UN to begin polio and measles vaccinations as Ebola transmissions plummet in Liberia
United Nations agencies and their partners today announced a massive campaign to vaccinate more than 600,000 children against polio and measles in Liberia as a crucial step towards recovery and the restoration of health…
Ebola outbreak in Liberia is over: UN health agency
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Liberia free of Ebola virus transmission as forty-two days have passed since the last laboratory-confirmed case was buried on 28 March, a “monumental achievement” for a country…
After Ebola outbreak, expert panel urges ‘unified entity’ within UN health agency for emergency response
Independent experts tasked to assess the World Health Organization’s (WHO) response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa today said “at present, WHO does not have the operational capacity or culture to deliver a full…
UN health agency draws lessons from Ebola to prepare roadmap for future epidemics
The World Health Organization (WHO) today concluded a meeting on Ebola research and development to look at lessons learned from the outbreak and develop a roadmap for future epidemics so that “we can be better prepared…
Sierra Leonean female journalists add momentum in final push towards zero Ebola
Sierra Leonean female journalists, under the umbrella ‘Women in the Media Sierra Leone’ (WIMSAL), have injected fresh energy into efforts to end Ebola in their country following the 27 April kickoff of their “Getting Ebola to…
Liberia: The road ahead from zero Ebola transmissions
“The Liberian people have won their fight against Ebola through their resilience and through their solidarity.” With that, Peter Graaff, Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency…
Citing ‘defining moment’ sparked by Ebola outbreak, UN health agency chief pledges key reforms
The head of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today promised a new $100 million emergency fund and a global health crisis workforce as part of a reform package prompted by the response to the Ebola outbreak…
New Flare Up of Ebola Cases in Guinea Prompts Urgent Response
Amid a spate of new Ebola cases in Guinea – 27 in Boké, Dubreka and Forecariah in the week to 17 May compared to 7 the previous week – Ebola response partners organized an urgent mission to the region on 19 May to meet with…
UN health agency responds to Ebola spike by deploying team on border of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau
The World Health Organization (WHO) today reported “a substantial increase” in the weekly total of new Ebola cases in Guinea and Sierra Leone and deployed a response team to the border with Guinea-Bissau because of its…
On Africa Day, UN chief spotlights continents' achievements, reflects on challenges of 2015
Each year, Africa Day is an opportunity to celebrate the continent's achievements and to reflect on its challenges, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, highlighting the courage and determination it took…
UN health agency governing body ends session agreeing ‘landmark’ reforms on emergency response
The World Health Assembly wrapped up its work today after giving the greenlight for the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) to reform its emergency and response capacity to better tackle future disease outbreaks…
UNMEER Sierra Leone Crisis Manager Bintou Keita with Ebola survivors and staff from German NGO Cap Anamur.
UNMEER commissions water well at children’s Ebola care centre in Freetown
The United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) Sierra Leone Ebola Crisis Manager (ECM), Bintou Keita, last week inaugurated an UNMEER-funded water borehole project at the Observatory Interim Care Centre…