WHO implements Emergency Response Plan


10 November 2017

WHO has been implementing the Emergency Response Plan since 20 October 2017 when the Ministry of Health officially declared the outbreak. WHO released US$ 624 000 from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) to rapidly respond which has proven to help contain the outbreak.

Disease outbreak news update – Marburg virus disease – Uganda and Kenya

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On 17 October 2017, the Ugandan Ministry of Health (MoH) notified WHO of a confirmed outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease in Kween District, Eastern Uganda. The MoH officially declared the outbreak on 19 October 2017. As of 14 November, three cases have been reported including two confirmed cases, and one probable case. All three cases have died, resulting in a case fatality rate of 100%. The cases were epidemiologically linked and all belong to the same family.

International Health Emergency Response plan on Marburg virus disease

Health workers don their Personal protective Equipment

15 November 2017:- WHO has been implementing the Emergency Response Plan since 20 October 2017 when the Ministry of Health officially declared the outbreak. WHO released US$ 624 000 from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) to rapidly respond which has proven to help contain the outbreak.

South Sudan conducts Polio Outbreak Simulation Exercise to strengthen Polio outbreak preparedness and response

Dr Anthony Laku making a presentation on the National Polio Preparedness and Response plan 2017. Photo: WHO.

Juba, 08 November 2017: WHO South Sudan in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), UNICEF and other partners, conducted a Polio Outbreak Simulation Exercise (POSE) from 7 to 8 November 2017 at Juba Landmark Hotel to renew the commitment and evaluate South Sudan’s preparedness and capacity to respond to potential Polio event /and outbreak, outline strategies/guidelines and establish standards and timeline for response.

WHO strengthening the capacity of frontline healthcare workers in Yei River State, Central Equatoria hub to improve the management of cases of priority diseases in South Sudan

Dr Abraham Abenego, a National Public Health Officer of WHO South Sudan making a presentation on diarrheal diseases. Photo: WHO.

Juba, 13 November 2017: The worsening security situation in South Sudan, along with increased population movement, reduced health system functionality, disruption of health services, surveillance, outbreak response systems, and other disease control measures, led to an increased risk and vulnerability to more frequent disease outbreaks. 

WHO Namibia supports the Development of a National Action Plan on Health Security

Participants at the workshop to finalise the National Action Plan on Health Security for Namibia

A team of experts from the World Health Organization visited Namibia  in August 2017 to assist in the development of a National Action Plan on Health Security.  This was a follow-up to a Joint External Evaluation which was undertaken by a team of 11 experts held in December 2016. The December Evaluation was to determine Namibia’s readiness to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to public health threats, whether they are naturally occurring, deliberate, or accidental.

Ghana celebrates World Mental Health Day

Procession in the principal streets of Takoradi

The government of Ghana joined the rest of the world in commemorating this year’s World Mental Health Day under the theme: “Mental Health in the Workplace

A grand durbar was organised to crown the dual programs World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Week at Jubilee Park on Saturday 12th October 2017. The durbar was preceded by a float on the principal streets in the Takoradi town-ship by students from Tertiary and Senior High Schools.

Botswana successfully concludes the IDSR national Training of Trainers (TOT) Workshop

IDSR Training session in progress

GABOR0NE, Botswana - 28th October 2017: A comprehensive training of trainers on integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) was conducted over a four-day period. Participants included surveillance officers, laboratory staff, clinicians and public health specialists from both the National and District level in Botswana. This workshop follows the adaptation and development of the National IDSR training manual. Both activities were coordinated and implemented by the Ministry of Health with technical and financial support from the WHO Country office.