African Leaders Pledge US$910 Million to Contain Ebola as Africa CDC Warns Time Is Running Out
By Michael Gwarisa African leaders, donors and international partners have pledged US$910 million towards containing the growing Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, with health officials warning that delays in releasing funds could sharply escalate both infections and costs. The commitments were announced following a High-Level Emergency Meeting convened
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“Finish What We Started”: WHO and Brazil Urge Leaders to Finalise Pandemic Agreement
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization and the Government of Brazil have issued a joint appeal to global leaders, urging them to “finish what we started” by finalising the remaining piece of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, warning that the world remains dangerously exposed to the next health emergency. In an open letter addressed to
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WHO Pushes Expansion of PEN-Plus to 30 African Countries Ahead of Tanzania Conference
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing to expand its PEN-Plus programme to 30 African countries beginning this year as governments, health experts and development partners gather momentum to tackle the continent’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The planned expansion comes ahead of the 3rd International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA
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WHO Africa Director Calls for Greater Investment in Safe Blood Systems as Region Marks World Blood Donor Day
By Michael Gwarisa As the world commemorates World Blood Donor Day 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Prof Mohamed Yakub Janabi, has called for stronger investment in blood services across the continent, warning that demand for safe blood continues to outpace supply. In his World Blood Donor Day message, Prof Janabi
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635 Cases and Rising: Current Ebola Outbreak Far Exceeds Previous Bundibugyo Epidemics
By Michael Gwarisa The current outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease (BVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become the largest ever recorded since the strain was first identified nearly two decades ago, according to data from Africa CDC. As of June 9, 2026, the outbreak had recorded 635 confirmed cases and 127
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Zimbabwe Rebuilds Midwifery Workforce Through Training and Digital Innovation
By Michael Gwarisa “I enjoy midwifery because, to me, it gives me the satisfaction that I am saving humanity and playing a part in bringing lives into this world,” says Sr Sikhangele Mguni, a midwife at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo. For Sr Mguni, those words are not just a reflection. They are a lifetime of
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More Zimbabwean Men Dying Than Women, Vital Statistics Report Shows
Michael Gwarisa More Zimbabwean men are dying than women, with males accounting for the majority of registered deaths in both 2023 and 2024, according to findings contained in the Zimbabwe Vital Statistics Report 2023–2024. The report, released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), shows that men accounted for 53 percent of all registered deaths
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WHO, Africa CDC launch US$518 million continental Ebola preparedness plan
Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have launched a US$517.7 million joint continental preparedness and response plan aimed at containing the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak and preventing its spread across Africa. The six-month plan, covering June to November 2026, seeks to strengthen surveillance,
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Zim commemorates World Health Day amid calls to end preventable maternal deaths
Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe marked World Health Day amid renewed calls for stronger commitment to health as a fundamental human right, with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) urging urgent action to end preventable maternal deaths. The commemorations were held under the theme “Together for Health. Stand with Science,” which officials said underscores the need for
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95 Out of Every 100 Zimbabwean Babies Now Born in Health Facilities
Michael Gwarisa If 100 Zimbabwean women gave birth in 2024, about 95 would have delivered their babies in a clinic or hospital, while only four would have given birth at home, reflecting the country’s continued shift towards safer, facility-based childbirth. The figures were revealed during the launch and dissemination of the 2023-2024 Vital Statistics Report
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