Statements & Commentaries

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO), and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO EMRO)extend their profound appreciation to the United Kingdom government for the recent announcement of its transformative commitment to enhancing global health made during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The United Kingdom's dedication to addressing the world's most…
Directors of Africa Regional Institutions for the Continental World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2021 - Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is Our Shared Responsibility
We, the Africa Regional Directors of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Regional Office for Africa Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Regional Office for Near East and North Africa World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Office for Africa World Health Organization (WHO), Regional…
DG Dr Tedros and RD Dr Moeti interact with staff during their trip to Butembo
Butembo, 30 April 2019—World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, have concluded a visit to Butembo, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was in Butembo on 19 April that WHO epidemiologist Dr Richard Mouzoko was killed by armed men while he and colleagues were working on the Ebola response. “Dr Mouzoko’s death moved me profoundly. On this mission, he was on my mind the whole time as we met…
BRAZZAVILLE/28 February 2019 –The World Health Organization (WHO) is deeply concerned about the recent attacks on the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)-run Ebola treatment centres on 24 February in Katwa and on 27 February in Butembo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Such attacks are deplorable for their immediate impact on lives and for the risk of spreading the disease further. They are profoundly disrespectful of the dedicated work of local, regional and international responders.…
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa Today marks 6 months since the 10th outbreak of Ebola was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Before I say anything else, I want to recognize and thank our WHO and partner colleagues in the field for their courage, commitment and professionalism. They make us all proud. I also want to acknowledge the steadfast leadership of the Democratic Republic of Congo Ministry of Health and other colleagues. No country would wish to face…
WHO expresses sadness over the death of a colleague working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  The World Health Organization was saddened to hear this morning about the sudden death of a dear colleague in Beni, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The colleague was deployed from a neighbouring country to Beni to work in the Ebola response, where he supported the administrative team. The exact cause of death is still under investigation, but a preliminary medical report has ruled out Ebola and violence.  Currently, there are 500 WHO staff deployed in the DRC to support the Ebola…