This document was developed by the Ministry of Health in Malawi in collaboration with national and international partners. It introduces a Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) malaria message guide that is aligned with the National Malaria Communication Strategy (NMCS) for the period 2023–2030. The g...uide aims to facilitate effective communication and behavioural change in order to reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality. It provides a reference framework for messaging and communication tools tailored to target groups, supporting the broader goals of the Health Sector Strategic Plan III. This guide was developed with technical and financial support from key partners, including USAID, PMI through Breakthrough ACTION, and other stakeholders. The guide reflects Malawi’s ongoing commitment to evidence-based SBC interventions, community engagement, and the national fight against malaria.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                Meeting report, Kampala, Uganda,
7–8 November 2023
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                Offering additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) choices has the potential to increase uptake and effective use of PrEP, and of HIV prevention overall, as it allows people to choose a method that they prefer.
In this guideline, WHO recommends an offering long-acting injectable lenacapavir (LEN...) as an additional HIV prevention choice, as part of combination HIV prevention approaches. LEN, administered twice a year as PrEP, has been shown to be highly effective at reducing the risk of HIV acquisition. In this guideline, WHO also recommends using HIV rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for individuals initiating or continuing long-acting injectable PrEP, such as LEN and long acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA). Flexible HIV testing approaches are essential for ensuring that testing does not become a barrier to accessing or continuing PrEP, including long-acting injectable options.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                Guidelines on lenacapavir for HIV prevention and testing strategies for long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis. Web Annex B
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                The Ghana National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021–2025 aims to reduce malaria mortality by 90% and malaria cases by 50% (using 2019 as baseline) and to achieve pre-elimination in at least six districts by 2025. The plan focuses on scaling up prevention measures like distributing insecticide-treated n...ets, indoor residual spraying, seasonal chemoprevention, and prevention in pregnancy. It also emphasizes universal access to prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, strengthening health system governance, improving supply chains, mobilizing resources, and enhancing surveillance. Special attention is given to vulnerable groups and high-burden areas to ensure equity and sustainability in the fight against malaria.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                The Rwanda Malaria Strategic Plan 2020–2024 outlines Rwanda’s national strategy to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality by at least 50% compared to 2019 levels. The vision is a malaria-free Rwanda contributing to socioeconomic development.
The plan includes strengthening prevention through lo...ng-lasting insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, and larval source management; ensuring universal access to testing and treatment; improving surveillance and data use; and enhancing program management, coordination, and financing. It also emphasizes community engagement and behavior change to ensure at least 85% of the at-risk population adopts protective practices.
The strategy builds on past lessons, involves multi-sectoral collaboration, and aligns with global malaria goals. It highlights equity, quality services, and evidence-based interventions as guiding principles, aiming to mobilize national and international resources for sustained impact.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                The annual bulletin of the Mekong Malaria Elimination (MME) programme is a yearly report that reviews ongoing efforts to combat multidrug resistance and eliminate malaria in the 6 countries of the Greater Mekong subregion (GMS): Cambodia, China (Yunnan province), Lao People's Democratic Republic, My...anmar, Thailand and Viet Nam.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, with an estimated annual death rate of  approximately one per 100,000 people in countries with low TB prevalence. Rapid reductions in TB cases and deaths  worldwide depend on research breakthroughs, including the development of new vac...cines. There has recently been  an increase in political commitment, as evidenced by two UN high-level meetings on TB in 2018 and 2023. The 2023  political declaration reaffirmed the goals set out in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the WHO's End TB  Strategy, and established new targets for the period 2023–2027
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                Nearly 800 women die every day from preventable maternal causes, and in 2022 alone, an estimated 2.3 million newborns died. For every maternal death, countless more women endure life-altering injuries, infections, and disabilities related to childbirth.
Maternal deaths are concentrated in the poo...rest regions and conflict-affected areas. In 2020, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for nearly 70% of all maternal deaths, with just 22 countries responsible for 81% of the global total. Humanitarian crises and fragile health systems exacerbate these challenges, with maternal mortality rates in crisis-affected areas often double the global average. The barriers to progress are multifaceted, including inadequate funding, poor-quality healthcare, harmful gender and social norms, and critical gaps in data and accountability.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                The Government of Republic of Zambia reported the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 on 18th March 2020. As of April 27th, 2020, there were 89 confirmed cases, three deaths and 42 recoveries. Confirmed cases are located in three provinces: Lusaka (83 cases), Copperbelt province (5 cases) and Central ...(1 case). Zambia introduced a series of measures including closure of three international airports, closure of all schools, movement restrictions and closure of non-essential services such as restaurant, bar, gym and public gatherings to curb the transmission rate.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                The Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP) undertook regional and large scale frght against onchocerciasis in West Africa in 1974 using a vector control strategy. By 2002 OCP had succeeded in eliminating the disease as a public health, socio-economic and development problem in 10 out ...of I I countries. This campaign was highly technical and expensive. ln 1987, Merck & Co.,lnc. committed themselves to provide ivermectin free of charge for as long as needed to onchocerciasis endemic countries. This made it possible to envrsage the extension of onchocerciasis control activities to the remaining endemic countries in Africa.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                Nearly 260 000 people died in parts of Somalia between October 2010 and April 2012, including
133 000 children under five during the famine and food crisis in Somalia making it the worst famine in history.
A study commissioned and funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Natio...n’s food security and nutrition analysis unit for Somalia stated that the famine early warning systems clearly identified the risk of famine in South Central Somalia in 2010–2011 but timely action to prevent the onset of famine was not taken. The result was large scale
mortality, morbidity and population displacement.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                In 2022, WFP continued to implement its Country Strategic Plan (CSP)  2017-2023 in Namibia, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through WFP’s projects in 2022, a total of 32,610 people were reached, which is ne...arly 10 per cent of the total population experiencing limited or uncertain access to adequate food.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                Rabies remains an under-reported neglected zoonosis with a case-fatality rate of almost 100% in humans and animals. Dog-mediated human rabies causes tens of thousands of human deaths annually despite being 100% preventable. More than 95% of human cases are caused by the bite of a rabies-infected dog.... Dog-mediated human rabies disproportionately affects rural communities, particularly children, and economically disadvantaged areas of Africa and Asia, where awareness of the disease and access to appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be limited or nonexistent.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                Antimicrobial  resistance  (AMR)  is  a  serious  public  health  concern  with  economic,  social  and political implications that are global in scope, and cross all environmental and ethnic boundaries.  As  a  global  threat,  AMR  risks  the  achievements  of  modern  medicine,  and  has  the  po...tential  to  impact  overall  global  development.  It  is  important,  therefore,  to  elevate  AMR  beyond  health  as  part  of  a  larger  development  agenda  in  the  context  of  the  Sustainable  Development Goals (SDGs). This  report  provides  in-depth  technical  discussions  in  areas  that  have  direct  implications  to  the  containment  of  AMR  as  a  development  agenda.  The  report  is  organized  in  five  chapters  which  served as the technical background documents for the Biregional Technical Consultation on AMR in  Asia,  14-15  April  2016.  More  information  from  the  meeting  is  available  in  the  WHO  Meeting  Report: Biregional Technical Consultation on Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia. The meeting was the first time senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture across Asia came together to tackle AMR
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                The Disaster Recovery Framework (DRF) Guide for the Health Sector provides guidance on how to implement a comprehensive, integrated, and structured approach to disaster recovery. Its overarching goal is to minimize the impact of the disaster on communities and help countries to recover quickly and e...ffectively from disasters, in coordination with key stakeholders.
The DRF Guide for the Health Sector is adapted from the generic DRF Guide, and draws on the Implementation Guide For Health Systems Recovery in Emergencies, the Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework as well as the Disaster Recovery Guidance Series. The guide also makes links with multi-sectoral, government-led recovery planning processes such as the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), and it supports the implementation of the HDPN.
                                                                    more
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                The Strategy aims to protect and improve the well-being
of society and of the individual, to protect and promote
public health, to offer a high level of security and well-being
for the general public and to increase health literacy. The
Strategy takes an evidence-based, integrated, balanced and
...
multidisciplinary approach to the drugs phenomenon at
national, EU and international level. It also incorporates a
gender equality and health equity perspective.
                                                                    more