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Maiduguri, 28 April. 2025 - Getting medical help to stop using illicit drugs saved my life, said 41-year-old *Aliu Musa from Maiduguri, Borno State. (*name changed for privacy).

Aliu abused drugs for 15 years. This affected his work, relationships, and health. “My life was a mess. I was informed that I talked and behaved irrationally anytime I was under the influence of drugs. 

When I was on drugs, I was constantly in pain, couldn't think clearly or do my daily tasks," Aliu said. 

In September 2024, Rwanda experienced its first-ever filovirus outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease, a severe and often fatal illness with case fatality ranging between 24% to 88%. The outbreak was officially declared on 27 September 2024 following investigations into a cluster of unexplained illnesses and deaths in Kigali.

With a health workforce density that has more than doubled in the past two decades — rising from 16.56 to 41.92 per 10,000 people — Ghana continues to make important strides toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). But in spite of these strides, serious challenges persist. Many qualified professionals remain unemployed due to fiscal constraints. Others, including experienced specialists, are leaving for opportunities abroad.

Maria da Graça, who lives in the municipality of Chitato, remembers with sadness one of the most difficult moments in her life. In 2024, her eldest daughter, then four years old, fell ill with measles. "It started with a fever, then the spots appeared. She became very weak. I was afraid I was going to lose her," says Maria, her eyes watering.

Kampala. Uganda has officially declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak, which was confirmed on 30 January 2025 by Uganda’s Ministry of Health. The outbreak infected 14 people, two of whom were probable (not confirmed by laboratory tests) and caused four deaths (including two probable). 

Today on 25 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Angola co-led an important prioritization meeting for the single-country Pandemic Fund proposal, in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The session brought together a broad group of national and international stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment, the World Bank, UNICEF, FAO, the Red Cross, UNDP, the Private University of Angola, and Population Services International.

The newly appointed World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Botswana and SADC, Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, officially presented his credentials to the Ministry of International Relations today. In his remarks, Dr. Ndenzako expressed his deep honour in taking on the role and reaffirmed WHO’s unwavering commitment to supporting Botswana’s health sector.

Today, as Uganda commemorates World Malaria Day in Gulu District, we are reminded of both a solemn truth and a powerful opportunity: malaria remains one of the deadliest diseases in Uganda, but it is also a disease we have the power to end if we choose to reinvest, reimagine, and reignite our collective efforts.