Day: September 16, 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO) Malawi Country Office’s (WCO) team of 64 staff members converged in the lakeshore district of Mangochi from 10 to 15 August 2022 for a staff retreat. The main aim of the retreat was to review their performances since the beginning of the year with a focus on its recent interventions in the life-threatening emergencies such as flooding, COVID-19 pandemic, and the polio outbreak and the cholera outbreak that affected Malawi.

During the retreat, staff were updated on WHO’s Transformation Agenda. This is in line with The Thirteen General Programme of Work (GPW 13), which defines the organisation’s five-year strategy, 2019-2025.

Speaking at the meeting, WHO Malawi Country Representative, Dr Kimambo, Neema Rusibamayila emphasised that: “Triple billion targets serve to measure WHO’s impact on people’s health. One billion more people are expected to have access of universal health coverage, receive protection from health emergencies, and enjoy better health and well-being. Malawi is set to contribute towards this”.

Dr Kimambo added that the WHO’s Transformation Agenda provides an opportunity for engagement with the government, other UN agencies and all stakeholders.

“The focus of transformation agenda is pro-results, ensures smart technical focus, responsive strategic operations in line with health needs and priorities of the people of Malawi.” She explained WHO’s transformation vision to staff. “We aim to optimize technical delivery, improve quality of work and ensure better resource management and value for money in our interventions.”

Dr Nampewo Solome, Health Systems Coordinator explained the importance of ensuring access to universal health care in Malawi: “We are working to improve access to quality essential health services irrespective of gender, age or disability status, at all levels of health delivery system. We are committed to reducing the number of people suffering financial hardship, especially now when the country facing several emergencies.”

Participants were also urged to boost their personal skills and knowledge by utilising the learning platforms of WHO. Staff were encouraged to utilise the WHO ilearn platform and maximise the mentoring and coaching opportunities available in WHO.

The Ombudsman also presented on the various policies related to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, Harassment and Abuse of Authority. WHO staff were reminded to be ambassadors to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse of authority, everywhere, beyond the workplace environment always.

The team engaged in an open and constructive exchange of ideas to improve the WHO country office. Self-awareness moments provided insights on ways to improve the health system. The open-minded nature of the retreat ensued negative and positive reactions. Everyone calmly provided remedies to improve WHO’s teamwork, in a relaxed mode. The need for effective, responsive and respectful communication was emphasized.

Selamani Ngwira, Data Manager, from Nsanje district, couldn’t hide his joy after knowing and bonding with his colleagues and supervisors. “The staff retreat was very interesting. It brought us together, ensuring teamwork, with our supervisors. I personally now know my leaders following this retreat. We connected and bonded beyond exchanging memos and deadlines via email and phone. This will strengthen our coordinated response, during emergencies, whilst providing routine health services,” said Selaman.

To foster teamwork and coherence, the staff retreat was fused with fun activities, simulations, and sporting activities.  Staff members were urged to maintain a work-life balance so that they are fully productive in a work environment. The retreat ended on 15^th September 2022 with all staff empowered and energised to contribute their best efforts in achieving the goals of the Organisation.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

It has been over two years since the World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm on COVID-19. In March 2020, the virus Rwanda had apprehensively watched from afar had emerged on its doorstep.

Few could have imagined how life would change. The handshakes once used with impunity became a deadly health risk. Cases rose rapidly and Rwanda’s leadership and frontline health workers toiled around the clock to contain the emergency. Despite the commendable work done by the government, health service delivery was gravely affected like in the rest of the World.

At this crucial juncture, the Government of Japan in collaboration with WHO provided critical assistance to Rwanda’s COVID-19 National Joint Task Force. Through a project titled, “Strengthening the COVID-19 pandemic response and mitigating the impact of public health emergencies in Rwanda”, Japan provided invaluable support during an unprecedented time.

Among other things, Rwanda was able to procure two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) extraction machines placed at the National Reference Laboratory and Kigali International Airport, significantly reducing the testing process, and boosting response efforts.

This equipment fast-tracked the testing rates from 0.25 per 10,000 population in March 2020 to 609 per 10,000 by December 2020. Today, the PCR testing capacity has gone from 1 to 11 sites in the country.

At the time, Imai Masahiro, Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda commended the nation for using partnerships as a tool to tackle the public health emergency. “We appreciate the consistent efforts and firm commitment of the Government of Rwanda in responding effectively to this worldwide crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and realizing the importance of inclusive and integrated crisis management,” he expressed.

Japan is a long-standing partner to the Government of Rwanda. Before the COVID-19 response, it supported the country through funding worth over US$1.7 million towards projects implemented through WHO.

Dr Brian Chirombo, WHO Representative to Rwanda says the commitment from the Government of Japan has been instrumental to the work of WHO in the East African nation. He says: “Science has shown that pandemics can emanate from anywhere. They are fatal health threats that also disrupt our social-economic well-being. I thank the Government of Japan for its long-standing cooperation with WHO to achieve its mission to promote health and to keep Rwanda safe.”

Japan has contributed tremendously to Rwanda’s fight against health threats. In 2018, it provided funding support of over US$1 million to aid in strengthening preparedness for the Ebola outbreak.

The funding not only supported the procurement of equipment but equally to strengthening the capacity to respond to diseases particularly in the rural areas and at the Rwandan borders.

It should be noted that the political will and resilience demonstrated by the Government of Rwanda during outbreaks as coordinated by the office of the prime minister was commendable.

WHO in Rwanda is delighted to have worked closely with partners such as the Government of Japan in offering technical support towards the fight against COVID-19 and other health emergencies to ensure that the people of Rwanda are safe and healthy.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

Accra/Brazzaville – Ghana today declared the end of the Marburg virus disease outbreak that was confirmed nearly two months ago. It was the first time the highly infectious haemorrhagic fever was detected in the West African country.

Ghana’s Ministry of Health made the declaration after no new cases were reported over the past 42 days, or two incubation periods—the time between infection and the onset of symptoms. In total, three confirmed cases, including two deaths were recorded in the outbreak declared on 7 July 2022 after laboratory confirmation of the virus that affected the country’s Ashanti, Savannah and Western regions. A total of 198 contacts were identified, monitored and completed their recommended initial 21-day observation period which was then extended for another 21 days out of an abundance of caution by the Ghanaian health authorities.

The health authorities, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and other health partners, swiftly rolled out outbreak control measures, stepping up disease surveillance, testing, contact-tracing, clinical care as well as raising public awareness and working with communities to support disease prevention efforts. Marburg is a highly infectious disease in the same family as Ebola and has a high fatality rate of between 24% and 88%.

“Marburg is a frightening disease as it is highly infectious and lethal. There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments. Any outbreak of Marburg is a major concern,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Despite having no previous experience with the disease, Ghana’s response has been rapid and robust. Lives have been saved and people’s health protected thanks to an effective disease detection system that helped to quickly identify the virus and enabled prompt response to curb the spread of infection.”

The Marburg outbreak in Ghana was the second of its kind in West Africa. Guinea reported a single case in an outbreak that was declared over in September 2021. In Africa, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda.

Genomic sequence analyses of the Marburg virus by Senegal’s Institut Pasteur and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Ghana suggest that this latest outbreak is related to the case reported in Guinea in 2021. However, further investigations are needed to fully understand the origin of the outbreak, which may be due to a shared animal reservoir or to population movements between the two countries. WHO is supporting the health authorities to carry out ecological studies to increase understanding of the disease and help anticipate and prevent future outbreaks.

Resurgence of Marburg can occur and WHO is working with Ghana’s health authorities to maintain surveillance and improve detection and response to potential flare-up of the virus. Marburg is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic signs within seven days.

Source: World Health Organization