The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in health systems around the world—laying bare the urgent need for stronger investments in pandemic preparedness and response. For Ghana, it served as both a wake-up call and a powerful opportunity: a call to reimagine and rebuild a more resilient, inclusive, and responsive health system that can detect and address emerging health threats before they escalate into crises.

Ghana continues to make impressive strides in the fight against poliovirus, with the last confirmed case of Wild Poliovirus (WPV) recorded in 2008 and the most recent Variant Poliovirus (VDPV) detected in 2024. As the number of confirmed polio cases and detection of the virus in the environment decline steadily, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners remain committed in minimizing the risk of reintroduction of poliovirus. 

Abuja, When Kemi Adesina donated blood for the first time, she did not expect a call of appreciation. A colleague had shared an urgent request for O-negative blood on WhatsApp. Knowing her blood type matched, Kemi volunteered.

“I did it because it felt like the right thing to do,” said Kemi, a 28-year-old office assistant.

At the blood bank, the technician explained that her O-negative blood was rare and urgently needed to treat a man injured in a bus accident.

“I hate needles,” she said. “But I’m glad I went through with it. It saved a life.”

On 12 June 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) joined the Namibia Blood Transfusion Service (NamBTS), the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS), and other partners in commemorating World Blood Donor Day under the global theme, “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives”. This annual event serves as a powerful tribute to the millions of voluntary, unpaid blood donors who selflessly give others a second chance at life.

With the severe cholera outbreak in Angola, residents are understandably alarmed. “What can we do to avoid getting sick?” asked Maesso Damião, a resident of Zaire Province, to World Health Organization (WHO) public health experts who recently visited the province. The team responded with simple advice on food hygiene, water treatment, and seeking early medical treatment. “This information can save our lives,” said Damião. 

Africa CDC Regional Director Dr. Lul Riek and his team recently paid a courtesy call to the WHO Botswana Country Office to explore areas of collaboration and discuss key priorities in Botswana’s health system. The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and enhancing coordination in public health responses across the continent.

Maseru ‒ One afternoon in May 2025, 48-year-old Lebohang Pitso* from Lesotho’s capital, Maseru, felt her life slipping away. Weakened from a bout of severe bleeding caused by cervical cancer, she sought emergency care at the city’s renowned Senkatana Oncology Clinic. A few hours after being admitted and receiving a blood transfusion, she felt a powerful transformation take place in her body.

“It was like a heavy cover was removed from my face,” she says. “The blood gave me life.”

Freetown, Sierra Leone - In a coordinated effort to curb the spread of mpox, the Government of Sierra Leone, working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC, WAHO and partners has deployed 36 AVoHC-SURGE responders to the country’s hotspot districts. The responders, drawn from across multiple sectors, represent a powerful show of solidarity in a moment that demands speed, precision, and collaboration.

Botswana joined the global community in commemorating World Food Safety Day 2025, with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) calling for urgent action to strengthen food safety systems, guided by science and coordinated regulation.