On 10 October 2017, the Seychellois Ministry of Health notified WHO of a probable case of pneumonic plague. The probable case is a 34-year-old man who had visited Madagascar and returned to Seychelles on 6 October 2017. He developed symptoms on 9 October 2017 and presented to a local health centre. Based on a medical examination and reported history of recent travel to Madagascar, pneumonic plague infection was suspected and he was immediately referred to hospital where he was isolated and treated.

ABUJA, 16 October, 2017- The Government of Nigeria has launched a campaign to immunize 873,837 people against yellow fever in the states of Kwara and Kogi.

The ten-day campaign began on Friday (13 October) and mobilizes more than 200 health workers and volunteers. It targets residents aged 9 months to 45 years old.

“This campaign aims to ensure that people living in high-risk areas are protected from yellow fever, and to prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of the country,” said Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, WHO Nigeria Representative.

‘I was slow and sleepy most of the time and this affected my effectiveness at work. It  led to me being demoted at work.  Although I received the same salary, I was frustrated knowing that I could do much more than what was I assigned to me.”  This was part of Mr. Amakali’s testimony has he shared his journey of living with bipolar at a public lecture as part of the World Mental Health Day. He was diagnosed with bipolar since 1998 after his graduation from High School. After spending a year in the Mental Health Unit, Mr. Amakali was fortunate to work at a local bank.

The WHO Representative to the Gambia, Dr. Desta A. Tiruneh, presented his Letter of Credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon A.N.M. Ousainou Darboe, at his offices in Banjul, this afternoon.

Juba, 13 October 2017: Communicable diseases pose a major public health challenge in South Sudan and cause significant levels of illness, disability, and death for a country also caught in the current conflict. 

South Sudan’s weak public health systems aggravate the situation to effectively respond to largely preventable disease outbreaks. Frequent disease outbreaks are driven by multiple factors, including conflict leading to displacement of people and overcrowding and poor environmental conditions. 

Gaborone, Botswana - 6th October 2017: The Acting President of the Republic of Botswana His Honour Vice President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi hosted the Regional Director at the Office of the President for high level discussions. The meeting was the culmination of a three day State Visit to Botswana. Acting President Masisi was accompanied by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Honourable Dorcas Makgato, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ms Shenaaz el Halabi. The Regional Director was accompanied by the WHO Representative to Botswana, Dr Martins Ovberedjo.
 

Gaborone, Botswana - 10 October 2017: The Federation of International Civil Servants' Associations (FICSA) with the kind assistance of the President of the WHO/AFRO Staff Association and WHO Botswana conducted a workshop on negotiating in the context of performance appraisals and staff representation. The training, which was hosted in the WHO Country Office, attracted participants from across UN agencies in the 10 African countries of Angola, Burkina Faso, Congo, DRC, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
 

The Honorable Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Juliet Kavetuna on 05 October 2017 launched the Namibia 2014-2015 Health Accounts Report.  This report presents the findings of Namibia’s Health Accounts exercise for the 2014/15 fiscal year, which is Namibia’s fifth round of Health Accounts and is the second round conducted using the System of Health Accounts (SHA) 2011 methodology. The report is the result of well-planned and organized multidisciplinary efforts of the different players including WHO.

11 October 2017, Juba – Under the theme ‘Mental health in the workplace’ the Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan, World Health Organization and partners joined the rest of the world to commemorate the World Mental Health day 25th anniversary at a colourful event organised at the Nyakuron Cultural Centre in Juba town on 10 October, 2017.