Close collaboration between researchers and community groups has been instrumental in South Africa’s significant success in reducing tuberculosis (TB) incidence by more than half over the past decade. Women researchers and advocates have played a central role in this fight, with South African scientists contributing to global breakthroughs in TB research. This progress was highlighted… [Read More]
WHO
Minister Calleary Approves €250,000 Funding for Irish Summer Colleges Umbrella Group CONCOS
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, announced on 7th August 2025 the approval of €254,270 in funding for CONCOS, the umbrella organisation for Irish summer colleges, covering the period from 2025 to 2027. This funding is intended to support CONCOS in implementing its work programme and continuing its… [Read More]
UN Officials Warn of Starvation Amid ‘Gender Emergency’ in War-Torn Sudan
The humanitarian situation in El Fasher, Sudan, is rapidly worsening, with hunger growing alarmingly and putting civilians’ lives at risk. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned of this deteriorating crisis. Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s Director of Operations and Advocacy, currently in Sudan, described the immense suffering faced by people who… [Read More]
Gaza Faces Record High Levels of Acute Malnutrition Among Children
In July 2025, aid partners screened 136,000 children under five in Gaza, identifying nearly 12,000 as acutely malnourished. Among these, more than 2,500 suffered from severe acute malnutrition—the most life-threatening form—with 40 children requiring hospitalization in stabilization centers. The proportion of children experiencing severe acute malnutrition has increased, with 18% of acutely malnourished children affected… [Read More]
WHO and Partners Launch Global Guide to Promote Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care
Leading global health and development agencies have released a groundbreaking implementation guide designed to help countries provide respectful, dignified care and eliminate mistreatment in maternal and newborn health services. The guide, titled the Compendium on Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care, addresses widespread issues such as neglect, abuse, and non-consensual medical procedures that many women face… [Read More]
Transforming Nigeria’s Horticulture Sector with Financial Innovations
In southern Nigeria, young people often struggle to access formal agricultural financing due to barriers such as lack of collateral, experience, and institutional trust. To address this, HortiNigeria partnered with Soilless Farm Lab (Eupepsia Place Limited) in 2023 to launch a youth-focused pitch competition in Ogun State. Rather than offering traditional loans or subsidies, the… [Read More]
Global Cholera Response Saves Lives Through Coordinated Action
Since January 2025, Angola has been grappling with one of its most severe cholera outbreaks in decades, with over 27,000 reported cases and more than 760 deaths. These figures represent real human suffering—families and communities struggling for survival. Stories like that of Maria, a mother from Cuanza Sul who carried her twin children in search… [Read More]
WHO and ESPEN Lead Technical Mission to Improve Schistosomiasis Drug Management in Zimbabwe
The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), through the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), conducted a technical mission to Zimbabwe from 7–11 July 2025. This mission, carried out in collaboration with the pharmaceutical donor Merck and the WHO Country Office in Zimbabwe, focused on strengthening national supply… [Read More]
Ethiopia Reaches 16.8 Million Children in Second Round of nOPV2 Vaccination Campaign
Ethiopia has successfully completed the second round of its nationwide novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) campaign, reaching over 16.8 million children across ten regions. Conducted from May 30 to June 2, 2025, the campaign was led by the Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, with support from the World Health… [Read More]
UN Supports Decent Work and Social Protection Reforms in the Philippines
The United Nations in the Philippines, through a Joint Programme supported by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by the ILO, UNDP, and UNICEF, recently held a series of regional consultations to help shape the Global Accelerator (GA) Roadmap on Decent Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions. These consultations took place from June 10… [Read More]
New Zealand Pledges NZ$2 Million to WHO for Polio Outbreak Response in Papua New Guinea
The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged a NZ$2 million contribution from the Government of New Zealand to support Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) response to its ongoing polio outbreak. This timely support comes as cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) continue to be confirmed through environmental and community surveillance in Lae and Port… [Read More]
Radio IITA and Yam Breeding Program Boost Women’s Role in Agriculture
At the heart of IITA–CGIAR’s mission lies a strong dedication to improving livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa by ensuring that advanced agricultural research translates into real-world benefits. This commitment was recently brought to life through a transformative outreach event for female yam farmers, jointly organized by Radio IITA and the IITA Yam Breeding Program. The initiative… [Read More]
$50 Million Climate Resilience Fund Launched to Support At-Risk Communities
A new Adaptation and Resilience Fund (A&R Fund) has been launched to deliver over $50 million to locally led climate adaptation solutions. The fund is a collaborative effort by several global philanthropic organizations including ClimateWorks Foundation, Howden Foundation, Laudes Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation. It aims to support people in low- and… [Read More]
End TB Now: WHO Calls for Accelerated Research and Innovation
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an urgent call to scale up research, innovation, and collaboration to fast-track efforts to end tuberculosis (TB) in the South-East Asia Region, which accounts for nearly half of the global TB burden. The call came as experts, national TB programme managers, researchers, civil society members, and partners gathered… [Read More]
Tanzania Boosts Health Emergency Response with Subnational RCCE Training
In Morogoro, Tanzania, a significant step was taken to strengthen the country’s readiness for health emergencies through a two-day Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) training workshop. Organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and supported by UK in Tanzania, the event focused on building local capacity in… [Read More]
2025 African Vaccination Week: Boosting Immunization Through the Big Catch-Up Initiative
African Vaccination Week in Ethiopia served as a crucial platform to advance the Big Catch-Up (BCU) initiative. The campaign focused on raising awareness, engaging local communities, and strengthening immunization efforts, particularly in underserved areas. A high-level advocacy visit was made to an outreach vaccination site in a densely populated urban slum, organized by the Addis… [Read More]
Sudan Famine One Year Later: WFP Warns of Starvation in El Fasher
One year after famine was first confirmed in Sudan’s Zamzam camp in North Darfur, the humanitarian crisis in the region has worsened, with the population in El Fasher now facing starvation. The city has been under siege, cutting it off from vital humanitarian access. Despite the World Food Programme (WFP) scaling up its operations across… [Read More]
Lebanon’s Agriculture Sector Gets First ILO Occupational Safety and Health Guide
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture have jointly launched the country’s first Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Guide in Agriculture, a significant step toward improving labor conditions in a sector vital to Lebanon’s economy. This initiative represents a foundational shift in how safety and health are integrated into agricultural practices across… [Read More]
How Health Taxes Are Boosting Public Health in Cameroon
On July 25, 2025, a high-level seminar was held at the Palais de Verre Paul Biya in Yaoundé, Cameroon, to address the pressing need for regulating and taxing unhealthy food products. Organized by the Reconciliation and Development Association (RADA), in partnership with national and international health stakeholders such as the Parliamentary Health Funding Caucus, Oxygen… [Read More]
Empowering Youth to Drive Local Change for Climate Justice and Gender Equality
International Youth Day 2025 celebrates the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” spotlighting the vital role of youth in driving sustainable development and justice. Across countries like Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kyrgyzstan, young women leaders are demonstrating how grassroots action can lead to global change. UN Women highlighted four changemakers using… [Read More]
Africa’s Path to Sustainability: Stakeholders Rally to Unlock Local Capital for SDG Financing
The United Nations estimates that between $3 trillion and $5 trillion is needed annually to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. For Africa alone, the annual financing gap stands at $194 billion, representing about 7% of the continent’s GDP. Addressing this shortfall, the Global Compact Network Kenya (GCNK), in collaboration with the Principles… [Read More]
Africa Begins Phase 1 HIV Vaccine Trial Targeting Highly Networked T-Cell Epitopes
The first doses of a promising investigational HIV vaccine candidate, known as GRAdHIVNE1 (Gorilla Adenovirus Vectored HIV Networked Epitopes Vaccine), have been administered as part of a landmark Phase 1 clinical trial. The vaccine was first given on July 28, 2025, at the Mutala Trust clinical trial site in Harare, Zimbabwe. This initiative represents a… [Read More]
South Africa and UNESCO Urge G20 to Prioritize Social Protection Systems
UNESCO participated in the inaugural session of the G20 Working Group on Illicit Financial Flows and Social Protection, held in South Africa. This initiative stems from a commitment made earlier in the year by South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who emphasized that closing illicit financial flows must be tied to reinforcing social protection and advancing… [Read More]
