NCDC/WHO Map Resources for NAPHS in 36 States and FCT

Group Photograph of WHO and NCDC Colleagues at the NAPHS Resource Mapping and Data Evaluation Workshop 1

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).

ERITREA – Consensus Building Workshop on Medical Devices Registration Guideline

Group photo of the participants

MOH and WHO conducted medical devices registration guideline consensus building workshop at National Confederation of Eritrean Workers’ Conference Hall in June 2019. Medical devices including In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) constitute a vital component of healthcare products and healthcare technologies that contribute to the attainment of the highest standards of health for all people living in Eritrea.

Consensus Building Workshop on National Infection Prevention Control Guidelines and training in Eritrea

Mr Berhane Gebretnsae, Director General of Medical Services making remarks

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.

WHO marks one year since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 

WHO marks one year since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
This week marks one year since the start of the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Following the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 17 July, the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the government of the DRC, other United Nations (UN) agencies, partners and communities, is working on further scaling up response and preparedness measures.

Namibia continues to strengthen its emergency preparedness and response

Participants at the VRAM workshop

WHO is in the process of supporting the Namibian government strengthen its capacity for assessing and analyzing health risks and to integrate the results in its emergency preparedness and response plans. A workshop held in May 2019 to map the country’s vulnerability to all hazards and how these risks will be managed from a multi-sectoral perspective is part of a process which started in 2016 with a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of the International Health regulations in response to an invitation by the Namibian government. 

WHO supported "Presidential Health Compact" is launched

Presidential Health Compact
The President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril M Ramaphosa, on Thursday 25 July 2019 launched the country’s ‘Presidential Health Compact’. The Compact lays down a five-year roadmap for health systems strengthening reforms under the ‘9 pillars’ towards accelerating Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in South Africa. It originated from months of extensive consultative deliberations between key stakeholders following the Presidential Health Summit in Oct 2018. The Stakeholders comprised government, health and allied health professionals, labour, business community, academics and researchers, statutory bodies, traditional health practitioners and public health entities. WHO provided essential technical advice and support in development of the Presidential Health Compact.

Eswatini closer to elimination of intestinal worms as public health problem

The Minister of Health launching the campaign

The Kingdom of Eswatini is getting closer to ending intestinal worms as a public health problem in line with the World Health Organization’s 2020 Roadmap on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The country reached an impressive 98% of eligible school aged children with medicines for intestinal worms in the fourth round of Mass Medicine Administration (MMA) campaign conducted recently. 

WHO takes health care closer to internally displaced and conflict-affected population in South Sudan’s Tambura State

Dr Tony visiting the happy mother

“I was called to help a pregnant woman in the IDP camp”, says Dr Tony Tombe, a doctor with the WHO mobile medical team.  “When I reached the camp, a woman was heavily pregnant and visibly in pain and labour.  There was no other skilled person around to attend to her delivery. I rushed her to the nearby Zamoi primary health care unit where we proceeded to safely deliver the baby girl.

Zamoi primary health care unit had been nonfunctional for a long time, upon our arrival with medicines we were able to re-open the facility where she received life-saving care.

Strategies to reverse tobacco usage in Africa in the spotlight

Group photo
Tobacco is one of the leading causes of morbidity worldwide, and with almost a fifth of the people in Africa – about 94 million people - using tobacco products, the World Health Organization, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners met recently to discuss strategies aimed at stopping and reversing the trend of tobacco usage in the region.