News Releases

Africa COVID-19 cases top 3 million, first wave peak surpassed

As COVID-19 cumulative cases in Africa top 3 million and daily case numbers exceed the first wave peak, the continent is now confronted with emerging variants of the virus. Revamped public health measures are ever more critical to avert a runaway surge in infections that could stretch health facilities to the breaking point.

WHO urges greater surveillance as new COVID-19 variants emerge

With the recent emergence in the African region of new COVID-19 variants which seem to have higher transmissibility, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on countries to boost genomic surveillance and analysis through the African genome sequencing laboratory network to detect any new mutations and strengthen the efforts to curb the pandemic.

Taking stock of the progress made by the SRHR Initiative in the African Region durin...

WHO in the African Region has been implementing a four-year initiative, launched in January 2019, to enhance existing efforts for reducing preventable maternal morbidity and mortality. It emphasizes on eliminating maternal deaths due to unsafe abortion, as an important contributor to the reduction of maternal mortality in the African Region. The Initiative focuses on the provision of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services within the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework.

African Health Ministers urge greater vigilance in COVID-19 fight

African Health Ministers gathering for the resumed Seventieth session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa took stock this week of the region’s efforts in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, with calls to step up vigilance and head off a possible resurgence of infections.