Infographics

As Malawi celebrates its first anniversary after officially closing its reimported wild poliovirus (WPV1) outbreak, the country is taking strategic steps to sustain hard-won gains and strengthen its broader health system. On 24 April 2025, health leaders, partners, and stakeholders gathered for the National Polio Transition Planning meeting, an important milestone in ensuring that the infrastructure built to eradicate polio continues to serve Malawi’s communities for years to come.

Kigali – With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pandemic Fund and other regional partners, Rwanda is conducting its second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) from 25 to 30 May 2025 in Kigali.

While Sierra Leone is stepping up its mpox response effort, the stories behind the outbreak highlight the virus’s impact and the determination of those affected to protect themselves and their communities.

Timely detection and response to public health threats are essential to global health security, particularly in countries vulnerable to frequent outbreaks. As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen surveillance systems in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) framework, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), organized a national training workshop on Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS).

As Sierra Leone continues to report new cases of mpox, the Ministry of health and partners are strengthening Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in a bid to protect the country’s health workers. 

To reinforce these efforts, the World Health Organization (WHO) visited the Hastings Treatment Centre to donate essential medical supplies. Items such as face masks, surgical and isolation gowns, protective goggles, gloves, and boots will help frontline health workers to reduce their risk of infection and deliver care safely. 

Disruptions to health systems, particularly in crisis-affected settings, significantly hinder access to essential health services. These challenges are compounded when decision-makers lack timely, accurate, and actionable data to assess needs and allocate resources effectively. The Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS)—a World Health Organization (WHO) led initiative—addresses this critical gap by providing dynamic, real-time information on the availability and functionality of health services and infrastructure.

Public Health Emergencies are increasingly becoming complex and frequent and complex, often driven by a convergence of factors including disease outbreaks, climate-related events, technological hazards, and environmental degradation. In such a landscape, effective emergency response depends on coordinated, multi-sectoral efforts grounded in accurate, real-time information.

At a  bustling outpatient clinic on the outskirts of Kampala, a nurse reaches for a thermometer—slim, silvery, and fragile. It’s a mercury-containing device, once a staple in healthcare, now recognized as a silent hazard. Uganda is taking bold steps to eliminate such risks and transition toward mercury-free healthcare.