Praia, Cabo Verde. The World Health Organization (WHO) participated virtually in the 9th International Congress on Ageing, held from 18 to 22 May, under the theme “Ageing without growing old”.

Brazzaville, Kampala, Lomé—The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, in collaboration with ministries of health, partner hospitals, and with support from Irish Aid, organized a series of regional training-of-trainers sessions to strengthen hospital care for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications.

Geneva, Switzerland – During the Interministerial Meeting on Polio in the Horn of Africa and Yemen,

Lusaka, Zambia – The World Health Organization (WHO) in Zambia with assistance from WHO headquarters, and the Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) is supporting preparations for a national survey that will assess health system performance, with a particular focus on the availability and affordability of essential medicines for neurological and mental health conditions.

Tendaba, The Gambia – May 2026 – For many people in The Gambia, seeking help for mental health conditions is not always easy. In rural areas especially, access to specialized services often means travelling long distances, facing financial constraints, and overcoming stigma that discourages open discussion of mental health.

Malawi is institutionalizing quality of care in all its programmes and the delivery of essential health packages at all levels of health care within the Health Sector Strategic Plan III 2023-2030. With support from the World Health Organization WHO, 29 districts institutionalized quality of care using WHO adapted quality-of-care network technical resources, an upgrade from the existing 9 learning districts.

More than 300 regulators, pharmacovigilance experts, health professionals and development partners gathered in Windhoek for the 2026 Annual Meeting of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance Africa Chapter.

Hosted by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council, the meeting took place from 18–20 May under the theme “Patient Safety First: Uniting Pharmacovigilance Efforts under the Africa Medicines Agency.”

Malawi is among the pathfinder countries under the Health Data Collaborative (HDC) and the SDG 3 Global Action Plan—global efforts that bring together governments, international agencies, donors, and academia to improve coordination, strengthen health data systems, and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have taken a decisive step in the fight against polio with the launch of a synchronized vaccination campaign on the Luvu border, as part of a coordinated response to a public health problem that continues to threaten thousands of children in the region.

Katsina – Before the sun rises over Bangel Gabas settlement in Katsina State, Amina Abubakar begins her day. Carrying her three month old son in a traditional striped cloth, she slips her immunisation card into the fold of her dress and starts walking towards the PHC.

The path to the Primary Health Care (PHC) centre in Debe Geri is sandy and uneven. The journey takes nearly an hour each way. With no reminders or announcements, her commitment alone drives her to ensure her child receives essential immunisation services.