Children with cancer evacuated from Gaza for treatment to Egypt and Jordan

WHO, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital and key countries coordinate vital humanitarian action amidst ongoing conflict

Some 12 children with cancer or other blood disorders have been evacuated, with their companions, from the Gaza Strip in the occupied Palestinian territory to Egypt and Jordan so they may continue their treatment safely. Additional children are expected to be evacuated for cancer treatment as part of this initiative.…

Coronavirus: Sierra Leone Receives 113,490 Pfizer Vaccines Donated by the US Government via COVAX Facility

The COVAX Facility has been instrumental in ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines are available in Sierra Leone to protect people

The United States Government, through the COVAX Facility, has boosted the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive in Sierra Leone, with a donation of 113,490 doses of the Pfizer vaccines.  This generous contribution from the US Government comes within a week of Sierra Leone receiving consignments of 151,200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson…

Coronavirus - Africa: The vaccines success story gives us hope for the future

Vaccines remain the safest, most cost-effective protection against disease and will provide a powerful tool to address the COVID-19 pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO), working in partnership with both public and private sectors, has a proud history of vaccinology. By assessing vaccines for global supply, WHO’s groundbreaking Prequalification programme has made possible the deployment of quality-assured, safe and effective vaccines to dozens of countries across the world. This programme…

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…

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…

Coronavirus - Africa: WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19

I would like to thank the African Union, the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, the Jack Ma Foundation and all our partners for their solidarity with African countries

By WHO Director-General Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, wherever you are. When the nations of the world met to form the United Nations in 1945, one of the first things they discussed was establishing an organization to protect and promote the health of the world’s people. They expressed…

Coronavirus - Mozambique: World Health Organization - 17 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Mozambique

Seven (7) cases were confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the National Institute of Health (INS)

Mozambique has registered seven (7) new positive cases for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the last 24 hours, increasing the total number of confirmed cases to seventeen (17), in which nine (9) are local transmissions, announced the Ministry of Health of Mozambique. The National Director for Public Health, Dr. Rosa Marlene,…

Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations

COVID-19 virus is transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes

Scientific brief According to current evidence, COVID-19 virus is transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact routes. Droplet transmission occurs when a person is in in close contact (within 1 m) with someone who has respiratory symptoms (e.g.  coughing or sneezing,) and is therefore at risk of having his/her…

B-roll – Coronavirus in Africa: More than 600 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the African continent in 34 countries, compared to 147 just one week ago

Citing the World Health Organization (WHO), a UN spokesperson said there were now more than 600 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the African continent in 34 countries, “compared to 147 just one week ago.” B-roll is available here: https://www.unmultimedia.org/avlibrary/asset/2541/2541629/ DESCRIPTION STORY: UN / AFRICA COVID-19 TRT: 0:57 SOURCE: UNIFEED RESTRICTIONS:…

WHO supports Government to immunize ‘Almajiri’ Children in Northwest Nigeria

Almajiri vaccination is the deliberate targeting of eligible children in Almajiri schools with vaccines

In an effort to reach and vaccinate every eligible child in Nigeria, the World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the Government to vaccinate as many Almajiri children in the country as possible. As part of the demand creation strategies, Almajiri vaccination is the deliberate targeting of eligible children in Almajiri…