Benin publishes its first health sector report and reviews a decade of progress

Health Sector Status Report (RAESS)
Benin presented its first national report on the state of the health sector on Tuesday in Cotonou. Developed by the Health Sector Regulatory Authority (ARS) with the support of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), this document provides a structured analysis of the functioning of the health system and the developments recorded over the past years. It highlights the progress achieved, the persistent gaps, and the priorities that need to be strengthened in the years ahead.

A Review of the National Community Health Policy to strengthen gains and accelerate reforms

A Review of the National Community Health Policy to Strengthen Gains and Accelerate Reforms
From 15 to 18 July 2025, the national review workshop of the National Community Health Policy (PNSC) provided a platform for exchange aimed at assessing the implementation of the policy and setting the priority directions for the years ahead. Organized by the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF, WHO, the U.S. Government, WAHO and other partners, the meeting brought together institutional actors, local authorities, community organizations and the entire network of technical partners involved in the initiative.

Namibia advances regulatory strengthening through WHO-assisted self-benchmarking exercise

WHO

WindhoekThe World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a week-long assisted self-benchmarking exercise aimed at strengthening Namibia’s national regulatory system for medical products. Held in Windhoek from 20 to 24 October 2025, the assisted self-benchmarking used the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT) to review the maturity of the country’s regulatory functions and to identify the strengths of the system and priority areas for improvement.

 

Strengthening capacity of healthcare workers to fast-track cervical cancer elimination in Eswatini

Dr Dille from WHO AFRO  looks on as the team conducts leep on a patient.

Mbabane—Eswatini faces one of the highest burdens of cervical cancer globally. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office has supported the Ministry of Health in the development and ongoing implementation of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Acceleration Plan (2024–2028). This plan aims to achieve the 90–70–90 targets by 2030, in alignment with the WHO Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem.

Strengthening collaboration for safer blood and availability

WHO

WindhoekThe World Health Organization (WHO) visited the Namibia Blood Transfusion Service (NamBTS) Headquarters in Windhoek to gain an in-depth understanding of the organization’s operations and identify potential areas for closer collaboration. The visit, initiated by NamBTS, provided WHO an opportunity to observe the entire blood donation and transfusion value chain, from donor recruitment and collection to testing, processing and safe patient transfusion.