Photo Stories

Nairobi—Countries in the African region faced more than 140 health emergencies in 2025, ranging from infectious disease outbreaks to climate-related shocks and humanitarian crises. World Health Organization (WHO)’s regional Emergency Preparedness and Response Hub in Nairobi, Kenya, plays a critical role in preparing for and responding to these health emergencies, providing operational support and logistics, storing and distributing medical supplies and equipment, and facilitating rapid response. 

Kondrobo – Taking charge of one’s own health is the approach promoted by Côte d’Ivoire through the organization of community dialogues in localities far from major urban centers.

These exchanges with local communities focus on health and well-being in general, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, and particularly intergenerational dialogue.

Ouidah—Benin is intensifying its efforts in the fight against malaria by relying on innovative strategies. Every three years, the country organizes a nationwide campaign to distribute free long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

With the technical and financial support of partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 8 million mosquito nets will be distributed by community health workers to nearly 4 million households across the entire territory of Benin.

Blantyre—Malawi experiences seasonal outbreaks of cholera associated with the rainy season between November and May every year. Most people in Malawi remember the 2022‒2023 outbreak as one of the most severe in the country’s history, with almost 60 000 cases and over 1770 deaths reported.  

The 2025‒2026 outbreak has been mild in comparison to the previous outbreak. As of 9 March 2026, 174 cases (111 local and 63 cross-border) from 14 districts had been confirmed. There have been four deaths so far.

Xai Xai, Mozambique—As floodwaters recede across Gaza Province in southern Mozambique, recovery efforts are gaining momentum. Despite significant limitations in infrastructure, equipment and specialized services, health facilities that were damaged are progressively resuming operations to serve displaced communities returning to their areas of origin.

Nairobi—Kenya is accelerating efforts to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, as a public health problem by 2027. Yearly mass drug administration carried out between 2016 and 2022 have effectively halted transmission of the disease—a painful and disfiguring mosquito-borne infection that can cause permanent disability.

Nairobi—Kenya is addressing critical gaps in access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services in six priority counties, including those with health clients that are hard to reach.

Kigali—Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in Rwanda. With around 1230 new diagnoses and around 830 deaths each year the disease is an ongoing concern for health authorities.

Nairobi—In Kenya, regular mass drug administration is protecting a new generation from the effects of lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis ‒ a neglected tropical disease that affects the lymphatic system and can lead to the abnormal enlargement of body parts, causing pain, severe disability and social stigma.

Bulape, Democratic Republic of the Congo — As the Democratic Republic of the Congo counts down to declare the end of its sixteenth Ebola outbreak that erupted in Kasai Province, response teams are sustaining efforts to protect communities through vaccination, helping to strengthen preventive measures and reducing the risk of resurgence of the virus.