Abuja, 23 October 2017-Together, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo account for over 40 per cent of the global malaria illnesses and deaths. Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable. Malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea, which are preventable and curable, are responsible for about one third of child deaths.

FREETOWN, 23 October 2017 --- In Sierra Leone, giving birth is one of the most dangerous times in a woman’s life. According to the most recent UN estimates, the country has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, at 1,360 deaths per 100,000 live births (UN, 2015). In simpler terms, this means that for every 100 babies born in the country, approximately one woman will lose her life. The nation also has high rates of neonatal deaths, and over 7,500 stillbirths are estimated to occur each year (WHO, 2013). 

Following the confirmation of a case of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Kween district Eastern Uganda by Ministry of Health (MoH) and the activation of the National Response Team, the WHO Rapid Response team from the country office was able to reach the epicentre within 48 hours and is currently supporting national and district authorities to contain the outbreak. 

October 24, 2017:  Kenya marks World Polio Day with a great sense relief and determination to keep the country polio free. Following a Wild Polio Virus outbreak in 2013 after an importation, health teams from Ministry of Health traversed the country to its farthest corners and most inaccessible areas with support from WHO, and other partners to do supplementary immunization activities - polio campaigns. These were done from house to house covering children aged five and below, vastly reducing any threats of the wild polio virus.

The WHO Representative, a.i. Dr. Custodia Mandlhate has called for strengthening of laboratory systems in the country. During her familiarization tour of the laboratories at the University Teaching Hospital on 20 October 2016, Dr. Mandlhate said that efficient and reliable laboratory services and networks were essential and fundamental components of effective, well-functioning health systems.

20 OCTOBER 2017 | GENEVA - WHO is working to contain an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) that has appeared in eastern Uganda on the border with Kenya.

At least one person is confirmed to have died of MVD and several hundred people may have been exposed to the virus at health facilities and at traditional burial ceremonies in Kween District, a mountainous area 300 kilometres northeast of Kampala.

Yenagoa, 20 October 2017-World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the Bayelsa state to scale-up response and rapidly contain further spread as well as debunk rumours linking the Monkeypox outbreak to immunization activities.

 Since the report of the index case in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on 22 September 2017, 22 additional suspected cases have been reported. Results of samples taken to WHO Regional Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal, confirmed Monkeypox from three (3) of the suspected cases while 46 contacts are being followed-up at  present.

World Mental Health Day 2017 was commemorated in Kenya with a call for changes at workplace to reduce risk factors for stress and policies that ensure work environment promotes wellbeing and productivity. Speakers at the commemoration event urged workplace communities to talk about depression and other mental health problems like substance abuse in order to promote best practice, decrease negative attitudes and empower individuals.