Nigeria, 16 May 2018 – The final event marking the African Vaccination Week (AVW) ended in Abuja with calls for civil servants to become immunization champions. The call was made by the Minister of Health Professor Isaac Adewole at a sensitization workshop for three hundred (300) civil servants on the “giving back to my community” project. The event which was organized by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Ministry of Health (FMOH), Head of Service and development partners was part of the activities lined up to mark the AVW.  

Abuja, 17 May 2018 – In a bid to strengthen measles and yellow fever surveillance in Nigeria, the World Health Organization (WHO) has refurbished a porta cabin work space and donated laboratory equipment that include ELISA readers test equipment and microplate washers to Maitama General Hospital in Abuja; a laboratory that is managed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Maitama General Hospital. 

The Cholera outbreak in Zambia which started in October 2017 has now been brought under control and in the next two weeks, the country is likely be declared cholera free. The Minister of Health, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, said this at a joint media briefing held on May 17 where he made a comprehensive presentation on the Cholera situation and the next steps the country would take towards its elimination. The briefing was jointly conducted with the Minister of Local Government, Mr. Vincent Mwale, the Minister for Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, Dr.

Abuja, May 17th 2018 – A four day training for staff of state Ministries of health of Bauchi, Cross Rivers, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and the National Primary Health care Development Agency has ended in Abuja with calls on the federal government and states to forecast their health workforce requirements to enable governments make informed health plans and policies for the provision of efficient and effective quality health services.

Juba, 16 May 2018— In South Sudan, food insecurity continues to deteriorate to Emergency (IPC Phase 4) due to displacement, restrictions on movement and trade flows, and limited access to normal livelihoods activities.