Uganda

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.

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,

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.

We can combat global hunger and malnutrition, but it takes a holistic approach to ensure long-lasting impact

World hunger is on the rise. Today, nearly one in 10 people around the world suffer from hunger.

The solution to combatting hunger seems simple — get food to people in need when they need it. And while we have answered the call time and time again in response to crises and humanitarian need, supporting food security requires much more than filling people’s bellies.

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.

By Miriam Gathigah

NAIROBI, Oct 12 2017 (IPS) - A growing number of African countries are increasingly becoming food insecure as delayed and insufficient rainfall, as well as crop damaging pests such as the ongoing outbreak of the fall armyworm, cause the most severe maize crisis in the last decade.

Experts have warned that as weather patterns become even more erratic and important crops such as maize are unable to resist the fall armyworm infestation, there will not be enough food on the table.

1. THE COST OF A PLATE OF FOOD

Numerous countries in Africa are facing conflict, drought, food shortages and widespread displacement. The UN estimates millions of people are on the verge of starvation in Southern and Eastern Africa.

In September 2017, Australia provided $20 million to support international relief efforts in Somalia and South Sudan. This is in addition to the $19.3 million of humanitarian assistance provided to South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya in May 2017.

This brief summarizes FEWS NET’s most forward-looking analysis of projected emergency food assistance needs in FEWS NET coverage countries. The projected size of each country’s acutely food insecure population (IPC Phase 3 and higher) is compared to last year and the recent five-year average and categorized as Higher (p), Similar (u), or Lower (q). Countries where external emergency food assistance needs are anticipated are identified. Projected lean season months highlighted in red indicate either an early start or an extension to the typical lean season.

1. Introduction

Global situation

This weekly bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 46 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key ongoing events, including:

• Plague in Madagascar
• Cholera in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Cholera in Uganda
• Cholera in north--east Nigeria
• Hepatitis E in Niger

• Humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia

6 of the 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have over 20% of their population using an unimproved water source and they include; Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Madagascar. Of these countries, Somalia has recorded the highest number of cholera cases and deaths. Countries which have 11 to 20% of their population using unimproved water sources include; South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Angola, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. 5 of these countries (South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola and Zimbabwe) have reported outbreaks in 2017.

3 of the 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have over 50% of their population using unimproved sanitation facilities and they include; Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda. Cumulatively, Tanzania has reported 2697 cases since the beginning of 2017. Countries which have 25 to 50% of their population using unimproved sanitation facilities include: Somalia, Kenya, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Madagascar. Cumulatively, these countries have reported 83, 346 cases in 2017, and majority of these cases emerging from Somalia.

6 of the 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have over 20% of their population using an unimproved water source and they include; Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Madagascar. Of these countries, Somalia has recorded the highest number of cholera cases and deaths. Countries which have 11 to 20% of their population using unimproved water sources include; South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Angola, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. 5 of these countries (South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola and Zimbabwe) have reported outbreaks in 2017.

3 of the 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have over 50% of their population using unimproved sanitation facilities and they include; Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda. Cumulatively, Tanzania has reported 2697 cases since the beginning of 2017. Countries which have 25 to 50% of their population using unimproved sanitation facilities include: Somalia, Kenya, Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Madagascar. Cumulatively, these countries have reported 83, 346 cases in 2017, and majority of these cases emerging from Somalia.

Highlights

More than 102,814 cholera / AWD cases and 1551 deaths (Case Fatality Rate: 1.5%) have been reported in 11 of 21 countries of Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) since the beginning of 2017. These countries include; Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Somalia accounts for 76.6% of the total cases reported in 2017, followed by South Sudan at 15.9%.

Introduction

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
September 19, 2017

Today, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson released the new U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Strategy for Accelerating HIV/AIDS Epidemic Control (2017-2020), which reaffirms U.S. support for HIV/AIDS efforts in more than 50 countries, ensuring access to services by all populations, including the most vulnerable and at-risk groups.

Ceci est un résumé des déclarations du porte-parole du HCR Andrej Mahecic – à qui toute citation peut être attribuée – lors de la conférence de presse du 29 septembre 2017 au Palais des Nations à Genève.

Le HCR, l’agence des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés, lance un appel à davantage de soutien de la part de la communauté internationale en faveur des réfugiés burundais et des communautés qui les accueillent, alors que la pénurie chronique de fonds entrave sérieusement les efforts humanitaires dans les pays d’asile.