Major antibiotic donation moves African countries closer to defeating yaws

Major antibiotic donation moves African countries closer to defeating yaws
A major donation of azithromycin, an antibiotic, is being delivered to Cameroon, Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo to contribute to the ongoing efforts to eradicate yaws in the three countries that are among nine in Africa where the disfiguring and debilitating childhood infectious disease is still endemic.

Implications of social media misinformation on COVID-19 vaccine confidence among pregnant women in Africa

Implications of social media misinformation on COVID-19 vaccine confidence among pregnant women in Africa
It has been over a year since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and subsequently a global pandemic. The world has experienced a lot of uncertainty since then as we all get used to this new ‘normal’ with social distancing measures, lockdowns, the emergence of new variants, and an array of hope with the development of vaccines.

“WHY SHORTER TB REGIMEN IS THE MOST PREFFERED BY PATIENTS IN ESWATINI”

Siphephelosethu Ntjangase poses outside Nhlangano health center where he is receiving treatment
Siphephelosethu Ntjangase is a 21-year-old university student from Hluti village in the Shiselweni region who suffers from pulmonary drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB).  In October 2021 before getting checked, he noticed that he was losing weight, sweating at night and had a persistent cough that had lasted over a year. From the first test, the diagnosis was not conclusive which forced him to opt for a second opinion and that is when he tested positive for tuberculosis (TB).

Closing access gaps, rural populace solicit for more functional primary healthcare centres

Rukayat Yunsa, attending ante-natal service at the Kuchingoro PHC.

Abuja, 31 March, 2022 - Early in the morning on 24 September 2013, Rukayat Yunsa went into labour and was rushed to the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC), located close to her home at Kuchingoro community, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abuja.

Rukayat, who is currently seven-months into her third pregnancy, said she was not perturbed about the health facility where she would give birth to her baby because the PHC in her area is functional and works 24 hours. 

As a doctor there are calls you just can’t ignore, Dr Emile Rwamasirabo

Dr Emile Rwamasirabo, Urological Surgeon discussing Operation Save the Neighbor /@WHO Robert Cyubahiro

Kigali - When the fourth COVID-19 wave hit the country in early 2022, Rwanda went through a surge in the number of new cases with a spike in the number of deaths. To avoid reliving the experience seen during the third wave with a very high number of deaths daily in July 2021, something had to be done, but what? Rwanda’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic had already been rapid, cross-cutting, structured, and well-coordinated.  

Looking back on progress as Sierra Leone marks two years since first COVID-19 case

Sierra Leone marks two years since first COVID-19 case
“We’ve been at the forefront of the efforts to curtail this pandemic and we will continue to provide the best technical expertise to the government to effectively tackle COVID-19,” said Dr Steven V. Shongwe, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone. “At this stage of the pandemic, enhanced surveillance and strong laboratory capacity including genomics sequencing to detect emerging variants and improved vaccination coverage are among the critical support that WHO will continue to provide to keep the people safe”.

Amidst COVID-19 response, WHO and partners support Nigeria towards attaining a TB free- status

A patient taking TB drug.

Abuja, 31 March, 2022 - When Ms Tina Amos, a 42-year-old mother of five residing at Byazhin, Bwari Local Government Area (LGA), Abuja learnt she had tuberculosis (TB), she thought that was the end of her life, believing she had no hope for survival.  

Three months after the diagnosis, Mrs Amos was all smiles as she walked into the doctors' consultation room at the Primary Health Care centre (PHC) in her neighborhood, where she has been receiving medication, thanks to the effort of the government, WHO and other partners.