Addis Ababa, 19 April 2017 – Ethiopia joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Health Day, on 7 April 2017, at Yeka Kotebe General Hospital, a newly inaugurated hospital with mental health services. This year’s commemoration was under the theme “Depression; Let’s Talk” with a special focus on three groups of the population, namely adolescents and youth, women and elderly.

Lusaka, 13 April 2017 - The government of the Republic of Zambia has called for increased investment in mental health and the integration of services at primary health care facilities in response to the need for people with depression to seek and get help. Speaking at the official launch of the World Health Day 2017 which was commemorated under the theme “Depression, Let’s talk”, the District Commissioner for Ndola District, Mr.

Brazzaville, 14 April 2017 - After over a decade of persistent efforts, Togo has eliminated lymphatic filariasis—also known as elephantiasis—as a public health problem. The announcement follows a formal validation by the World Health Organization (WHO) which congratulated the Togolese government for this historic achievement. 

Monrovia 10th April, 2017:  Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability affecting over 300 million people, representing 4% of the global population. The Ministry of Health of Liberia estimates that over 1.5 million Liberians live with depression, but most are not aware, and therefore do not seek appropriate care.

Lusaka, 12 April 2017 - The World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health conducted a joint meeting for orientation of senior officials from the Ministry of Health, central hospitals, University Teaching Hospitals, statutory bodies and National Professional Officers from WHO on Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Maiduguri, 11 April 2017 - Although, Borno has reported 22 suspected cases of meningitis in 2017, yet no case has been confirmed in the State. Preparedness measures to contain any outbreak have been put in place including prepositioning of additional 7000 doses of ceftriaxone, reactivation of Rapid Response Team, community sensitization and capacity building for surveillance focal points with support from World Health Organization (WHO).

Kaduna, 11 April 2017 - Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Healthcare (NTLC), with support from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), convened an emergency meeting with Governors of the 19 northern states and other stakeholders to discuss the management of the current outbreak of Neisseria Meningitidis serotype C. The major objective of the meeting aimed to devise holistic strategy to forestall fatalities and avert future occurrences.

Following the Ebola crisis, a decade-long Civil War and with significant poverty, depression is estimated to be very common in Sierra Leone, affecting at least three percent of the population in any single year. Mental health practitioners also report that anxiety, psychosis and substance abuse are significant public health concerns. 

Maiduguri, 10 April 2017 - The World Health Organization (WHO) is  committed to providing urgently needed humanitarian health sector support towards reducing morbidity and mortality in the on-going crisis in Borno state.

Damaturu, 10 April 2017 - The Executive Governor of Yobe state, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam has expressed gratitude to the World Health Organization (WHO) for providing technical, financial and human resources for improving the health indicators of the people of Yobe state, including displaced persons, despite the threats of insecurity.