Mental health service delivery remains challenging in Sierra Leone and critical gaps in staffing mean thousands are unable to access the services they need. Steps are now being taken to increase psychosocial support available within communities and health facilities.
With a population of 7,000,000 people, Sierra Leone only has two psychiatrists, two Clinical Psychologists, and 19 Mental Health Nurses. Just four nurses have specialized in Child and Adolescent mental health.

Juba, 29 August 2016 - Two unidentified gunmen killed Mr Benty Rubben Mangbondo, a World Health Organization (WHO) health worker, in Yambio, South Sudan on 17 August.

The attack took place on Wednesday, 17 August 2016, at around 21:00, at Mr Mangbondo’s home in Tindoka residential area, Yambio. The motive behind the incident is unknown but police confirmed they are investigating the case. 

Jinja, 29 August 2016 - The Ministry of Health (MoH) and partners with support from World Health Organization (WHO), convened a four-day orientation retreat for new and old staff of the Uganda National Malaria Control Program. The new staff were recruited through WHO and UNICEF with support from (DFID), Global Fund against Malaria, HIV and TB, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI).

Eritrea received an award of recognition for its exceptional achievement for effective utilization of stock management for immunization services for the third time.

Nairobi, Kenya, 26 August 2016 - The World Health Organization has released a report on health financing in Africa titled, ‘Public Financing for Health in Africa: from Abuja to the SDGs’, 

26 August 2016 - As the preparations for the August outbreak response (OBR) to the detection of two (2) wild polio viruses in Borno State intensify, the five (5) implementing states of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, in collaboration WHO and other partners have commenced the implementation of strategic activities to ensure quality campaign and increased access to children in trapped and susceptible populations living in the region.

The biggest emergency yellow fever vaccination campaign ever held in Africa is underway in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Abuja, 23 July 2016 - Nigeria has been polio-free for two (2) years since the country’s removal from the list of polio-endemic countries on 25 September 2015 by the World Health Organization (WHO). This is the longest period Nigeria has ever gone without a case of wild poliovirus (WPV) and the closest the country, has ever been to ending polio. This important milestone leaves the global community cautiously optimistic that ending polio in Nigeria, and the whole African region, is within reach.

Abuja 25 August 2016 - An international team for surveillance and outbreak response assessment lauds the government of Nigeria for establishing a strong surveillance system in the country. The team made this known at the presentation of their findings to the National polio Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) after 10 days of comprehensive review of the surveillance structure.

Kampala 25th August 2016 - The newly elected Rotary Uganda PolioPlus Committee Chair Ms. Dorothy Naudegga Kabugo paid a courtesy visit to the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative in Uganda Dr. Alemu Wondimagegnehu at the WHO office premises. Flanked by a Rotary Uganda member, Mr. Francis Wangi, they were received by WHO’s Dr. Annet Kisakye, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Team leader who introduced them to the WHO representative.