Nigeria fights high maternal mortality through improved quality of care 

(Seated) Mrs Naomi Muyadeen and Head Nurse Esther Adepoju, Kuchigoro Primary Health Care Centre, Abuja.

Abuja, 20 June, 2018 - “There were no signs that the morning of 31 May 2018 would be different until I started feeling the pangs, requiring medical assistance,” said Naomi Muyadeen. "Initially, I dreaded going to the government facility but stepping into the health facility, I immediately noticed the change.”

A resident of Kuchingoro, a suburb of Abuja, Mrs Muyadeen is a 23 year old mother of one and nine months pregnant. She has had previous antenatal visits to the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Kuchingoro.

Maximising digital health technology to improve quality and patient safety in Africa

Maximising digital health technology to improve quality and patient safety in Africa
The World Health Organization(WHO) has urged countries to maximise the use of digital health technology to improve patient safety and equitable access to quality health care. Dr Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization made the call while addressing delegates attending the second International Conference of Ministers of Health and Ministers for Digital Technical Technology on Health Security in Africa (CIMSA). The event has attracted over 300 delegates including the participation of Ministers of Health, Ministers of ICT, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, development partners and telecoms companies.

Free blood for Zimbabwe’s public health institutions

Students from the winning school pose with their award

The promise was made as Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Blood Donor Day at a function held at Gweru Provincial Hospital. Every year on 14 June, the global community celebrates World Blood Donor Day. This year’s theme is focused on blood donation as an act of solidarity: Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life. This draws attention to the regular and voluntary blood donors, and encourages people to care for one another by donating blood.

Nigeria and Africa on track to eradicating poliomyelitis says Minister of Health

Minister of Health Professor Isaac Adewole delivering his speech during the ARCC.JPG

Abuja, 18th June, 2018 - Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has assured the African Regional Commission for Certification for Poliomyelitis Eradication (ARCC) meeting in Abuja, Nigeria (18 – 22 June 2018) that Nigeria, indeed Africa, is on the right  track to end the scourge of the crippling disease. 

Capacity for resource mobilization and partner management strengthened at the WHO country office in South Sudan

Mr Liyosi Evans the WR giving his remarks
As the World Health Organization Country Office in South Sudan works to proactively engage, reach out and build sustainable partnership for resource mobilization, the WHO Headquarter and Regional office external relation units supported the country office to conduct a two-day training for all technical officers and program managers from 12-13 June, 2018. This is in line with the WHO AFRO transformation agenda, effective communications and partnerships area of focus.

Eritrea developed cervical cancer prevention and control guideline

Participants of the workshop

A consensus building workshop was conducted on cervical cancer prevention and control guideline at Median Hotel in Asmara in May 2018 in the presence of participants from MOH, Asmara College of Health Science, WHO including other UN Agencies. The main objective of the workshop was to develop consensus among the technical working group on the detailed content of the comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control guideline in Eritrea; design the guideline; come up with a final draft document, provide responsibilities to the technical working group and draft an implementation plan.

World Blood Donor Day: South Sudan registers more voluntary unpaid blood donors

Judith the midwife donating blood
‘I have witnessed it myself that most of our mothers die due to losing a lot of blood after delivery and about 80 percent die because of lack of blood for transfusion. So, I felt that I should act as an example to donate blood to save the lives of our mothers’ said Judith a midwife working at Juba Teaching Hospital after donating blood. She appealed to other health workers to volunteer and donate blood to save more lives.

World Blood Donor Day-Nigeria requires over 1.8 million units of blood annually to meet demand

Minister of Health Professor Isaac Adewole delivering his speech during the Media briefing

Abuja, 14 June, 2018 - To commemorate 2018 World Blood Donor Day today, Minister of Health Professor Isaac Adewole says “Nigeria’s estimated blood need is about 1.8 million units of blood per annum; voluntary non-remunerated blood donation accounts for only 10% of our total blood collection”. 

The Minister made the revelation during a Media briefing in Abuja to mark 2018 World Blood Donor Day. This year’s theme is 'Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life'.

Measles outbreak confirmed in northern Sierra Leone

The response is taking place in some of the most remote areas in Sierra Leone

Health sector response mounted, including preparations for targeted vaccine campaign

FREETOWN, June 14 2018 - The Ministry of Health and Sanitation today declared a measles outbreak in  Falaba district in the northern part of Sierra Leone. There have been a total of 19 confirmed cases this week in the Chiefdoms of Sulima (14 cases) and Mongo (5 cases), close to the border with Guinea. 

A measles outbreak is defined as three or more laboratory confirmed cases in a community or district in one month.