Sierra Leone’s determination to stem maternal and child mortality
Freetown ‒ Sierra Leone has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, with 717 mothers dying annually for every 100 000 live births as of 2019 (DHS, 2019). One of the primary contributing factors is delayed first visits to health facilities by mothers-to-be. Provision of quality preconception, antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care to all mothers in also inequitable. High out-of-pocket expenditure for accessing basic care, as well as inadequate delivery of patient-centered care at both primary and secondary levels, compound the challenges.
Ghana’s Dr Asamoa-Baah named Public Health Champion
An integrated COVID-19 and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in Tigray completed
Ethiopia introduced Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged 14-year-old in 2018 and COVID-19 vaccine in March 2021. Since then, HPV vaccination has been provided as two doses to girls aged 14 years with a six-month interval and the COVID-19 vaccine to all people aged 12 years and above.
Tigray region was not able to participate in the nationwide integrated HPV and COVID-19 vaccination campaign which was conducted few months ago due to competing priorities. Tigray region launched similar integrated COVID-19 and HPV the campaign on 15th August 2023.
Off-track cervical cancer progress risks 70 000 deaths every year in Africa
Flashbacks: Cholera- a battle well fought together
In line with the President of Malawi’s launch of “Tithetse kolera campaign”, RCCE integrated community-based interventions designed by Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce cholera cases and deaths in the communities.
Funding crisis threatens Africa’s fight against neglected tropical diseases
Health leaders vow to enhance response as Africa marks a year without wild polio detection
Cholera Outbreak Response and After-Action Review
South Africa's multisectoral response to the Cholera Outbreak has culminated in successful containment within 165 days of the cholera outbreak official declaration. The initial cases were reported in Gauteng, with both patients having a history of travel to a neighboring country grappling with a cholera outbreak. Subsequently, the outbreak rapidly spread, affecting 17 out of 52 districts across five provinces, including Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North-West, and Limpopo.
Botswana National HIV Reference Laboratory designated WHO Collaborating Centre of Excellence
The Republic of Botswana and the World Health Organization today announced the designation of the Botswana National HIV Reference Laboratory as a WHO Collaborating Centre of Excellence, in recognition of the laboratory’s excellence in the field of HIV diagnosis and the potential for deeper collaboration with WHO in advancing the health and well-being of people living with HIV.