Training on Malaria Elimination Surveillance

Practical training sessions going on

WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health conducted training at Orotta Hospital conference Hall in October 2017 for participants from all districts (zobas), head offices, Malaria programme staffs, Health Management Information System (HMIS) and WHO staff.

Kenya meets Guinea Worm Free Certification Criteria

 An elated Director of Medical Services Dr Jackson Kioko (centre) and team respond to the news ' Kenya meets the GW Certification criteria' and closer to GW-free status. From left: Drs. John Ogange (WHO), Dr Peter Cherutich (MOH), Dr Joyce Onsongo (DPC, WHO) and Dr Sam Mahugu (MOH)


Monday, Dec 18, 2017
Kenya has met the criteria for Guinea worm free certification status, following a comprehensive evaluation in the country in the last two weeks by the International Certification Team (ICT). 
The team for evaluating the status of Guinea Worm Disease found no evidence of Guinea Worm transmission in the last three years, in the presence of adequate surveillance and follow- up of rumours of the disease, putting the country on track to the Guinea Worm-free certification status.

African governments must invest in research and development of new medicines

Group photograph of Participants at the AVAREF Meeting

Dr Owen Laws Kaluwa, Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Ghana, has asked African governments to increase investments in research and development of new medicines, especially in the conduct of clinical trials.

He said investments in the development of new products was not at a fast enough pace to keep up with the need for new diagnostic and other products to deal with health issues on the continent.

WHO Eritrea Country Office Assumes a Functional Review: 11-15 December 2017

Functional Review Team meeting with the WR and all staff members

Asmara, 11 December 2017 - The time had reached for WHO Eritrea Country office for the functional review exercise to undertake; starting from December 11, 2017. The six-days exercise was part of the WHO transformation agenda (2015-2020). The purpose of the functional review is to ensure the Country Office has adequate and appropriate workforce to support Eritrea’s health priorities. Eritrea WHO Country Office is the 15th to be reviewed among the 18 countries scheduled for this year.

The Stop Transmission of Polio (STOP) program contributes to sustain Polio eradication in South Sudan

WR ai addressing the STOP team during the debriefing

14 December, 2017, Juba: South Sudan has been polio-free since June 2009. However, it is still considered at risk for polio outbreak due to insecurity, population movements, along with recent polio outbreaks in the neighbouring countries.

In order to sustain the polio free status, reaching every child with life-saving polio vaccines, and strengthening acute flaccid paralysis surveillance remain core interventions.

South Sudan implements the second round of Oral Cholera Vaccination to enhance outbreak response efforts in high risk locations

Dr Wamala in a group photo with the vaccinated community members

Juba, 14 December 2017:  Cholera in South Sudan remains an important public health problem which has affected 21 571 people and resulted in 462 deaths since the onset of the outbreak on 18 June 2016. This has been the longest and largest outbreak in magnitude and geographical extent, its impact exacerbated by the protracted crisis, insecurity, displacements and declining access to safe drinking water and sanitation.