24 November 2016, Juba, South Sudan – Cholera continues to be a public health threat to children, young adults, and other vulnerable groups in South Sudan. The recurrent outbreaks since 2013 demonstrate the continued vulnerability of the population to the disease, which is preventable and treatable. Since 21 July 2016, more than 3 100 cholera cases and 44 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 1.4%.

November 2016 - In response to the poliomyelitis outbreak associated with type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) and ambiguous vaccine derived polio virus (aVDPVs)  identified in Unity state,  the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Ministry of Health and partners immunized over 155 000 migrant children under the age of 15 through special vaccination posts. Type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) and ambiguous vaccine derived polio virus (aVDPVs) was being detected in September 2014 and April 2015 respectively.

On 17 November 2016 following harmonization of the data available from the following sources: EWARS, IDP camp surveillance data from SPHCDA, Health sector partners and IDSR, it was concluded that there is an ongoing measles outbreak in Borno State.

The Borno State Ministry of Health is already conducting a reactive vaccination campaign with the support of partners targeting 18 locations/IDP camps.
So far, 35,742 children have been vaccinated in six camps.

Ibadan, 18 November, 2016 - Public health in Nigeria recorded a historic event in Ibadan, Oyo State on 18 November, 2016 with the commissioning of a Modular Laboratory (lab). The modular lab, which was handed over to the Department of Virology, University of Ibadan, by the World Health Organization (WHO) was purchased with a grant from United States Agency for International Aid (USAID). The lab is expected to primarily support polio eradication activities in Nigeria.

18 November 2016, Juba, South Sudan – Despite the ongoing violence sweeping much of the country, the third round of the National Immunization Days of 2016 campaign is being implemented across South Sudan to ensure the continuation of immunization activities targeting more than 3.5 million children aged 0 – 59 months.

WHO has delivered one Interagency Emergency Health Kit (IEHK) to Premiere Urgence Internationale (INGO) who will start their activities at the Primary Health Centre in Bolori II (estimated catchment population is 108,915, including IDPs). This donated kit contains essential medicines and medical supplies to treat 10,000 people for three months and also includes malaria module. So far nine IEHKs and one diarrheal disease kits have been distributed.

November 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) delivered lifesaving supplies to assist thousands of women and children in Yei River State, one of South Sudan’s states most affected by conflict.

The lifesaving health supplies will benefit more than 30 000 people living in areas affected by conflict in parts of Logo and Kirkwa in Yei River State for the next three months. The supplies include 20 basic unit kits, 10 basic antimalarial kits, five supplementary antimalarial kits, one Diarrhea Disease kit and one Interagency Health Kit.

10 November 2016, ADDIS ABABA | WHO Country Office in Ethiopia along with the UN Country Team handed over a Biosafety Level 3 Mobile Laboratory to The Ethiopian Public Health Institute.  As a result, Ethiopia now has the in-country capacity to diagnose   disease-causing microorganisms, including viral hemorrhagic fevers and other emerging viruses. This is because of Ethiopia’s recent acquisition of a Biosafety Level Three Laboratory (BSL3) which meets the World Health organization standards.

Lusaka, 14 November 2016 - In order to improve the understanding of  WHO Business Rules by senior management, finance and technical staff of the Ministry of Health, the WHO Country Office (WCO) organized a training workshop for five of the provinces in Zambia namely Central, Southern, Lusaka, Western and Eastern provinces from 26 October to 4th November 2016 in Siavonga.

Lagos, 15 November 2016 - The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), in collaboration with Dangote Foundation launched the Private Sector Engagement Strategy (PSES) for Malaria on 14 November 2016 in Lagos to hasten the attainment of the national malaria control goal.