Adamawa state gets over 700,000 doses of oral cholera vaccines for emergency vaccination

WHO Country Representative administering OCV in an IDP camp of Borno state in 2017

 Abuja, 24 June 2018 - The International Coordinating Group (ICG) has approved the release of 757 630 doses of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) for a 2-dose emergency vaccination campaign in Adamawa state. The initial batch of 378 815 doses of OCV was delivered to Nigeria on 22 June 2018 for the first round of the vaccination campaign while the second consignment of  vaccines will be released after successful implementation of the first round. 

WHO supports the Ministry of Health to enhance emergency preparedness and risk management in South Sudan

Dr Otim presenting the South Sudan risk profile
The Ministry of Health of South Sudan with support from WHO conducted a five days planning workshop as a precursor for a detailed Vulnerability, Risk Assessment and Mapping (VRAM) exercise. In 2017, South Sudan held a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of IHR core capacities (2005) which indicated limited capacities for preparedness and response to Public Health hazards. South Sudan is among the countries in the region that are prone to disasters or emergencies that can have a significant impact on the population and the health systems.  Infectious diseases continue to pose a major public health threat in South Sudan. Adding to the chronic disease burden, regular outbreaks further threaten people's health.

A little black box for detecting and tracking outbreaks

A little black box for detecting and tracking outbreaks

One of the toughest tasks in responding to a major public health emergency is getting accurate information about infectious disease outbreaks.
"EWARS in a box" contains all the equipment needed to establish surveillance and response activities, particularly in difficult and remote field settings without reliable internet or electricity.

Infections can spread even more quickly than rumours, particularly when there is a lack of reliable, up-to-date information to detect, track and respond to outbreaks.

Polio Eradication-Regional Certification Commission concludes meeting with far-reaching recommendations for countries

(L-R) Professor Rose Leke (Chair of ARCC), Dr. Pascal Mkanda

The Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) has concluded a 5-day meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, with specific and general recommendations to be transmitted to each country for implementation towards polio eradication in the continent. 

The Chair of ARCC Professor Rose Leke on 22 June in Abuja requested strict adherence to the Commission’s recommendation by all countries in order to rid Africa of the debilitating disease in the shortest possible time.

ICD-11: Classifying disease to map the way we live and die

ICD-11: Classifying disease to map the way we live and die

WHO released a new version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Over a decade in the making, this completely electronic version reflects progress in medicine and advances in scientific understanding.

One change that is attracting a lot of media attention is the addition of “gaming disorder” to the section on addictive disorders. Other additions include new chapters on traditional medicine and sexual health.

On the hunt for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo

On the hunt for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Marie-Roseline Darnycka Bélizaire is on the front-lines of the battle against Ebola.

She’s leading the hunt for the virus in the Itipo area in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The communities at risk are spread out over a wide area and the roads are bad. Her team of more than 20 field epidemiologists is using mostly motorcycles to get around.

Marie-Roseline Belizaire said “We have to go sometimes as far as 80 km from the coordination base, so in a day we can do 160 km.”