the WHO African Region, External Situation Report 6

Three new countries in the WHO African Region, including Malawi, Sao Tome & Principe and South Sudan have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases

Situation update The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak continues to rapidly expand through the African continent. Since our last situation report on 1 April 2020 (External Situation Report 5), three new countries in the WHO African Region, including Malawi, Sao Tome & Principe and South Sudan have reported confirmed COVID-19…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus - Africa: WHO AFRO Outbreaks and Other Emergencies Week 14

Cases of COVID-19 are rising rapidly and spreading geographically across the WHO African Region, with 45 (96%) of the 47 countries in the Region now reporting cases

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 111 events in the region. This week’s main articles cover key new and ongoing events, including: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the WHO African Region Ebola virus disease…