One of the areas that needs to catch up in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is laboratory services.  A lack of investment, insufficient technical assistance and a shortage of diagnostic tools pose a challenge to the scale-up of interventions, particularly in WHO’s African Region.

Abuja, 06 August, 2019 - Nigeria’s  Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH and  in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and key stakeholders has launched the first National Multisectoral Action Plan (NNMSAP) for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) for the country on 06 August, 2019.

WHO recently participated in the 7^th Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) Scientific Conference organized under the theme Health Research and Innovation for Sustainable Economic development. Event gathered researchers, medical practitioners and health professionals - local and international working in various areas of health to share their research findings with other stakeholders.

Juba, South Sudan, 04 August 2019 – Over 120 health workers in South Sudan have been trained this past week with the aim to keep the country at zero cholera. The country is amid the rainy season, commonly known as cholera season due to frequent flooding contaminating drinking water and infecting people with the cholera bacteria.

Kigali, August 1 2019 --- The Ministry of Health confirms that Rwanda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo is open, following traffic slow-down this morning as measures were put in place to reinforce screening procedures and public safety at entry points.
 

Abuja, 30 July, 2019 - The World Health Organization (WHO) has supported the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to map resources for the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) using the WHO Resource Mapping Tool (REMAP).

Abuja, 30 July, 2019 - As Nigeria and other countries commemorate the 2019 World Hepatitis Day (28 July) with the theme “Invest in Eliminating Hepatitis”, stakeholders agree that early detection and childhood vaccination will curb the burden of the disease by 2030.

As part of the commemorative events, a Ministerial press briefing held on 30 July 2019 during which the Permanent Secretary (PS), Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) Alhaji Abdullahi Mashi said, “It’s sad to note that Nigeria bears a huge burden of viral hepatitis”.  

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a scientific approach and practical solution designed to prevent harm caused by infection to patients and health workers.  In line to the Universal health coverage (UHC) roadmap, the MOH in collaboration with WHO have conducted a workshop for finalization of the guideline on the 3rd July 2019. This was followed by training on IPC for focal persons in Orotta and Halibet hospitals, at the NCEW Hall from 17 to 21 June 2019.