Rwanda: the beacon of Universal Health Coverage in Africa

Dr Diane Gashumba Rwanda Minister of Health receiving an award on behalf of President Kagame for promoting UHC in his country and setting the example in Africa

Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in the African mainland. It is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. No miracle was expected from that African country following the genocide against the Tutsi of 1994. Fundamental to recovery – building trust and fostering peace and stability – Rwanda has been continuously investing in services, like health, infrastructures and education.

WHO Eritrea and European Union Collaboration Meeting

Group photo

Today, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Eritrea, Mr Gabor Iklody accompanied by Elisabetta Pietrobon, head of political, press and information section who recently arrived in Eritrea paid an official working visit to WHO Office in Asmara.

Responding to the challenge of drug use among women in Nigeria

The behavioural medicine unit of the Karu General Hospital, Abuja. Many drug abuse patients are treated here.

Abuja, 9 December 2019 - “I used to be a full-time patient at this facility,” says Michelle Eze, a drug abuse survivor, as she signs her name in the register for a check-up with her psychiatrist at Karu General Hospital in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory(FCT). 

Sierra Leone Adapts new WHO guidelines for improved disease surveillance for the Africa region

A cross section of partners in the adaptation
Sierra Leone has adapted the third edition of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) technical guidelines 2019. The new guidelines were released by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in August this year to incorporate recent recommendations by expert panels on strengthening the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and global health security. Adaptation of the guidelines is a way of aligning Sierra Leone’s public health security needs and priorities with current technologies, information, tools and materials taking into consideration new trends and developments such as evidence on important diseases, conditions and events in the world.

Benin hosts the first annual review and planning meeting of the initiative for access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa

Dr Pétas AKOGBETO, Directeur de Cabinet du Ministre de la Santé entouré de Dr Triphonie NKURUNZIZA, Conseillère régionale chargée de la Santé Maternelle et Reproductive au Bureau Régional de l’OMS pour l’Afrique et de Madame Mary Lyn Gaffield, spécialiste de la Planification Familiale au Siège de l’OMS à Genève en Suisse.
L’hôtel Azalai de la capitale économique a servi de cadre à la cérémonie d’ouverture officielle de cette importante réunion réunissant une centaine de participants/tes venus de onze (11) pays situés au sud du Sahara. Il s’agit de la Tanzanie, de la Sierra Leone, du Nigeria, du Niger, du Mali, de la Guinée, du Kenya, de la RDC, de l’Afrique du Sud, du Rwanda, du Burkina-Faso et du Bénin. Une cérémonie empreinte de solennité et haute en couleurs a marqué le démarrage des travaux présidée par Dr Pétas AKOGBETO, Directeur de Cabinet du Ministre de la Santé entouré de Dr Triphonie NKURUNZIZA, Conseillère régionale chargée de la Santé Maternelle et Reproductive au Bureau Régional de l’OMS pour l’Afrique et de Madame Mary Lyn Gaffield, spécialiste de la Planification Familiale au Siège de l’OMS à Genève en Suisse.

Ebola J&J Vaccination Campaign launched jointly by Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo

Dr Diane Gashumba_ Minister of Health_ joint launching Rwanda_DRC_EVD J&J vaccination campaign

On 8th of December 2019, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo launched jointly a vaccination campaign for Ebola prevention named Johnson and Johnson Vaccine(J&J). This important event was a big progress in Ebola Disease fighting in a joint cross-border manner between DRC and Rwanda, the first ever cross border vaccination of Ebola Disease Virus. The event took place in Rubavu District, at “La Grande Barriere” border.

Polio Eradication: Africa Regional Certification Commission begins verification visit to Nigeria

Cover page of the Documentation for the Certification

Abuja, 07 December 2019 – The Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for poliomyelitis eradication kicks off, a two-week visit to Nigeria on 09 December 2019, to conduct critical analysis and verify the accuracy of the certification documents prepared by the Nigerian Government. 

The independent commission has already accepted the documentation of 43 African countries as part of the process to certify the African Region free from all types of wild poliovirus, with only Cameroon, Central African Republic, Nigeria, and South Sudan remaining.