Op-Ed By Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative for South Sudan

South Sudan is combating its largest and longest cholera outbreak since independence in 2011. The outbreak, which began in September 2024 has been sustained for now one year, testing the country’s experiences, defining new frontiers to interrupt transmission and providing new lessons for future similar outbreaks.

One year ago, on 28 October 2024, South Sudan declared a cholera outbreak. The outbreak began in Renk, a border town between Sudan and South Sudan, triggered by the influx of returnees and refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan, before spreading to other areas.

To date, nearly 95 000 suspected cases and over 1 500 deaths have been reported from 55 counties across 9 States and all 3 Administrative Areas.

Lusaka – The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health, today officially launched the malaria vaccine (R21/Matrix-M) as part of its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), marking a historic milestone in the country’s fight against malaria. Over 500 000 children aged 6‒8 months will be vaccinated in the months following the launch.

Garissa County—Twenty-five frontline health workers from Garissa County have completed a five-day training on the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Competency Standards for Health Workers providing care to refugees and migrants, equipping them with skills to deliver people-centred and culturally sensitive services in one of Kenya's busiest border regions.

Abuja, Nigeria is taking significant steps to strengthen its national response to mpox by updating its clinical management guidelines, improving referral and data systems, and expanding public awareness to prevent community transmission.

Benguela – The Faculty of Medicine of Katyavala Bwila University (FMUKB), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), held today the Benguela Scientific Conference on Public Health and Innovation, under the theme “Resilience and Innovation in Outbreak Response: The Benguela Experience.”

Dar es salaam: In a major step toward strengthening regional health security, Tanzania has officially gained the capacity to inspect ships and issue internationally recognized Ship Sanitation Certificates (SSCs) in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). This milestone enhances the country’s ability to prevent the cross-border spread of infectious diseases through maritime routes and positions Tanzania as a leader in port health preparedness.

Dar Es Salaam:  Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, has launched a new and improved National Health Portal — a transformative step toward enhancing access to quality health data and promoting evidence-based decision-making across the country.

As part of World Polio Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Angola, in partnership with the JUCARENTA Association, the municipal administration, and community leaders, organised a Community Health Circle in São Pedro da Barra, in the municipality of Hoje-Ya-Henda, Luanda. The event brought together health experts, local authorities, and citizens to emphasize the importance of polio vaccination and reaffirm their commitment to eradicating the disease in Angola.

Dar Es Salaam: A UN Town Hall in Tanzania marked the conclusion of a three-day workshop on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), bringing together 21 UN PSEA Focal Points for capacity building and knowledge exchange.