Programmes and Clusters News

15 November 2021 | Diabetes

On the frontlines of diabetes fight in Senegal

Senegal, like many African countries, is bearing an increasing heavy diabetes burden. While efforts are being made to improve prevention, care and treatment, Professor Maïmouna Ndour Mbaye, head of the Internal Medicine unit, Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar and director of the country’s national Diabetes Centre, notes that stepping up diabetes control in Senegal starts with a strong national programme. The response must involve all the sectors of the society up to individuals who have a crucial prevention role by adopting healthy practices.

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28 October 2021 | Polio

Mobile cash in polio response: three things to know

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa pioneered mobile money transfer system under the Polio Eradication Initiative programme essentially to pay vaccination campaign workers. So far eight African countries have adopted the payment system, with others working to deploy mobile-based cash transfers in health programmes beyond polio. Dorcas Karimi, Digital Finance Officer with the WHO Regional Office for Africa, explains the progress achieved so far.

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26 October 2021 | Polio

Pursuing the endgame: novel polio vaccine rollout in Africa

In November 2020, the novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) became the first vaccine to be authorized under the WHO Emergency Use Listing. The vaccine has since been rolled out for limited initial use in countries to tackle vaccine-derived poliovirus. Dr Richelot Ayangma, Medical Officer and nOPV2 Focal Point at the WHO Regional Office for Africa explains the vital role of the vaccine in ending all forms of polio and what countries must do to ensure effective vaccination campaigns.

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22 October 2021 | Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Disease Neglected Tropical Diseases

WHO unveils new analytical tools on the ESPEN data portal

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, through the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), is making available new analytical tools in the NTD Data Portal allowing Neglected Tropical Diseases programmes and stakeholders to better track rollout and impact of interventions, and make data-driven decisions on strategies.  

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15 October 2021 | Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccines

Country support missions to help drive optimal COVID-19 vaccine uptake across Africa

World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) multidisciplinary teams of specialists are set to be deployed to about 15 African countries. They will address obstacles that are impeding the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, with a view to supporting national authorities achieve the 10% coverage target for all populations as soon as possible, and 40% by the end of the year.

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