Abuja – “We want a health system that listens to young people now, not later,” said Dr Muhammad Jafar, a young medical doctor with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, as he addressed participants at the United Nations building in Abuja.

Nairobi - For many women in Kenya, pregnancy and childbirth are a time of hope and new beginnings. Yet for some mothers, this period is accompanied by mental health challenges. 

Feelings of worry, sadness, and emotional distress may arise during pregnancy and after childbirth but often go unrecognized by health professionals, thus limiting access to the mental health care that women need.

Mokolo, Cameroon—For five years, 29-year-old Denise lived with an obstetric fistula, a childbirth-related complication that profoundly affected her life. After undergoing surgery at the Mokolo Regional Annex Hospital in Cameroon’s Far North Region in April 2026, she is gradually rebuilding her life.

“This operation has changed my life in many ways. Today, I feel like any other woman,” says Denise.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 16 July 2026 — The World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia congratulates the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) on its 100th anniversary and the convening of the Fifth Public Health Scientific Congress, recognizing a century of outstanding contributions to protecting and improving the health of the Ethiopian people.

Juba - Mrs. Jeba (a pseudonym used to protect her identity), a 24-year-old resident of Gudele suburb in Juba and a first-time mother, received an unexpected diagnosis during her pregnancy. During a routine antenatal care visit, she tested positive for hepatitis B but negative for HIV and syphilis. Despite the diagnosis, her child was successfully protected from all three infections, bringing immense joy to her family.

Juba

"Young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, they are shaping Namibia today," Hon. Amb. Dr Kaire Mbuende, Director General of the National Planning Commission

The World Health Organization joined the Government of Uganda and partners in celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), one of Africa's most respected institutions for infectious disease research, surveillance and outbreak response. 

Juba- In response to the emerging needs for the sustained Cholera outbreak in South Sudan, WHO has received 19 metric tons of emergency supplies to replenish the fast-depleting stockpile of medical countermeasures needed in the response. These medical supplies enhance operational readiness and surge capacity. The shipment includes cholera response kits to support early detection and treatment, Inter-Agency Emergency Health Kits, as well as tents to expand temporary isolation capacity.

Harare, Zimbabwe – July 2026 – Zimbabwe has successfully completed three rounds of synchronized vaccination campaigns using the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) as part of a coordinated Southern African response to prevent the re-establishment of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).