Attachments
Overview
This Weekly Bulletin focuses on public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African region. This week’s articles cover:
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Drought in Namibia
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Dengue in the Central African Republic
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Cholera in Guinea
For each of these events, a brief description, followed by public health measures implemented and an interpretation of the situation, is provided.
A table is provided at the end of the bulletin with information on all new and ongoing public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as recent events that have been controlled and closed.
Major issues include
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Namibia’s worsening food security is primarily attributed to the effects of El Niño on agriculture, along with climatic shocks, economic fluctuations and high unemployment rates. From July to September 2024, the food insecure population is expected to rise by an additional 8%, highlighting the urgent need for effective interventions to address these challenges. In collaboration with different partners, the government is mitigating the immediate impacts of the drought and building community resilience. However, logistical challenges in delivering aid to remote areas, exacerbated by poor infrastructure, hamper response efforts and worsen the situation.
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The Central African Republic (CAR) health authorities declared dengue outbreaks on 10 September 2024 in three districts (Bangui 1, Bangui 3 and Bimbo) of the capital city. The newly declared dengue outbreak is occurring in a very challenging health system already exhausted with other ongoing emergencies, including outbreaks (Mpox, hepatitis E, measles, yellow fever) and the protracted humanitarian crisis linked to internal conflict and the impact of the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Sudan with thousands of refugees who have crossed the border into CAR.