Freetown – The World Health Organization Sierra Leone Country Office has concluded a high-level advocacy engagement on 6 May 2026 with the Parliamentary Health Committee, meeting directly with Committee Chair Honourable Wuyatta Bernadette Songa to drive progress on a range of critical health sector reforms ahead of an anticipated legislative push later in 2026.

Praia, Cape Verde. The World Health Organisation (WHO), working in close coordination with the Government of Cape Verde and international partners, supported a rapid and coordinated response to an outbreak of hantavirus identified on board a cruise ship that was anchored off the port of Praia between 3 and 6 May 2026.

Background

Arusha – The United Republic of Tanzania ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2007, thereby committing to the obligations of this international treaty. The WHO FCTC Article 6 calls on Parties to implement price and tax measures to make tobacco products less affordable, thus protecting the population’s health.

Harare, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe has reached a significant milestone in sustaining strong disease surveillance systems following the successful Integrated Polio and Measles Accreditation Review of the National Virology Laboratory, conducted according to WHO standards. This achievement highlights the country’s leadership in supporting regional and global health priorities, particularly in polio eradication and measles and rubella elimination.

Maseru — The media plays a vital role in shaping public perceptions, influencing community behaviour, and ensuring accountability in health and other sectors. Recognizing this, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Lesotho Ministry of Health, hosted a one-day dialogue with the media in Maseru under the theme “Reporting Health Right: Standing with Science.” 

The meeting engaged journalists and key partners to strengthen capacity for accurate, evidence-based, and ethical health reporting. 

Lusaka, Zambia – The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Zambia has officially handed over essential equipment to the Ministry of Health (MoH) aimed at strengthening national health systems, improving service delivery, and enhancing preparedness and response to public health threats.

The handover included:

Juba, South Sudan — Every unit of blood carries a story, from the donor who gives, to the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) teams who collect and process it, to the clinicians who use it, and the patient whose life depends on it. For many in South Sudan, that story ends in survival, a mother after childbirth, a child with severe anaemia, or a patient in critical care.

South Sudan today held its first-ever national celebration of International Labour Day, bringing together government leaders, workers, trade unions, and partners at Juba National Stadium.

Observed globally on May 1, Labour Day honors the contributions and rights of workers across all sectors and highlights the importance of safe, fair, and dignified working conditions.

From April 28 to 30, Luanda will host the “Research for Life” conference, a national gathering that highlights the central role of science and research in formulating effective public policies and improving health outcomes.