Liberia

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 45 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:

• Marburg in Uganda

• Monkeypox in Nigeria

• Plague in Madagascar

• Dengue fever in Burkina Faso

• Cholera in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Cholera in Tanzania.

Highlights

• A total of 62 suspected cases of immediately reportable diseases and events including 20 deaths were reported from 15 counties

• Health facility reporting completeness and timeliness are 99.8% and 99.6% respectively

• Two confirmed cases of measles reported from Bong and Montserrado

• One confirmed case of meningitis reported from Maryland County

BY BROWN ODIGIE

Introduction

WHO Health Emergencies programme in the African Region: Compendium of short reports on selected outbreaks

It is our sincere pleasure to share with you a compendium of short reports on selected outbreaks in the WHO African Region. This compendium covers the following outbreaks:

• Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,

• Meningococcal septicaemia in Liberia,

• Cholera in Malawi,

• Meningitis in Nigeria,

• Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Namibia,

Moisture deficits in the Greater Horn of Africa could indicate delayed onset of seasonal rains

Africa Weather Hazards

1. Poorly-distributed rainfall during August and early September has delayed crop development over parts of southern Burkina Faso and northern Ghana. Below-average rain is forecast next week, which further reduces the chance for recovery.

In Liberia, since the beginning of this year, there have been constant storms and floods resulting in significant damages and losses. On Tuesday, August 31st, it was reported on the National Radio Station (ELBC Super Morning Show) that a heavy storm had occurred in Bong County (Central Liberia) which caused the destruction of houses thereby leading to the displacement of hundreds of local community dwellers.

The ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) is a weekly bulletin for epidemiologists and health professionals on active public health threats. This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers the period 8-14 October 2017 and includes updates on Legionnaires' disease, influenza, rubella, measles, West Nile fever, chikungunya, cholera and plague.

Finn Church Aid (FCA) has decided to shut down its country programmes in Liberia and Sierra Leone by the end of 2017. Involvement in Liberia led to the founding of the Women’s Bank volunteer network which currently has thousands of volunteers.

“It is always difficult to make a decision like this. Over the past year we have worked hard to find new donors in both Liberia and Sierra Leone, but have not been adequately successful. However, it’s great that the work will continue by a local civil society organisation”, says Jouni Hemberg, FCA’s Executive Director.

On Monday 16 October 2017 the Council adopted the EU Annual Report on Human Rights And Democracy in the World in 2016.

2016 was a challenging year for human rights and democracy, with a shrinking space for civil society and complex humanitarian and political crises emerging. In this context, the European Union showed leadership and remained strongly committed to promote and protect human rights and democracy across the world.

While the Ebola crisis was at its peak, a small group of WASH entrepreneurs helped in a significant way by repairing hand pumps in clinics and other health facilities in some of the country’s hardest-hit counties. By restoring access to water — not only for drinking, but also for infection prevention and control — these WASH entrepreneurs ensured that facilities had the resources they needed to promote hand washing and safe hygiene practices that could help combat the spread of the disease.

This weekly bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 44 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:

• Wildlife anthrax in Namibia

• Cholera in Zambia

• Plague in Madagascar

• Dengue fever in Burkina Faso

• Humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Humanitarian crisis in South Sudan.

Highlights

Keynotes and Events of Public Health Significance

• A total of 61 suspected cases of immediately reportable diseases and events including 19 deaths were reported from 15 counties

• Health facility reporting completeness and timeliness are 99.8% and 99.6% respectively

• Four confirmed cases of Measles reported from Margibi, Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Lofa Counties

Abuja, 13th October 2017 . Head of the ECOWAS 71-member Election Observation Mission to Liberia, John Mahama has commended Liberians for seizing the opportunity of the October 10 elections to “exercise their sovereign right to decide who leads them.”

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Monrovia, 11 October 2017

AUEOM Reports Generally Peaceful and Transparent Elections; Calls for Timely and Credible Management of Results

INTRODUCTION

As The Carter Center makes this preliminary report, it is important to note that the election process is ongoing, and there are still important steps to be completed before the Center can provide an overall assessment. This statement is one of five that The Carter Center has made about the process, and it only covers observations to date. Further reports addressing the tabulation process, the resolution of election disputes, and the post-election environment will follow.

Written by Kristin Myers

Despite global hunger levels falling, one in nine worldwide still face hunger. Here are the ‘ten hungriest’ countries according to the 2017 Global Hunger Index.

Highlights

Keynotes and Events of Public Health Significance

• A total of 105 suspected cases of immediately reportable diseases and events including 23 deaths were reported from 15 counties

• Health facility reporting completeness and timeliness are 99.8% and 99.8% respectively

• Measles outbreak ongoing in Nimba County

Simon Allison

As Liberians vote this week for their new president, the country must simultaneously deal with another seismic change to its political landscape: the complete withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping mission after more than 14 years on the ground.

Despite average rainfall over East Africa, risk of flooding remains high in Sudan and Ethiopia

Africa Weather Hazards

1. and below-normal rainfall in August and early September has produced moderate to large moisture deficits in parts of southern Burkina Faso and northern Ghana.

2. Below-average rain over the past three months has resulted in poor ground conditions in the Western Cape province of South Africa.