Emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate-related health threats, demographic shifts, noncommunicable diseases, shrinking fiscal space and rapidly evolving technologies are reshaping health systems around the world. In this increasingly complex environment, intuition, tradition and experience alone are no longer enough.

The Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Health and the Directorate of Health Research, has made significant strides towards strengthening national health research systems with the successful validation of a National Health Research Governance Framework.

This milestone is the result of a structured, inclusive process supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), bringing together key stakeholders across government institutions, research bodies, academia, development partners and opinion leaders in the field.

Maseru— For many communities in Lesotho, especially those in remote mountain districts, access to vaccines has long been limited by distance, infrastructure, and resources. Strengthening immunization services has therefore become a national priority, one that aims to ensure every child, adolescent, and adult can be protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Brazzaville—Dorothée Bendza, a health control officer, has been deployed at Brazzaville Beach since the declaration of the Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). From 8:00 to 16:00, she and her colleague screen passengers. Both are equipped with an infrared thermometer and hand sanitizer. They are on the frontline as travellers arrive from Kinshasa, along one of the busiest routes between the two capitals. “When passengers arrive, we ask them to wash their hands or provide them with hand sanitizer. Then we take their temperature,” she explains. 

Kampala—The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), together with the Ministry of Health of Uganda and partners, have officially launched a centralized coordination platform to strengthen Africa's capacity to prepare for, coordinate and respond to public health emergencies.

Arusha – The Government of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups (MoCDGWSG), with support from UNICEF and WHO, trained 45 national trainers to lead nationwide implementation of the National Guide for Responsible Parenting and Family Care (Familia Bora, Taifa Imara). The one-week training equipped trainers with the knowledge and facilitation skills needed to help parents and caregivers nurture children's health, development, protection and wellbeing.

Kampala, Uganda:— Health leaders from across Africa have convened in Uganda’s capital for a high-level meeting to strengthen regional preparedness and cross-border collaboration in response to the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak affecting Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

The WHO Country Office in Cabo Verde participated in a capacity building to São Tomé and Príncipe as part of the pilot phase of the new Health District Management Team (HDMT) Training Package developed by WHO AFRO in collaboration with WHO Headquarters and country offices. The mission brought together experts from the three levels of WHO, highlighting the importance of coordinated action to strengthen health systems and Primary Health Care (PHC). 

Yola,  Aisha Ibrahim watched her 18-month-old son, Dauda, play outside their home in Maliki 2 settlement, Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Just weeks earlier, he had become weak, lost weight and stopped eating.