As the COVID-19 pandemic enters the third year, there is a need for building resilient border health systems to curb the international spread of diseases. The Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 which was conducted in 2018 across 19 technical areas revealed limited capacity and major gaps under the Points of Entry. This poses a great risk of the international spread of diseases between Eswatini and neighbouring South Africa and Mozambique as well as other countries in Southern Africa.

Lilongwe, 11 March 2022—One year ago today, Malawi launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign with vaccine doses it received from the COVAX Facility.

On Friday, 4th March 2022, The Government of the State of Eritrea held a multisectoral consensus-building workshop to jointly review, provide feedback and validate the draft National Action Plan for health security (NAPHS). The workshop brought together multisectoral stakeholders from the National and Zoba levels.

Monrovia, March 2, 2022: Patients with acute and chronic renal conditions in Liberia can now afford a smile as they no longer have to go abroad to seek dialysis services, thanks to the opening of a new National Dialysis center in Monrovia.

Abuja, 4 March, 2022 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, has underscored the Organization’s commitment to support Nigeria’s efforts in reinforcing its health system for better access to adequate and quality health services. Dr Moeti made the pledge during a visit to Africa’s most population country from 20 to 25 February 2022.

Dodoma - 04 March 2022: With more than 33,000 confirmed cases including 798 deaths due to COVID-19 in the United Republic of Tanzania, the World Health Organization has called on development partners and agencies for a renewed commitment to strengthen the country’s effort to urgently interrupt ongoing transmission. Such a renewed collective commitment among development partners would be a milestone in stepping up response to the pandemic.

^{By Tatenda Chimbwanda}