Feature Stories

Brazzaville – When Angèle, a young mother living on Mbamou Island, began experiencing abdominal pain a few weeks after giving birth, she thought it was just a minor discomfort. But the symptoms worsened, revealing a cholera infection. "I didn’t understand what was happening to me. The pain started mildly, then became unbearable. I had stomach aches, fever, and felt very weak. I thought it was normal after childbirth. I didn’t think it was an illness."

Mbera – Every year on 19 August, the world celebrates World Humanitarian Day to honour the women and men who, often in difficult conditions, devote their lives to helping others. This year's theme, “Strengthening global solidarity and empowering local communities,” focused on recognizing the critical role of local actors in humanitarian response. 

Mberra Camp – When children in Mberra refugee camp began arriving at health posts with sore throats, low-grade fevers and swollen necks early this year, health workers feared the worst. Within days, breathing difficulties and the tell-tale thick grey coating in some throats confirmed an outbreak of diphtheria.

Mberra – In the remote southeastern corner of Mauritania, more than 60 000 Malian refugees displaced by conflict are rebuilding their lives. Until recently, a medical emergency in the Mberra refugee camp meant a race against time. 

With the nearest hospital in Bassiknou, over 60 kilometres away, and no available ambulance, pregnant women and critically-ill patients were forced to make the journey on motorcycles and donkey carts, often with tragic results.

Juba ‒ In an effort to address severely limited access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services in South Sudan, the Ministry of Health, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, has been implementing several initiatives to expand access in seven of its 10 states. 

Kinshasa – Mpox continues to strain the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s health system. Between 1 January and 31 May 2025, the country reported more than 12 000 suspected cases and 22 deaths, accounting for over 50% of all mpox cases in Africa this year.

In response, World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) are supporting the country’s efforts to strengthen clinical care, improve detection and build the skills and engagement of frontline responders.  

Lusaka – To improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, including family planning and safe abortions, Zambia is training health workers in values clarification and attitude transformation (VCAT).  

Adolescents and young people often face barriers when seeking family planning services or safe abortions at health facilities. These barriers can be rooted in stigma and discrimination, which foster disapproval and negative perceptions against people seeking or providing these services.

Goma – In mid-May, 57-year-old Pierre* was admitted to a health centre in the Lubero area after suffering from severe itching on his right hand, followed by pruritus and a swelling of his forearm. He was treated and, given the unusual symptoms, samples were collected and sent for analysis at the laboratory of the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Goma. 

Addis Ababa – To address gaps in sexual and reproductive healthcare access, widened by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing humanitarian crises, Ethiopia is reinforcing its health system, making these vital services more accessible for women and adolescents in remote and crisis-affected areas.