For a century, epidemics of meningococcal A meningitis, a bacterial infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, have swept across 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa killing and disabling young people every year. The disease is highly feared on the continent; it can kill or cause severe brain damage within hours.

After two years and 10 months of leading the World Health Organization’s programme in Ethiopia, WHO Representative (WR), Dr Pierre M’pele-Kilebou, has completed his mission and moved on to Cotonou, Benin. 

Ethiopia launched its ambitious five-year Health Sector Transformation Plan (HSTP) at the opening of the 17th Annual Review Meeting of the Health Sector that was in session 28 October 2015 in Adama Town. 
Explaining the ambitious goals of the HSTP, Dr. Kesetebirhan Admasu, Minister of Health Ethiopia, said, “It took us over 25 years to reduce child mortality by 70% and maternal death by 75%; now we are aiming to halve child and maternal death in the next five years.”

In a global effort to raise awareness on breast cancer, October has been designated as the Pink Month.  The Pink Month is a month where efforts to educate those concerned about the disease, including early identification and signs and symptoms associated with breast cancer.

Freetown, 7 November 2015 - Today, the World Health Organization declares that Ebola virus transmission has been stopped in Sierra Leone. Forty-two days, that is two Ebola virus incubation cycles, have now passed since the last person confirmed to have Ebola virus disease had a second negative blood test.

In Sierra Leone, the Ebola outbreak has affected all aspects of health care. Exact numbers are yet to be confirmed but it is clear that many children have missed out on routine vaccination services during the outbreak. To counter this, mass immunization campaigns are being held nationwide

Delivered by Dr Anders Nordström, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone

Today, 7 November 2015, the World Health Organization declares the end of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. 

Since Sierra Leone recorded the first Ebola case on 24 May 2014, a total number of 8,704 people were infected and 3,589 have died. From those who tragically lost their lives, 221 of them were healthcare workers. We remember them all today.

Kampala, 6th November 2015:- Uganda hosted the Africa Day for food and nutrition safety at Speke Resort Munyonyo, under the theme “Empowering our women, Securing our Food, Improving our nutrition” which ties neatly with the declaration of the year 2015 as “The year of Women empowerment and Development towards Africa’s agenda 2063”.

Mukono, 6 November 2015:  The Annual National Tuberculosis (TB) Stakeholders three-day meeting commenced at Collin Hotel in Mukono district, from 28th to 30th October under the theme “Engaging all stakeholders to end Tuberculosis epidemic in Uganda’’.

The objective of the meeting is to bring together all stakeholders to discuss the progress and key strategies to end the TB epidemic and Leprosy in Uganda.

Monrovia, 5 November 2015: Learning from the lessons from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Liberia, the Ministry of Health intends to reinforce health promotion in all parts of the country as part of the investment plan for building a resilient health system. In this regard, a meeting was held to validate a draft National Policy and Strategic Plan on Health Promotion, November 3-4, 2015 in Monrovia. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Health (MOH) with support from WHO Country Office, Liberia and AFRO.