When schools closed in Chikwawa and many parts of the country, many children left their homes to attend traditional initiation camps, known locally as ku Simba. While these cultural gatherings are an important part of community life, they also presented a challenge for health workers determined to ensure every eligible child received the polio vaccine. 

For Yohane Botha, an initiation leader from Ntsapa in Group Village Bendana, the solution was clear.

“These children deserve to be protected from polio. They should not be left behind because of tradition,” he says. 

For a long time, Agness Chinkudzu carried a fear that many parents can relate to: the fear of seeing her child fall ill. Living in Kuyenderana Village in Chikwawa, she had watched her child become sick after previous vaccinations and was convinced that vaccination was the cause. The experience left her deeply worried and determined that her child would never receive another vaccine. 

Three-day retreat provides space for reflection, learning and collective action as staff align around priorities for the work ahead

The WHO Ghana Country Office stepped away from the pace of its day-to-day work to reflect on progress, examine challenges and look ahead at how the Office can work more effectively together to deliver greater impact for health in Ghana.

Kinshasa—One hundred days have passed since the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak, which has now become the country's fastest growing. Transmission is outpacing control efforts, requiring a substantial scale-up across all areas of response to halt the spread of the virus. 

Behind Every Child Reached: A Day with Maria During the Polio Vaccination and Vitamin A Supplementation Campaign in Luanda

At four in the morning, while much of Luanda is still asleep, Maria Matos is already up. By six, she is on her way to a Municipal Health Directorate, where she joins the local teams preparing for another day of work in the field.

Addis Ababa – Health leaders and partners from eleven countries in the WHO African Region have concluded the first regional review and learning meeting of a three-year initiative aimed at preventing and treating child wasting.

Nairobi - The World Health Organization (WHO) this week joined more than 5,000 delegates, including the Government of Kenya, county governments, Parliament, development partners, the private sector, civil society and communities, at the Kenya Health Summit 2026 in Nairobi, held under the theme “Reforms Delivered, Health as a Right.”

Brazzaville - Following rigorous technical assessments, five African countries have successfully stopped the spread of polio, marking an important milestone in efforts to protect children from this virus and advance towards eradication.

At a time when Africa faces evolving health challenges, growing demands on health systems and the urgent need for greater self-reliance, leaders from across the continent gathered in Ghana with a shared conviction: the future of Africa’s health must be shaped by African leadership, investment and innovation.