Cote d’Ivoire declares first Ebola outbreak in more than 25 years

Cote d’Ivoire declares first Ebola outbreak in more than 25 years
The Ministry of Health of Cote d’Ivoire today confirmed the country’s first case of Ebola since 1994. This came after the Institut Pasteur in Cote d’Ivoire confirmed the Ebola Virus Disease in samples collected from a patient, who was hospitalized in the commercial capital of Abidjan, after arriving from Guinea.

Nigeria receives 177,600 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines for next phase of COVID-19 vaccinations

The ED (3rd left explaining the cold chain capacity for the J & J vaccine to dignitaries, including WR (2nd right)

Abuja, 8 August, 2021 - Nigeria has taken delivery of 177,600 Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine on 12 August 2021 in Abuja. The delivery marks the first wave of arrivals of COVID-19 vaccines procured through the African Union. 

“The arrival of these vaccines will be yet another step in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Dr Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Botswana receives an emergency medical team to support the COVID-19 response initiatives

MoHW Permanent Secretary Grace Muzila, amongst the medical team members attending the meet and greet event
The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office organized a meet and greet session for a team of medics from the United Kingdom. The Emergency Medical Team (EMT) has been deployed to Botswana to provide front-line response support and specialist expertise in hospitals currently battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Abia State vaccinates over one million children during second round of outbreak response

The Deputy Governor, Ude Oko Chukwu administering the vaccine to a child during the flag-off

Umuahia, 10 August, 2021 - Abia State located in the south east geopolitical zone, has vaccinated over one million children with the novel oral polio vaccine 2 (nOPV2) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners during the second outbreak vaccination response campaign. 

During the 6-day exercise (31 July-04 August), 1,077, 562 children were vaccinated in 10,934 communities from 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs). 

Professor Mbongwe receives an important recognition for her role in the fight against tobacco consumption in Botswana

Professor Bontle Mbongwe, after delivering her acceptance speech at the World No Tobacco Award Ceremony

3 August 2021, Gaborone: Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes individuals and organizations worldwide for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition is acknowledged by the WHO Director-General through a Special Recognition Award and World No Tobacco Day Awards. This year Botswana celebrates the recipient of the WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award, Professor Bontle Mbongwe.

A frontline health worker in Ethiopia shares her journey of caring for COVID-19 patients: How the COVID-19 vaccine encouraged her to do more with less fear

A frontline health worker in Ethiopia shares her journey of caring for COVID-19 patients: How the COVID-19 vaccine encouraged her to do more with less fear
Asmera Seyum is one of the frontline workers in Ethiopia who has been caring for the COVID-19 patients since March 2020, when the first case was detected in the country. She is a senior nurse, and ward coordinator at Eka Kotebe General Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which provides, isolation, admission and intensive care for COVID-19 patients.

Vaccine Hesitancy hinders rollout of COVID-19 Vaccination

Left to right: WHO Representative, Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Ester Muinjangue, Right Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Saara  Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Peya Mushelenga
The delay or refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine has marred the effectiveness of the vaccination campaign in Namibia. A third of respondents from a recent WHO/Namibia survey on adherence to Covid-19 public health measures were unwilling to get vaccinated because of safety concerns. This together with the limited availability of vaccines contributed to the low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines with only 6.3% of the Namibian population having received their first dose and 1.6% being fully vaccinated as of 28 July 2021.  It is estimated that the country may need to vaccinate at least 10,000 people per day if it’s to reach its target of 60% of the population.