Infographics

Juba- When severe flooding submerged large parts of Fangak County in Jonglei State, entire communities were cut off from basic services. Roads disappeared under water. Health facilities were damaged or became inaccessible. Families were stranded without transport. For many, even a minor illness could turn life-threatening.

For 33-year-old Mary from Pajiok village in Patia Payam, Fangak County, 23 September will forever remain etched in her memory, a day marked by panic andpain. Her three-month-old baby boy had accidentally fallen into a basin of hot water at home.

Bissau–Within the framework of Guinea-Bissau’s all-hazards emergency preparedness, readiness, response and resilience efforts, the acting WHO Representative in Guinea-Bissau donated a consignment of medical kits intended to treat victims of a blast that triggered a devastating fire emergency with multiple casualties. The fire occurred in the city of Bafatá on 13 February 2026, resulting in 160 injuries and four deaths.

When a child’s bloodstream infection no longer responds to prescribed antibiotics, or a mother’s minor wound turns life-threatening despite treatment, it is not because the medicines are no longer working but the germs causing the infection have changed and the antibiotics are no longer effective. This silent crisis, known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), is one of the world’s top ten global health threats. 

Pretoria, South Africa — 20 February 2026, The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in South Africa, together with the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, convened an expert policy stakeholders’ roundtable, to examine how major global trends are reshaping health systems and what this means for global and South Africa’s future.

Nairobi—According to the World Health Organization, Africa produces less than 1% of the vaccines it consumes, yet it carries a disproportionate share of the world's infectious disease burden. Efforts to shift this reality are now under way in Kenya.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 18 February 2026 – The Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), has launched a series of High‑Level Multisectoral Dialogues focused on aligning national priorities, investments, and policies for health workforce development. This work is supported by funding from the United Kingdom Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Nairobi—Kenya has made notable progress in health workforce production, including a doubling of nurses, doctors, and other health professionals over the past decade. However, findings from the Health Labour Market Analysis also identify persisting and emerging gaps in the availability of health workers. The analysis projects that to meet the population's health needs, more than 114,000 additional health professionals across 31 different roles will need to be trained, employed, and retained within the health system by 2031.  

Bissau— The Acting Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Guinea-Bissau, Dr Walter Kazadi, met on 19 February 2026 with the Minister of Public Health of the Transitional Government, Commodore Dr Quinhin Nantote, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Public Health in Bissau.

The meeting, the first since the recent appointment of the new Minister, provided an opportunity to reaffirm the shared commitment to strengthening the national health system and improving the health conditions of the population.