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Tobacco use remains the single most preventable cause of death globally, claiming millions of lives each year and burdening health systems with avoidable disease.

In 2022, 11.2% of Namibians aged 15 and over were smokers, with a significantly higher prevalence among men (19.2%) compared to women (4.0%). Youth tobacco use remains a significant concern, with 31.1% of those aged 13-15 using tobacco products. Namibia loses approximately 1,700 lives each year due to tobacco-related diseases and faces substantial economic costs. 

Violence against children in Namibia remains alarmingly high despite the government's commitment to ending it. 

The 2019 Namibia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) shows that nearly 40% of girls and 45% of boys suffered from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse during childhood. Physical violence is the most widespread, affecting 32.9% of girls and 41.2% of boys before they turn 18. 

Angola has launched one of the largest public health campaigns in its history: vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer. The goal is clear and urgent: to protect more than two million girls aged between 9 and 12 across the country between October 27 and November 7. 

The World Health Organization Ethiopia (WHO) country office continues to support the Government of Ethiopia in advancing the digitalization and modernization of its public health emergency systems, helping ensure timely data-driven decisions for preparedness and response.

This opinion piece was first published in Jornal de Angola, a copy of which c

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.

Over 60 participants, including representatives from the Amhara Public Health Institute (APHI), the Amhara Regional Health Bureau (RHB), religious leaders, the World Health Organization and partners, gathered for a two-day workshop to validate the "Minimum Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Health Requirements for Religious Institutions in the Amhara Region".

The initiative marks a new phase in Ethiopia’s fight against recurrent cholera outbreaks—combining the influence of faith leaders with public health expertise to protect communities and strengthen outbreak preparedness.

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.

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.”

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.