Windhoek—Namibia officially launched the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025 on 18 November, joining the global community in marking the annual campaign held from 18 to 24 November. The theme for 2025, “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future”, emphasized the urgent need for bold, coordinated action to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Zambia has taken a historic step toward strengthening its health system with the endorsement of the National Health Compact by President Hakainde Hichilema. In August 2025, Zambia was selected by the World bank to be among the first countries to develop Health Compacts, strategic tools for mobilisingmobilizing resources to advance Universal Health Coverage.

Freetown—The World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the Global Fund and Fleming Fund, has delivered medical supplies and infection prevention and control (IPC) materials worth more than USD $1 million to the Sierra Leone health authorities. The donation aims to enhance Sierra Leone's emergency response and public health capacities.

The 2025 Global One Health Day was celebrated in Jigjiga, Somali Region, Ethiopia under the theme “Strengthening One Health Collaboration for Resilient Communities.”

The event brought a wide range of partners into one forum, with over 100 participants, including high-level officials such as H.E. Mr. Ahmed Yasin Shek Ibrahim, delegate from the Somali Region President’s Office; H.E. Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI); and Mr. Mohammed Ayanle Hassan, Deputy Head of the Somali Region Health Bureau.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. It threatens the effectiveness of treatments, increases healthcare costs, and endangers millions of lives.

We spoke with Dr Aurélie Mambu Nsimba, pharmacist and Head of the Regulatory Quality Assurance Office at the Congolese Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority, to understand the issues and solutions.

Liberia faces a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD), yet access to care for severe chronic conditions remains critically limited, especially in rural areas. In 2022, only 48% of health facilities offered NCD services. Existing policies and guidelines do not adequately address these gaps, leaving vulnerable populations without essential, lifesaving care. According to the validated NCD Policy, the burden of NCD in Liberia has significantly risen over the past decade, making up 38% of the disease burden, 60% of hospitalizations, and 43% of deaths in 2016.

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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — November 25, 2025 - Ethiopia has launched the national introduction of the Hepatitis B Birth Dose (HepB BD) vaccine, marking a major step in strengthening newborn immunization and combating the transmission of Hepatitis B virus. This initiative is being implemented with the technical and financial support of the World Health Organization, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and other immunization partners.