Seventy-First World Health Assembly update, 23 May

A. Tardy | Delegates participating in discussions at Committee A.

Ebola outbreak

Delegates to the World Health Assembly heard today that the next few weeks would tell whether the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo would continue to expand to urban areas or could be kept under control. Vaccination of high-risk populations began earlier this week in the affected area of the country, a densely forested area covering hundreds of kilometres and which is largely without roads or electricity.

With another Ebola containment effort underway, new report tracks progress made by the WHO in the African Region in its Transformation Agenda

With another Ebola Containment Effort Underway, New Report Tracks Progress Made by the WHO in the African Region in its Transformation Agenda
Efforts to transform the WHO in the African Region to become the organization that staff and stakeholders want is making an impact to the health of people across the region. The strengthened realignment to health priorities and effective response to over 100 disease outbreaks and humanitarian disasters each year are some of the more important results of the ambitious reform program which begun in 2015.

World Health Assembly delegates agree new five-year strategic plan

WHO 1 billion more people with health coverage, 1 billion more people made safer, 1 billion lives improved
World Health Assembly delegates today agreed an ambitious new strategic plan for the next five years. The Organization’s 13th General Programme of Work (GPW) is designed to help the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals – with a particular focus on SDG3: ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages by 2030.

South Sudan launches an Ebola sensitization and awareness campaign to enhance preparedness in the country

Minister of Health, Dr Riek Gai Kok and WHO Representative a.i.for South Sudan, Mr Evans Liyosi addressing a joint press conference in Juba.

Juba, 22 May 2018 - Following the Ebola outbreak that has been declared in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a high level mission comprised of Ministry of Health (MOH) in the Republic of South Sudan and WHO visited Yambio, former Western Equatoria State on a sensitization campaign.

The sensitization campaign against Ebola followed an earlier press conference held in Juba to enhance efforts to prevent Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the country.

Nigeria’s struggle with ending TB stigma

Nigeria’s struggle with ending TB stigma

Abuja, 22 May 2018 – In March 2017, Sunny who works as a fashion designer in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital, started coughing, experiencing chest pains, toe pain, and frequent headaches. The discomfort that came with these symptoms became unbearable and was beginning to affect his work so he decided to go to the hospital for a checkup.  To his surprise he tested positive for Tuberculosis (TB) when the results were out. 

Uganda launches Legislative Action Plan on Road Safety

Some of the vehicles towed to the Parliament to show the gravity of road accidents

The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament the Right Honorable Rebecca Kadaga launched the country’s Road Safety Legislative Action Plan which is arguably the first of its kind in Africa. The plan is aimed at generating legislative action to address road safety policy development, enactment, implementation and evaluation.

18 Hospitals in Liberia take the lead to prevent sepsis in healthcare

Healthcare workers at Chief Jallah Lone Medical Center celebrating WHHD, Gbarpolu County, Liberia

A Professional Nurse at the JFK Medical Center demonstrating proper hand hygiene during the WHHD in Monrovia Monrovia, 5th May 2018:  Highlighting the importance of hand hygiene in healthcare, the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) Quality Management Unit (QMU) commemorated World Hand Hygiene Day in 18 hospitals across the country in whi