10 January 2017, Geneva - Policies to control tobacco use, including tobacco tax and price increases, can generate significant government revenues for health and development work, according to a new landmark global report from WHO and the National Cancer Institute of the United States of America.

Adam Abukari, 37 years old, a Ghanaian man from Savelugu/Nanton located in the Northern Region of Ghana, did not know that the seizure he was having was epilepsy until the day when doctors diagnosed him as having it. Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes repeated seizures. “I grew up before I started experiencing the seizures probably at the age of 20. I used to have about seven or five seizure episodes in a month,” he explains.

Juba, 21 December 2016 – An armed man attacked a passenger vehicle on a main road outside Juba, on Tuesday, 21 December 2016, killing Mr James Leke Kuji, a World Health Organization (WHO) health worker on the spot.

Brazzaville, 19 December 2016 – With millions of people in Africa predicted to die from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO), African Region has supported countries to carry out surveys to identify the main causes of this rising trend.

Sierra Leone has just recently wrapped up its final Maternal and Child Health Week campaign for 2016, known locally as 'Mami en Pekin Welbodi Week', which targeted 95 percent children under five with lifesaving vaccines. Earlier campaign rounds achieved up to 97 percent coverage to protect children against polio, measles and other major childhood diseases. 

On 18th December HE the President of Sierra Leone recognized individuals who made an exceptional contribution in the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone. The following 6 WHO staff members were among  those on the honour roll

Gold Medal:

Abuja, 15 December 2016 - The new World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative(WR), Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu formally assumes duties on 15 December, 2016 with the presentation of his Letters of Commission to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Geoffrey Onyeama. The presentation which took place in Abuja, was witnessed by dignitaries from the ministry and WHO country office.

Harare, 25 October 2016 -  In an event that has been described by many as hugely successful, WHO hosted this year’s colorful  UN Day Celebrations at their Highlands compound. The Zimbabwe UN Country Team (UNCT) marked the 71st  birthday of the UN under the theme  #UN71: Make SDGs a reality for all.

Kwekwe, 1 December 2016 - This was said by the Honorable E.D. Mnangagwa, Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, during the commemoration of World AIDS Day in Kwekwe under the theme  Closing the tap of new infections. The government has disclosed the fall of new HIV infections in the country by 50% in the last 7 years. Presenting his statement at the commemoration, Hon.

14 December 2016 | GENEVA - One third of more than 700 health facilities in Borno State, north-eastern Nigeria, have been completely destroyed, according to a report released today by WHO. Of those facilities remaining, one third are not functioning at all.

"High insecurity, difficult terrain and lack of health workers, medicines, equipment and basic amenities such as safe water are making access to essential, lifesaving health care extremely difficult for people in this conflict-affected area," says Dr Wondi Alemu, WHO Representative in Nigeria.