The decision to put a tax on sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) was taken by the Treasury as part of their 2016 budget process – though the tax is only due to begin in 2017. This tax is aimed at reducing a growing Non-communicable Disease epidemic…
Dire health situation identified in 15 local government areas formerly held by insurgents A WHO emergency health team arrived 19 August 2016 in Maiduguri State to assess and respond to the health needs of 800 000 people in north eastern Nigeria, formerly held by militant…
– The World Health Organization (WHO) has today named Mr Michael R. Bloomberg, philanthropist and former three-term Mayor of the City of New York, as Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). NCDs (including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases) and injuries are…
Counting and reviewing every birth and death is key to preventing future tragedies The day of birth is potentially the most dangerous time for mothers and babies. Every year, worldwide, 303 000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth, 2.7 million babies die during the first…
One of the largest emergency vaccination campaigns ever attempted in Africa will start in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo this week as WHO and partners work to curb a yellow fever outbreak that has killed more than 400 people and sickened thousands more.…
After more than two years without wild poliovirus in Nigeria, the Government reported today that two children have been paralyzed by the disease in the northern Borno state. As an immediate priority, the Government of Nigeria is collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) and…
The yellow fever epidemic in Angola, first reported in late January 2016, appears to be declining, with no new cases confirmed in the last 6 weeks. However, WHO and partners continue to provide support to Angola as well as to Democratic Republic of the Congo…
Juba, 25 July 2016 - In a move to prevent a cholera outbreak from spreading, the Ministry of Health of South Sudan with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and health partners are ramping up disease surveillance and treatment efforts. Across the country, 271…
The NPA has carefully considered the sentence handed to Mr Oscar Pistorius and has decided to file an application for leave to appeal in terms of section 316(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 against the sentence imposed by Honourable Judge Masipa in…
Ahead of World Hepatitis Day, 28 July, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to take rapid action to improve knowledge about the disease, and to increase access to testing and treatment services. Today, only 1 in 20 people with viral hepatitis know they…