An HIV self-testing project in Malawi raises the rate of adolescents tested to over 80%. WHO encourages countries to conduct pilot programmes on HIV self-testing so information can be gathered and the role self-tests can be evaluated. Better access to self-testing helps adolescents who need further support for prevention, treatment and care of HIV. Concerns about confidentiality and privacy are one of the key barriers to HIV testing services for adolescents.

Brazzaville, 21 July 2015 - A high level delegation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has begun a four-day official visit to the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) in Brazzaville, Congo from 21-24 July 2015.

Christophe Harerimana, a school teacher for more than 20 years in Rwanda, became worried in recent years. Many of his students were coming to class ill and were having trouble concentrating.

“The children were having abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea. This made it difficult for them to follow the lessons,” says Harerimana, who teaches science and Kinyarwanda, the local language of his village, in the Musanze District.

Kaduna, Nigeria, 17 July 2015 - The Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has assured the World Health Organization (WHO) that, “we would do anything at our disposal to ensure that the state remains polio free and counterpart contribution to the expanded programme on immunization is released despite the economic challenges”.

Mallam El-Rufai made the pledge with further assurances of the premium he places on health issues during an advocacy meeting with the WHO Kaduna state team at the Government House on 16 July, 2015.

Luanda, 17 July  2015 – The hepatitis B virus vaccine has been introduced into the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) of Angola on 14th July 2015 as part of the joint efforts developed by the Government and health partners to reduce the mortality due to preventable diseases. The new antigen was launched during a ceremony chaired by the Governor of the Province of Luanda. In Luanda, about 106 thousand children (about 60%) are expected to be vaccinated, by December 2015.

Juba, 16 July 2015 -- South Sudan, with support from WHO and health partners, has embarked on a drive to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) currently affecting the country within the next five years. 

NTDs are a diverse group of diseases with distinct characteristics that thrive mainly among the poorest populations. The 17 NTDs prioritized by WHO are endemic in 149 countries and affect more than 1.4 billion people, costing developing economies billions of dollars every year. 

Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and development partners signed a Joint Financial Arrangement (JFA) on 15 July 2015 to commit resources to a pooled funding mechanism for health. The signing ceremony took place at the side-lines of the Third Financing for Development (FFD3) conference in Addis Ababa.

Brazzaville, 16 July 2015 – A high level delegation from Merck, a drug pharmaceutical company donating Praziquantel (PZQ) tablets for schistosomiasis control and elimination, has today paid a courtesy call to the World Health Organization Regional Office in Djoue, Brazzaville where they were received by Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa.

ADDIS ABABA | 15 July 2015 - On 14 July 2015, His Excellency, Mr Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, launched an ambitious 10-year national strategy and plan of action to develop local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in order to increase access to locally manufactured, quality-assured, medicines. The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the European Union Commission and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, provided technical assistance to the Government of Ethiopia in the development of this strategy, the first of its kind in the country.

Sierra Leone conducts immunization and birth registration campaigns for children under five

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 and birth registration during the outbreak. To counter this, mass immunization campaigns are being held to enable children to ‘catch-up’. In June this year, an integrated measles and polio campaign was conducted reaching 97% of children under the age of 5.