Feature Stories

Cotonou – Eric Loko, 37, is a former smoker who managed to quit after eleven years of addiction. His journey reflects both the harmful effects of tobacco and the strength of will require to regain control of one’s health and life.

Eric began smoking at the age of 22, during a particularly difficult period in his life. After family problems, he found himself alone with his two children, facing many responsibilities and deep emotional stress.

Windhoek—At 13 years old, Andre Hansen thought smoking was simply part of growing up.

Like many teenagers trying to fit in, he smoked his first cigarette in the company of other boys in his neighbourhood of Windhoek, Namibia’s capital. What began as experimentation quickly turned into a 17-year-long dependence that would eventually open the door to other  psychoactive substance use, the loss of relationships, stability and self-esteem.

Today, at 33 years old, Hansen has been tobacco-free and abstained from other substance use for more than two years.

Kebbi State, Nigeria—34-year-old Sherifat Omoniyi, is a pharmacist with 9 years’ experience and resident of Kebbi State, northwestern Nigeria. She is also a mother of two, including her 7-month-old son, Abdulrazaq.

Abdulrazaq is eligible for the new R21 malaria vaccine, which was introduced in Nigeria in 2024. 
“I am preparing Abdulrazaq to receive the malaria vaccination at the health facility. I am glad that he falls within the age bracket of 5 ‒11 months,” says Sherifat on the day of the vaccination.

Nairobi—Fifty-year-old Milton Oloo has worked as a cargo loading agent at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya for the last 30 years. Although he handles several tonnes of cargo daily, every now and again a memorable load comes his way.  

It was the case with the shipment of cargo from World Health Organization (WHO)’s Emergency Preparedness and Response hub in Nairobi, Kenya, on 20 May 2026.  

Mbéni – Elhabib Mmadi Ali has been a state-registered nurse since 2018. After specializing in emergency care in 2019, he joined the Mbéni Medical and Surgical Centre (CMC) in the Hamahamet region of Comoros. One year later, he was appointed head nurse of the general emergency department.

As the first point of entry for many patients, often in critical condition, working in emergency care requires far more than technical skills. The role demands qualities such as self-control, stress management, quick adaptability, strong teamwork, and a deep sense of empathy.

Mfou – To bring specialized care closer to communities and reduce long travel distances for people with severe noncommunicable diseases, Cameroon is gradually implementing the PEN-Plus approach to care, with technical support from WHO and its partners.

Bangui—For more than 30 years Regina Patricia Pepa, a midwife and president of the Central African Republic’s Midwives and Birth Attendants Association, has supported thousands of women throughout their journey to motherhood and become a reference for many generations of caregivers, while remaining grounded by the challenges and realities of childbirth. In her long carer she has combined hands-on experience with teaching, heading the Bachelor’s programme in Nursing Sciences at Bangui University where she lectures.

Kindu – Héritier is 42 years old and an analyst by profession and father of four, lives in Kindu, Maniema province. Like many people living with diabetes in this part of central-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, he faces limited access to care due to the province’s isolation and persistent tensions in the East. "There were times I thought my diabetes would eventually take me. Every day, I just try to hold on, even when it becomes difficult to manage my illness," he confides.