Juba, 11 April 2016 - In an effort to accelerate the elimination of HAT as a public health problem, the Ministry of Health and WHO committed to reinforce and coordinate actions towards harmonizing control strategies, elimination, and sustained surveillance  process of HAT.

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, is a parasitic disease that is fatal if left untreated. The disease is transmitted by the tsetse fly and is endemic to Sub Saharan Africa, where it mainly affects impoverished rural communities.

In 2015, more than 1 million people in 7 high-risk countries received the oral cholera vaccine, thanks to campaigns run by WHO and partners. This extraordinary measure was taken to contain several cholera outbreaks from spreading further.

When Dr Michael Kawooya, a radiologist at Mengo Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, performs an ultrasonography on pregnant patients he’s often asked, “Doctor, is this dangerous?”

His answer is always “No”.

ADDIS ABABA | 7 APRIL – Ethiopia commemorated the 2016 World Health Day under the theme, “Beat diabetes - Integration and decentralization of diabetic care with primary health services” in a series of activities since 05 April 2016  which culminated with mass walk and promotional gathering at Teklehaimanot HC  in Addis Ababa.

Lusaka, 8th April 2016 - The World Health Day was commemorated in Zambia on 7th April under the theme  “Beat Diabetes” in Shibuyunji, one of the rural districts in Lusaka Province. The major highlights of the event were the official launch of the First “WHO Global Report on Diabetes” by the  Acting Minister of Health, Honourable Joseph Katema and the handover of 12,000 copies of the National Non-Communicable Diseases Strategic Plan for 2013-2016 by the WHO Representative, Dr. Jacob Mufunda to the Acting Minister of Health.

Abuja, 07 April 2016 - Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal 2016 has set in motion, the machinery for extensive mass media campaign during a Press conference to create awareness on the rising cases of the diabetes in line with 2016 World Health Day (WHD) focus “to beat diabetes” on 07 April, 2016.

This is the first time a serving SGF is playing host to the WHD which underscores the importance and special commitment that the government attaches to the event.

WHO and Ministry of Health teams in Guinea and Liberia have established epidemiological links between new Ebola cases in Liberia and a current flare-up of Ebola in neighbouring Guinea following intensified case investigations and contact tracing.

7 April 2016, Luanda – The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti and the Director-General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan have concluded a three-day official visit to Angola. The visit aimed at assessing the ongoing efforts to prevent and control the yellow fever epidemic which has gripped the country since December 2015, and to identify ways of further strengthening support to Angola.

Geneva, 6 April 2016 - The number of people living with diabetes has almost quadrupled since 1980 to 422 million adults, with most living in developing countries. Factors driving this dramatic rise include overweight and obesity, WHO announced ahead of World Health Day.

The Director-General of WHO, Dr Margaret Chan, arrived today in Angola’s capital Luanda for a two-day visit to assess the situation of the current outbreak of yellow fever virus.

Since December 2015, Angola has been grappling with a yellow fever outbreak, which has infected more than 490 people and killed 198. The outbreak, which was first reported in the capital city Luanda, has since spread to 6 of the country’s 18 provinces.