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Juba, 14 May – Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, arrived in South Sudan for an official one-day-visit to meet key stakeholders in an effort to ramp up support for health assistance amid the ongoing emergencies.

Dr Ihekweazu met with the Acting Minister of Health, Honorable James Hoth Mai, humanitarian partners represented by Marie Helene Verney, Acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator, as well as Timo Olkkonen, European Union Ambassador to South Sudan.

To reaffirm shared commitment to the SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands campaign and raise awareness about hand hygiene in healthcare settings, Namibia commemorated the World Hand Hygiene Day at Windhoek Central Hospital on 08 May 2025. The event served as a reminder of the importance of reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and combating antimicrobial resistance through the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme.

This week, Botswana joins the rest of the world in launching the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week under the theme “Streets for Life: #MakingWalkingAndCyclingSafe.”

Climate change is increasingly recognized as one of the greatest health threats of the 21st century. Climate risks are increasing, and Ghana is no exception. From deadly heatwaves, erratic rainfall, flooding to rising cases of climate-sensitive diseases, the climate crisis will exert additional pressures on the country’s health and social care systems.

By: Dr.

Although World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is commemorated globally on 24 March, WHO Botswana extended the conversation into May with a staff awareness session aimed at reinforcing key messages around TB prevention and control. During the session, Boingotlo Ramontshonyana delivered a compelling address, urging colleagues to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing one of the country’s enduring public health challenges.

The World Health Organization joined the Ministry of Health (MoH) and partners to commemorate World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD), reinforcing the critical role of hand hygiene in preventing infections and ensuring patient safety within healthcare settings.

With Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) now responsible for nearly half of all deaths in Ghana, efforts to prevent and reduce the growing health and economic burden have never been more urgent. From unhealthy food environments and aggressive marketing to limited access to infrastructure for physical activity, the drivers of poor health outcomes are often systemic — requiring strong laws, strategic fiscal policies, and sustained cross-sectoral collaboration. 

Addis Ababa, 5 May 2025 — Ethiopia launched the global commemoration of World Health Day 2025 with a spirited “Walk the Talk” event at the scenic Entoto Park in Addis Ababa. Held on the morning of 27 April, the event brought together a vibrant cross-section of society—government officials, UN representatives, health workers, families, and citizens—united in a shared commitment to promote maternal and newborn health under the theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.”

In response to the third call for proposals by the Pandemic Fund, an international financing mechanism with a budget of $500 million, Botswana developed a single-country proposal aimed at strengthening its health systems for pandemic preparedness and response through a One Health approach. The Fund supports countries with multiyear grants to enhance health system resilience, increase investments, and improve readiness for future health threats.