WHO African Region

Every day, decisions across our health systems affect who receives care, how quickly, and whether that care meets their needs. Reliable data helps us make better decisions. At the First #AfricaHealthDataForum in Nairobi today, I called for stronger health information systems and country-led action to ensure reliable data is used to identify gaps in health services and direct resources where they are needed most.

#COP31 has opened in Antalya, Türkiye, and health must remain at the centre of climate action. Across Africa, climate change is already threatening lives, increasing vulnerability to disease and placing growing pressure on health systems. Investing in climate-resilient health systems is not optional. It is essential to safeguarding hard-won health gains and building a healthier, more resilient future for all.

The resurgence of violence this weekend in North Kivu and Ituri is deeply concerning and is hampering efforts to bring the #Ebola outbreak under control. The outbreak has already claimed more than 5,000 lives, with nearly 11,000 confirmed cases. We call for an immediate de-escalation of violence and safe, unhindered access for health and humanitarian workers serving affected communities. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have lost loved ones, those who have been injured, and our colleagues who continue to provide essential health services amid the insecurity. Health facilities must be protected. Humanitarian workers must be protected. Health must never be a target. -------------------------- La reprise des violences ce week-end au Nord-Kivu et en Ituri est très préoccupante et complique les efforts visant à mettre fin à l’épidémie d’#Ebola. Plus de 5 000 personnes ont déjà perdu la vie et près de 11 000 cas ont été confirmés. Nous appelons à l’arrêt immédiat des violences et à un accès sûr et sans entrave pour les personnels de santé et les travailleurs humanitaires qui viennent en aide aux communautés touchées. Nos pensées vont aux familles endeuillées, aux personnes blessées ainsi qu’à nos collègues qui continuent de fournir des services de santé essentiels dans un contexte d’insécurité. Les établissements de santé doivent être protégés. Les travailleurs humanitaires doivent être protégés. La santé ne doit jamais être une cible. -------------------------- O recrudescimento da violência neste fim de semana no Kivu do Norte e em Ituri é profundamente preocupante e está a dificultar os esforços para controlar o surto de #Ebola. O surto já causou mais de 5.000 mortes, com quase 11.000 casos confirmados. Apelamos à redução imediata da violência e à garantia de um acesso seguro e sem obstáculos para os profissionais de saúde e os trabalhadores humanitários que prestam assistência às comunidades afetadas. Os nossos pensamentos estão com as famílias das pessoas que perderam a vida, com os feridos e com os nossos colegas que continuam a prestar serviços essenciais de saúde num contexto de insegurança. As unidades de saúde devem ser protegidas. Os trabalhadores humanitários devem ser protegidos. A saúde nunca deve ser um alvo.

In support of Kenya’s #Ebola response, I handed over 28 hospital beds with mattresses, laboratory testing equipment, personal protective equipment and other critical medical supplies to the Government today in Nairobi. These resources will strengthen the country’s capacity to detect and respond to Ebola and other serious infectious diseases, while protecting patients and health workers. I commend the Government for its swift and coordinated response to recent Ebola cases and its continued commitment to preparedness. WHO will continue supporting these efforts as Kenya strengthens its capacity to prevent, detect and respond to health emergencies.

My heart goes out to our @WHO team and partners on the ground who continue to serve communities under such difficult circumstances. The news on armed violence in Mabalako health zone in eastern #DRC is heartbreaking. I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and grateful for your courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment amid insecurity and the ongoing #Ebola response. My sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues affected by this incident. Health care should never be a target. Thank you for all that you do. We stand with you and are proud of you. Your safety and wellbeing matter deeply. ----------------------- Mes pensées accompagnent les équipes de @WHO et nos partenaires sur le terrain qui continuent de servir les communautés dans des circonstances extrêmement difficiles. Les nouvelles des violences armées survenues dans la zone de santé de Mabalako, dans l’est de la #RDC, me touchent profondément. Je suis peiné par les pertes en vies humaines et je tiens à saluer le courage, le professionnalisme et le dévouement de celles et ceux qui poursuivent leur mission dans un contexte marqué par l’insécurité et la réponse en cours à #Ebola. J’adresse mes sincères condoléances aux familles, aux proches et aux collègues touchés par cet incident. Les soins de santé ne devraient jamais être pris pour cible. Merci pour tout ce que vous faites. Nous sommes à vos côtés et fiers de votre travail. Votre sécurité et votre bien-être demeurent une priorité absolue. ----------------------- O meu coração está com a nossa equipa da @WHO e com os parceiros no terreno, que continuam a servir as comunidades em circunstâncias tão difíceis. As notícias sobre a violência armada na zona de saúde de Mabalako, no leste da República Democrática do Congo (#DRC), são devastadoras. Estou profundamente entristecido pela perda de vidas humanas e grato pela vossa coragem, profissionalismo e dedicação inabalável, apesar da insegurança e da resposta em curso ao surto de #Ebola. Apresento as minhas mais sinceras condolências às famílias, aos amigos e aos colegas afetados por este incidente. Os cuidados de saúde nunca devem ser alvo de ataques. Obrigado por tudo o que fazem. Estamos ao vosso lado e orgulhamo-nos de vocês. A vossa segurança e o vosso bem-estar são de extrema importância.

Had a good meeting with Prof. Wang Jianwei, Director-General of China CDC, in Guangzhou. WHO and China CDC have worked together for years across a wide range of public health areas. Today, China CDC hosts 11 WHO Collaborating Centres, reflecting the depth of this longstanding partnership. I thanked China CDC for its contributions to public health in Africa, including its support for the ongoing Ebola outbreak response. We discussed opportunities for closer cooperation, drawing on China's experience in disease prevention and control to strengthen national capacities and advance disease elimination efforts across Africa. WHO looks forward to continued collaboration with China CDC in support of Africa's health priorities.

More than six decades after China sent its first medical team to Africa, our health partnership continues to grow. Today, I joined senior government officials, health leaders and partners from China and Africa at the opening of the China-Africa Public Health Forum in Guangzhou, where I called for stronger cooperation and mutual learning between our public health institutions to strengthen national capacity to detect and respond to health threats. Continued investment in Africa’s health systems and its capacity to produce quality medicines is also important for improving access to essential health products and services. I thank the Government of China for its longstanding partnership, including its support for the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO remains committed to working with China and African countries to support country-led solutions and bring better health within reach of the people we serve.

I commend the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Kingdom for their exemplary cooperation in facilitating the safe medical evacuation of a patient with #Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus for specialised care. I also extend my sincere appreciation to the health workers in the DRC whose professionalism, dedication and compassionate care supported the patient prior to transfer. While the patient continues to receive treatment in the UK, the DRC health authorities remain fully vigilant. Contact tracing, surveillance and other public health measures are ongoing to monitor and contain any potential risk of further transmission. WHO remains committed to supporting national authorities in protecting public health, strengthening outbreak response efforts, and preventing the spread of disease. ----------------------- Je tiens à féliciter les autorités de la République démocratique du Congo et du Royaume-Uni pour leur coopération exemplaire, qui a permis d’assurer en toute sécurité l’évacuation médicale d’un patient atteint de la maladie à virus Bundibugyo, afin qu’il puisse bénéficier de soins spécialisés. J’adresse également mes sincères remerciements aux professionnels de santé de la RDC dont le professionnalisme, le dévouement et la bienveillance ont permis d’accompagner le patient avant son transfert. Alors que le patient poursuit son traitement au Royaume-Uni, les autorités sanitaires de la RDC restent totalement vigilantes. La recherche des contacts, la surveillance et d’autres mesures de santé publique sont en cours afin de surveiller et de contenir tout risque de transmission ultérieure. L’OMS reste déterminée à soutenir les autorités nationales dans la protection de la santé publique, le renforcement des efforts de réponse à l’épidémie et la prévention de la propagation de la maladie. ----------------------- Louvo as autoridades da República Democrática do Congo e do Reino Unido pela sua cooperação exemplar na facilitação da evacuação médica segura de um paciente com doença por #Ebola causada pelo vírus Bundibugyo, para receber cuidados especializados. Expresso também o meu sincero agradecimento aos profissionais de saúde da RDC, cujo profissionalismo, dedicação e cuidados humanizados prestados ao paciente foram fundamentais antes da sua transferência. Enquanto o paciente continua a receber tratamento no Reino Unido, as autoridades de saúde da RDC mantêm-se plenamente vigilantes. O rastreio de contactos, a vigilância epidemiológica e outras medidas de saúde pública continuam em curso para monitorizar e conter qualquer risco potencial de transmissão adicional. A OMS mantém o seu compromisso de apoiar as autoridades nacionais na proteção da saúde pública, no reforço dos esforços de resposta ao surto e na prevenção da propagação da doença.

Africa is taking important steps to strengthen its capacity to respond to health emergencies. Today, I joined Ministers of Health, heads of delegation, emergency medical teams and partners at the opening of the 7th Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting in Addis Ababa. I thank the Government of Ethiopia for co-hosting this meeting with WHO. Our Ministers of Health have adopted a regional framework to ensure that every country has at least one functional national emergency medical team by 2030. I urge governments to translate this commitment into funded national plans, and partners to align their support. WHO will continue working with countries to ensure teams are ready to deliver timely, safe care when people need them most. #EMTGlobalMeeting2026