Progress towards Malaria Elimination in The Gambia

Dignitaries at the ceremony with Prof. JM Dangou in the middle flanked by the US Ambassador (l) and Hon. Minister for Health and Social Welfare (r)
An event to celebrate the advancements and achievements in Malaria reduction in The Gambia was held on the 11th of July 2017. Speaking at the celebration reception on behalf of the Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti and, on behalf of the entire UN system working in the Gambia, Professor Jean-Marie Dangou, WHO Representative in the Gambia commended the Government, people of The Gambia, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Malaria Control Programme, health workers and development partners for the extraordinary achievements. “We have come a long way in the fight against malaria in The Gambia. It is time to boost investments in malaria prevention and to support The Gambia to Eliminate and End Malaria for Good. With the required resources, and all partners united, we can transform our common vision into a shared reality” he said in his statement.

The World Health Organization boosts health support for Zanzibar

Dr Kamwa reviewing Chumbuni CTC patient records with the CTC staff
The World Health Organization Country Representative in Tanzania, Dr. Matthieu Kamwa, visited Zanzibar as part of the continuing WHO support. Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of the Untied Republic of Tanzania, located 25 to 50 kilometers from the mainland. It consists of two main islands, Unguja (the main island) and Pemba and several small ones.

The HIV Self-Testing Africa (STAR) project in Zambia shows potential for increasing uptake and coverage of HIV testing

Youth promoting HIV testing

Lusaka - 21 July 2017- Following the completion of phase one of the UNITAID/PSI HIV Self- Testing Africa (STAR) project (2015-2017), Zambia conducted a dissemination meeting to share lessons learnt from implementing the project. This pilot study is being implemented by a consortium led by Population Services International (PSI) in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe in two phases and it will last up to three years from August 2017.

Gambia launches National Tobacco Control Act 2016 whilst WHO honours national tobacco control champions for 2017

Prof. JM Dangou presenting award to Hon. Minister for Finance & Economic Affairs

20 July 2017, Banjul |  Today marks two important milestones in tobacco control in the Gambia – the official launch by the Honorable of Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Hon. Saffie Lowe-Ceesay, of the National Tobacco Control Act 2016 and presentation by the WHO Country Representative a.i., Prof. Jean-Marie Dangou, of the World No-Tobacco Day Award 2017 to the respective winners –The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the National Assembly.

WHO’s support to the response of the acute watery diarrhoea outbreak in Ethiopia’s Somali Region

WHO surge team holds daily morning meetings
The Government of Ethiopia, through the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners is responding to an outbreak of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) in Amahara, Oromia, SNNP and Somali regions. To support the government’s response implementation, WHO has deployed surge teams of experts in surveillance, case management, WASH, nutrition, risk communication, administration and logistics to the affected regions to support implementation of response activities. Logistical supplies including vehicles, medicines, case management protocols, laboratory reagents, treatment kits and other materials have also been provided. Below is a kaleidoscopic view of activities in Somali region.

Extending health coverage in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Extending health coverage in the Democratic Republic of Congo

13 July 2017 – In the Tanganyika province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, going to a health centre often means traveling long distances over poor roads, while carrying a sick child and supplies. WHO’s Rapid Access Expansion Programme (RAcE) is bringing diagnosis and treatment for malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea – the three deadliest childhood diseases – into remote communities.

WHO report finds dramatic increase in life-saving tobacco control policies in last decade

Dramatic increase in tobacco control policies

19 July 2017 – In a new report published today, WHO finds that about 4.7 billion people, or 63% of the world’s population, are covered by at least one comprehensive tobacco control measure. Strategies such as graphic pack warnings, advertising bans, and no smoking areas have saved millions of people from early death – yet the tobacco industry continues to hamper government interventions.

WHO scales up cholera response with 500 000 doses of oral cholera vaccine for vaccination campaign in South Sudan

WHO receives 500 000 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine for a planned campaign in South Sudan. WHO South Sudan/L. Luwaga.

Juba, South Sudan, 19 July 2017: The World Health Organization (WHO) received 500 000 doses of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) on 17 July 2017. WHO is working with the Republic of South Sudan’s Ministry of Health and partners to scale up cholera vaccination campaign from 28 July to 3 August 2017. 

Cumulatively, a total of 17 785 cholera cases including 320 (CFR 1.8%) deaths have been reported from 24 counties in South Sudan since the outbreak in June 2106.