Category: English

Source: APO

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Ethiopia conducted a synchronized polio vaccination campaign with South Sudan using the bivalent Oral Polio vaccine (bOPV) and reached over one million children under five years in high-risk border areas and refugee camps, as part of urgent efforts to prevent cross-border transmission of the variant polio virus from neighboring South Sudan. The vaccination campaign, implemented from 7 to 10 May 2026, covered Gambella and Benishangul-Gumuz regions as well as West Wollega and Kelem Wollega zones of Oromia Region.

The intervention followed the detection of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) in South Sudan in March and April 2026, including cases identified close to the Ethiopian border, heightening the risk of importation to Ethiopian communities. Given the porous borders and frequent population movements between the two countries, particularly among traders, pastoralists, and refugee populations, the health authorities moved swiftly to reinforce interventions to prevent further spread. Currently, five variant polioviruses (cVDPV1) have been reported from Gambella from children in refugee camps in Ethiopia from South Sudan.

At the official launch of the campaign in Gambella, the WHO Ethiopia Representative, Professor Francis Kasolo, in a message delivered by Dr Fadinding Manneh, WHO GPEI Coordinator, underscored that the campaign was a proactive preventive measure designed to protect children. He highlighted that Gambella’s unique context—marked by mobility, diversity, and strong cross-border ties—requires heightened vigilance and coordinated action. He highlighted that the vaccination campaign represented a critical opportunity to safeguard children in border communities and refugee settlements.

Dr Abel Assefa, the Gambella Regional Health Bureau Head emphasized the urgency of the vaccination campaign, stating: “This synchronized effort is essential to protect our children, especially those in border and refugee communities who are most at risk. Through collaboration with partners and neighboring countries, we are committed to reaching every child and preventing the importation and spread of the variant poliovirus.”

The vaccination campaign was conducted in close coordination with South Sudan to ensure synchronized implementation on both sides of the border, creating substantial effect to interrupt virus transmission. Preparations included detailed microplanning, mapping of migration routes and crossing points, and alignment of operational strategies between the two countries, supported by WHO, UNICEF, Public Health institutions and other partners. Special deployment approaches were designed to reach mobile and hard-to-access populations, including those in riverine areas and densely populated settlements, ensuring that all eligible children were reached regardless of location or legal status. 

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute, working with WHO, UNICEF, and Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, mobilized resources from the Gates Foundation, secured vaccine supplies, and strengthened logistics systems to support effective vaccination campaign delivery. Based on available preliminary data, a total of 1,026,885 children (coverage 101%) received the bOPV during this vaccination campaign in the targeted areas.

WHO has played a programmatic leadership role in supporting the vaccination campaign implementation, providing financial support for operational costs, technical expertise for the planning, training, supervision, and monitoring. This included skills strengthening for vaccinators and supervisors, cold chain assessments to maintain vaccine potency at the last mile, and real-time monitoring to improve performance and accountability. The support also included enhancing surveillance systems, particularly for acute flaccid paralysis cases, a key indicator for detecting poliovirus transmission. Health facilities, community informants, and frontline workers were urged to remain vigilant and report suspected cases promptly. In addition, other essential health services were integrated with the bOPV vaccination campaign including identification and linkage for zero dose and under vaccinated children for routine immunization, identification and referral of obstetric fistula and referral for management, and identification and referral of club foot and referral for management, and screening for tuberculosis.

The vaccination campaign reflected Ethiopia’s continued commitment to the global goal of polio eradication and the protection of vulnerable populations. By acting early and in coordination with neighboring countries, Ethiopia aims to prevent the importation and spread of poliovirus, strengthen resilience in high-risk areas, and preserve the significant progress made toward a polio-free world. Authorities have reaffirmed their determination to reach every child and to sustain efforts beyond this initial round through strengthened routine immunization, enhanced surveillance, and continued cross-border collaboration.

The implementation of this synchronized polio vaccination campaign was successful. Gates Foundation’s continued commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has been instrumental in enabling timely resource, strengthening operational capacity, and ensuring that life-saving vaccines reach children in high-risk, underserved, and mobile populations timely. This support has significantly contributed to Ethiopia’s efforts to prevent and control of poliovirus protecting vulnerable communities, especially those in border areas and refugee settings. 

Protecting children from polio is not only a national priority but also a shared regional and global responsibility.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Ethiopia.

Source: APO – Report:

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As armed conflicts reach highest levels in 80 years, organizations providing life-saving services to women and girls are running out of money. Beyond the Breaking Point, a new UN Women report published today on the impact of aid cuts, finds that at least one million women and girls have lost access to critical support since January 2025. The report is based on responses from 855 women-led and women’s rights organizations across 52 crisis-and conflict-affected countries.

“The women’s organizations at risk of being shut down are on the frontlines of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. In countries including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti, they operate where international actors cannot and stay long after global attention has moved on. Every dollar withdrawn from women’s organizations is a dollar withdrawn from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, girls forced from school, and communities struggling to survive”, said Sofia Calltorp, UN Women Chief of Humanitarian Action.

The collapse of women’s organizations is happening as needs reach historic levels. Some 120 million women and girls require humanitarian assistance and protection worldwide [1] and 84 per cent of women’s organizations surveyed report that demand for their services has increased since January 2025. Nearly nine in 10 say they can no longer meet current levels of need. Two in five organizations surveyed expect to shut down, temporarily or permanently, within the next year.

To keep life-saving services afloat, women leading or working in the organizations surveyed are paying with their own labour, income, and wellbeing. Many are crisis-affected themselves. Sixty-five per cent of women-led organizations report staff working without pay to keep services running. As organizations slip into survival mode, 48 per cent – nearly half – report rising burnout among their staff, while 88 per cent say the mental health of the women and girls they serve is deteriorating.

The consequences of the funding cuts are already visible. Half of women’s organizations have introduced waiting lists or are turning away women and girls in need. Ninety-two per cent of organizations report increasing levels of poverty among the women they serve, while 82 per cent report seeing more girls dropping out of school.

Conflict-related sexual violence doubled in 2025, just as the systems designed to protect survivors are collapsing. Eighty-six per cent of women’s organizations report an increase in gender-based violence in the communities they serve. Sixty-two per cent of organizations report that safe spaces are no longer available or have been significantly reduced.

Behind these numbers are devastating consequences. A woman seeking refuge from violence might show up at the door of a shelter that has shut down; a pregnant woman may have to walk for hours to reach a health clinic; or a mother may be denied food for her children. The women and girls left behind first are those with the fewest alternatives: women and girls in remote, conflict-affected and hard-to-reach communities. Nearly two-thirds, or 63 per cent, of organizations have already cut services in those areas.

The report warns that the consequences extend far beyond humanitarian response. The dismantling of women’s organizations is not happening in a vacuum but against a global backlash on the rights of women and girls. One in five organizations has already suspended work advancing women’s leadership and gender equality. More than half are already witnessing declining participation of women in community leadership and local decision-making.

UN Women is calling for sustained investment in women’s organizations as indispensable first responders, defenders of women’s rights, and the foundation of peace and recovery. “Without immediate action, the organizations that have kept women and girls alive through the world’s worst crises risk becoming another casualty of war”, concluded Calltorp.

UN Women works with and invests in women-led organizations as essential partners in humanitarian action – providing funding, technical support, and advocacy to strengthen their leadership, expand access to life-saving services, and advance inclusive, locally led humanitarian responses that meet the needs of women and girls.

– on behalf of UN Women.

Source: APO – Report:

The ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate of External Relations, has convened a three-day meeting of Heads of ECOWAS National Offices from across the Member States in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 8–10 July 2026, under the theme: “The Role of the ECOWAS National Offices in the Future of ECOWAS: Challenges, Opportunities and Strengthening Collaboration among ECOWAS National Offices to Advance Regional Integration Programmes.”

The Annual Meeting of the Heads of ECOWAS National Offices, institutionalised by the Council’s Decision C/Dec.6/12/90, serves as a vital platform for the exchange of experiences, the sharing of best practices, and the strengthening of collaboration in support of the ECOWAS regional integration agenda. Participants will review the progress made in implementing Community programmes at the national level, identify emerging challenges and opportunities, and explore practical approaches to enhancing the effectiveness, visibility, and impact of ECOWAS interventions across Member States. It also provides the opportunity to discuss the role of the Heads of ECOWAS National Offices in the new ECOWAS architecture, in line with commitment to the compact of the future of regional integration

While introducing the meeting, Mr. Jerome BOA, Director of External Relations of the ECOWAS Commission, commended the Management of the Commission for recognising and supporting the important work of the ECOWAS National Offices in facilitating the implementation of Community programmes and projects at the national level.

Madam Kenyeh Laura BARLAY, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of the Republic of Sierra Leone, represented by Mr. Kamba MOMO, Head of the ECOWAS National Office in Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee (AFC), encouraged Heads of ECOWAS National Offices to engage in open and constructive discussions, share experiences, and develop recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of National Offices and the implementation of ECOWAS programmes across Member States.

She noted that their participation reflects a shared commitment to strengthening regional integration, improving coordination, and advancing the objectives of ECOWAS for the benefit of the people of West Africa.

In his opening statement, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, President of the ECOWAS Commission, represented by Amb. Dr. Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted the critical role of ECOWAS National Offices as key drivers of regional integration, serving as bridges between the Commission and Member States. He commended their contribution to enhancing coordination, promotion of visibility for ECOWAS programmes, and supporting the implementation of regional initiatives at the national level.

President TOURAY noted that the meeting comes at a significant moment for ECOWAS, marked by evolving regional dynamics, institutional reforms, and the need to strengthen collaboration among National Offices to advance the Community’s integration agenda. He encouraged participants to use the platform to exchange experiences, explore joint initiatives, strengthen institutional coordination, and define the future role of National Offices within the evolving ECOWAS architecture, in line with the objectives of ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the Compact for the Future of Regional Integration.

“Over the years, the ECOWAS National Offices have played indispensable roles in facilitating dialogue, enhancing visibility, and supporting the implementation of regional initiatives at the national level. As Heads of ECOWAS National Offices, you have served as bridges of communication, channels of coordination, and instruments of integration,” he added.

The meeting is expected to strengthen collaboration among ECOWAS National Offices, enhance coordination and information sharing with the ECOWAS Commission in support of ECOWAS Vision 2050, and promote joint initiatives on regional integration priorities. It will also clarify the evolving role of Heads of National Offices within the new ECOWAS architecture and establish a roadmap for the implementation of the ECOWAS Resources Management Platform at the national levels.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Government of South Sudan have activated the country’s first-ever drought anticipatory action plan, directly shielding over 65,000 people in Budi and Kapoeta North counties from severe, climate-induced food insecurity.

Anticipatory action is when humanitarian assistance is triggered before a crisis hits, so communities can protect lives, food security and livelihoods before the worst impacts unfold. WFP triggered the anticipatory action plan in Eastern Equatoria as drought risk intensifies and is now delivering cash transfers and early warning communications to help families prepare for the impact. 

“Anticipatory action is transforming the way we manage climate-related shocks,” said Mutinta Chimuka, WFP Country Director in South Sudan. “Rather than wait for drought to deepen humanitarian needs, we are acting based on forecasts and evidence to support communities before livelihoods are disrupted. By delivering assistance early, we can help families protect what they have, strengthen their resilience, and reduce the human and economic costs of drought.”

Cash assistance for 52,751 people is helping households meet essential food and livelihood needs before conditions deteriorate, while strengthening purchasing power and reducing reliance on negative coping mechanisms. More than 65,000 people are benefitting from early warning communication and awareness campaigns that provide households with essential information on drought preparedness and mitigation, livestock management, water use, and livelihood planning guidance to strengthen their resilience to drought shocks.

Eastern Equatoria’s agro-pastoral communities depend heavily on seasonal rainfall for crop production and livestock rearing. Prolonged dry conditions can quickly lead to crop failure, livestock losses, reduced household incomes, and worsening food insecurity, leaving already vulnerable families at greater risk.

The activation of this anticipatory action plan has been made possible through US$1.08 million from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and US$1.37 million from Germany. Previous investments from the Government of Ireland and KOICA helped establish South Sudan’s anticipatory action system, including the development of the drought anticipatory action plan and enhanced operational readiness for this activation.

By combining scientific forecasts, early warning information and pre-arranged financing, WFP and its partners are enabling vulnerable communities to withstand climate shocks, protect development gains and build resilience for the future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Source: APO

For many communities in South Sudan, livestock are far more than animals. Cattle provide food, income, and security. In Jonglei, where veterinary services are scarce, disease outbreaks can threaten the livelihoods of entire households.

Over the past year, Indian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan have been helping protect these vital assets through mobile veterinary clinics, free treatment, community training, and veterinary education.

Since launching the outreach programme last June, the Indian veterinary team has treated more than 41,500 critically sick cattle and goats across remote parts of Jonglei, tackling infections, tick-borne diseases, parasitic illnesses, traumatic injuries, and other life-threatening conditions.

They have also provided free medicines, feed supplements, and advice on disease prevention and livestock management.

For cattle keeper Daniel Garang Jok, the regular visits have become a lifeline.

“This team of veterinary doctors has been very helpful. They have been visiting almost every week to assess our cattle, provide treatment, and offer advice. The more they help us keep our cattle stay healthy, the more we can remain on our land instead of moving elsewhere, where cattle movement can lead to conflicts with farmers.”

Healthier livestock means families are less likely to move in search of pasture, helping reduce tensions between pastoralists and farming communities.

But the initiative goes well beyond treating sick animals.

It is also strengthening local capacity. Over the past year, 252 Community Animal Health Workers have been trained to diagnose common diseases, provide basic treatment, support vaccinations, and promote better animal husbandry. Notably, 165 are women, expanding their role in protecting household livelihoods and creating new opportunities for economic independence.

One trainee, Makech Mabior Anyieth, says the practical training has transformed local responses to livestock diseases.

“I have attended their training three times. We learned how to dehorn cattle with defective horns, castrate animals, provide basic veterinary treatment, and carry out vaccinations.”

The initiative is also investing in South Sudan’s future veterinary workforce. Forty students from Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology have received hands-on clinical training in disease diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and livestock management.

For many communities, the support fills a critical gap. For cattle keeper Awuoi Kur, the benefits are already visible.

“They have provided medicines and services that we could not access on our own. Some of the medicines are not available in local markets or even neighbouring countries, and they provide them free of charge.”

For Lieutenant Colonel Harmanjett Singh Goraya, Veterinary Officer with the Indian Battalion, the mission is about addressing one of South Sudan’s most pressing but underserved needs.

“Mobile veterinary camps are addressing widespread diseases including foot-and-mouth disease, East Coast fever, anaplasmosis, tick infestations, parasitic infections, and skin diseases while educating livestock owners on prevention and better animal management.”

Beyond treating livestock, the initiative will leave a legacy of community resilience that long outlasts the life of the peacekeeping mission.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

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In war-torn Sudan, a deadly new cholera outbreak has already claimed more than 100 lives, heightening serious concerns for vulnerable communities including in besieged El-Obeid, where daily drone attacks have continued to hamper aid access. 

“Cholera is back and it’s affecting several states, mainly in the western part of the country, the Darfurs and the Kordofans,” said Dr Shible Sahbani, UN World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Sudan. 

Briefing journalists in Geneva, the official reported more than 1,330 confirmed cases and 114 deaths from the disease, which is preventable but can be deadly if not treated quickly. 

Why this matters

• 114 confirmed deaths from highly infectious cholera so far
• Conflict still blocking lifesaving healthcare and aid
• Rainy season likely to make outbreak much worse
• Millions still displaced and highly vulnerable​

The true number of fatalities is likely much higher and aid agencies are deeply concerned that the disease could spread among the hundreds of thousands of people who’ve fled towns and rural areas in North Kordofan. 

The Sudanese state located in the centre of the country is the epicentre of fighting between former allies the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 

Vulnerable to disease

The cholera case fatality rate is already “extremely high” at 13.7 per cent and it is expected to worsen when the upcoming rainy season sets in, Dr Sahbani explained.

Sudan is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with more than 33 million people in need; this includes 21 million who require health services. Since war erupted on 15 April 2023, at least 59,000 people have been killed.

Although some people have returned to states “where the situation is improving” including the capital, Khartoum, Dr Sahbani stressed that 13.4 million remain displaced; nine million within Sudan and 4.6 million in neighbouring countries. In addition to cholera, existing disease outbreaks include dengue, malaria, meningitis, hepatitis E and measles.

“We are particularly concerned about the spread [of cholera] to El-Obeid in North Kordofan, where the access is very limited and where the fragile health system is under increasing strain,” the WHO representative said. “Health facilities are overwhelmed there and access to care is very, very limited.”

Aid boost call

The agency has prepositioned enough health supplies for more than 25,000 people in El-Obeid “but I can admit that it’s not enough”, Dr Sahbani said. On Monday, WHO delivered 8.5 tonnes of medical supplies to Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan as part of an inter-agency convoy. 

This was the first WHO shipment to reach Kadugli since December 2024 because of access blockages.

Dr Sahbani echoed recent appeals from UN human rights chief Volker Türk to the international community to prevent further atrocities in El-Obeid and a repeat of mass killings in El Fasher when RSF forces entered the city last October. 

“We call for our partners and donors to help us to be able first to access and second to be able to send enough supplies and enough facilities in El-Obeid. But we know that the situation there is very, very bad and it’s worsening with higher risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, violence, including violence against women and children.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO

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Botswana has taken a significant step towards strengthening evidence-informed health policymaking through the launch of the Botswana Data-to-Policy (D2P) Capacity Strengthening Initiative, a collaborative effort led by the Ministry of Health’s Health Research and Development Division with support from Vital Strategies, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Data for Health Initiative, and the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative aims to bridge the gap between data collection and policy action by equipping health professionals with the skills and tools needed to transform routine health data into actionable, evidence-based policy recommendations. The project is supported through a Vital Strategies Global Grants Program award and is being implemented between April 2026 and March 2027. 

The initiative was officially introduced during a participants’ orientation meeting held on 19 May 2026, where participants were briefed on the project’s objectives, expected outcomes, and implementation approach. Speakers highlighted the need to move beyond data collection to meaningful analysis and use of evidence in decision-making. Participants learned that Botswana was selected because of the wealth of routine health data available, which remains underutilized for planning, programme improvement, and policy development. The project seeks to strengthen national capacity for evidence-informed decision-making while promoting gender-responsive, inclusive, and accountable policies aligned with Botswana’s national development priorities.

A stakeholder engagement and project launch meeting was subsequently held on 20 May 2026, bringing together representatives from government ministries, development partners, academia, civil society organizations, Statistics Botswana, WHO, UNFPA, and other key stakeholders. In her opening remarks, the Director of Health Services Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Assurance, Ms Judith Nawa, underscored the importance of translating research findings and routine health data into policies and programmes that address Botswana’s most pressing health challenges. Stakeholders were encouraged to collaborate throughout the project to ensure that evidence generated through the initiative contributes directly to national health priorities.

The first D2P training module, held in Lobatse from 25–29 May 2026, provided participants with foundational skills in evidence-informed policymaking, stakeholder analysis, literature review, policy option assessment, and policy brief development. The training brought together professionals from multiple Ministry of Health departments, Health Statistics, and local government, creating a multidisciplinary platform for translating data into policy action. Participants examined key public health challenges, conducted root-cause analyses, and began developing evidence-based policy briefs.
Among the training’s most notable accomplishments was the identification and prioritization of policy issues critical to national development. Through structured prioritization exercises and group discussions, participants identified several areas requiring urgent policy attention, including maternal mortality, health workforce challenges, hypertension among young adults, underutilization of health information systems, HIV, and tuberculosis.

At the end of the exercise, five thematic teams were established to develop policy briefs on Maternal Mortality, Health Workforce Planning, Digital Health Systems, Hypertension, and HIV/Tuberculosis. Each team was assigned expert mentors to provide technical guidance throughout the policy development process. Participants completed root-cause analyses, developed initial problem statements, and began preparing for the next phase of policy brief development. Participants also emphasized the importance of strengthening the use of routine programme data and research evidence while acknowledging ongoing challenges such as fragmented information systems, data quality concerns, and limited use of available data for decision-making.

Throughout stakeholder discussions, participants emphasized the need for policy topics to align with Botswana’s National Development Plan 12, the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Stakeholders also stressed the importance of addressing data quality challenges, ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act, and promoting multisectoral engagement involving sectors such as local government, education, agriculture, and finance. These recommendations are expected to strengthen the relevance, feasibility, and impact of future policy recommendations.

As a way forward, thematic groups will refine their priority topics, conduct literature reviews and data analyses, strengthen problem statements, identify policy options, and undertake stakeholder consultations. Mentor-mentee engagement will continue throughout the intersession period, culminating in the development of draft policy briefs for review during Module 2 of the training programme.
By fostering a culture of evidence-informed decision-making, the Data-to-Policy Initiative is expected to contribute to stronger health policies, improved programme performance, and better health outcomes for the people of Botswana.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO), Botswana.