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- Inter Press Service
Uganda Announces End of Ebola Outbreak, Yet Regional Risks Remain
Uganda has officially declared the conclusion of its recent Ebola epidemic after recording no new infections for 42 consecutive days. The WHO and Africa CDC validated the milestone, though authorities caution that cross-border vulnerabilities persist. Timely containment remains critical for safeguarding public health across the wider East African region.
- UN News
WHO reports more than 3,200 attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare system since full-scale invasion
The World Health Organization reports that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has resulted in over 3,200 strikes against medical infrastructure. These ongoing incidents severely disrupt emergency care and routine treatments, critically undermining health service delivery for populations affected by the armed conflict.
- The Guardian — Global development
Overcoming war’s legacy: learning to walk again at a South Sudan clinic – in pictures
A photographic series in Juba documents the physical rehabilitation of civilians receiving care at a South Sudanese medical facility. Decades of armed conflict, alongside widespread disease and venomous snakebites, have left numerous residents with severe, permanent injuries requiring specialized support to regain mobility.
- Global Voices
Thousands of little penguins will be vaccinated against bird flu down under
Thousands of little penguins in Australia are receiving avian influenza vaccinations to safeguard the vulnerable marine species. Conservationists initiated the preventive campaign to protect local wildlife populations from potential disease outbreaks.
- Mongabay
Kenya’s clothing waste raises concerns about potential public health risks
Kenya’s thriving secondhand clothing market sustains millions of livelihoods but serves as a major entry point for global textile waste. The massive influx of unusable garments creates mounting environmental and public health hazards within the country, highlighting the broader consequences of unsustainable international trade practices.
- UN News
More health workers, stronger systems: Africa’s new ambitious goal
African health ministers meeting in Addis Ababa launched a ten-year strategy to bolster the medical workforce. The initiative aims to close a projected deficit of over six million health professionals across the continent by 2035, addressing critical vulnerabilities in regional public health systems.
- The Guardian — Global development
Mpox is back – and in new countries. How can this outbreak be contained?
A new mpox outbreak in Guinea-Bissau marks the country's first recorded cases amid a broader global spread affecting 145 nations since 2022. With nearly 190,000 lab-confirmed infections worldwide, health officials are closely monitoring the virus as it impacts new regions and increasingly affects children.
- Devpolicy Blog
Stronger outbreak responses in the Pacific start with locally embedded knowledge
During a recent pertussis epidemic in Vanuatu, health personnel utilized the 7-1-7 framework to manage the health crisis. The response demonstrated that standardized global preparedness methodologies achieve optimal effectiveness when integrated with community-level expertise and regional context.
- Mongabay
Congo’s Ebola outbreak records one of its highest weekly death tolls yet
Government figures indicate that eastern Democratic Republic of Congo registered over 300 fatalities from Ebola during the previous week. This surge highlights ongoing difficulties for medical personnel attempting to contain the rapidly escalating epidemic.
- The Guardian — Global development
After 100 days of the deadliest Ebola outbreak, it can be stopped. Here’s how | Jean Kaseya and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Marking 100 days of a severe Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, public health leaders emphasize that stopping the disease requires prioritizing local communities. Engaging residents and local organizations is essential to rebuilding trust and effectively managing the response.
- The Guardian — Global development
Children make up half of mpox cases in Guinea-Bissau as epidemic spreads
Guinea-Bissau reports 46 suspected mpox cases since declaring an epidemic in July. Children account for over half of these infections, with 16 patients under four years old. This disproportionate impact on youth raises concerns regarding potential undetected transmission throughout the West African nation.
- UN News
DR Congo Ebola outbreak spreading exponentially, UN responders warn
United Nations responders warn that the severe Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is accelerating rapidly. The agency urgently requests international financial assistance to sustain critical healthcare operations, as current resources are severely depleted.
- Mongabay
Six things to know about Asia’s heatwave and the health impacts
A severe heatwave recently swept across Asia, resulting in multiple fatalities and widespread heat-related illnesses. Meteorological experts attribute these extreme temperatures to an exceptionally strong El Niño weather pattern. This compounding climate phenomenon poses significant public health risks for vulnerable populations throughout the region.
- The Guardian — Global development
Ebola outbreak: five big questions
Marking 100 days since its initial detection, the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces its deadliest Ebola epidemic on record. The Bundibugyo strain has caused nearly 5,000 infections and over 2,000 fatalities since mid-May, prompting urgent international concern to prevent the contagion from expanding globally.
- Inter Press Service
New Emergency Care Skills Help Tanzania’s Frontline Doctors Save Lives
Frontline physicians at a Tanzanian district facility successfully utilized newly acquired emergency care training to treat a critically injured teenager following a severe traffic collision. This medical intervention highlights how specialized emergency skills development improves survival outcomes for trauma patients in resource-limited healthcare settings.
- Inter Press Service
UNAIDS Framework Pushes for the Protection and Integration of HIV Care
UNAIDS released a new framework on August 17 to guide countries in transitioning toward sustainable, rights-based HIV care. The report introduces the concept of "protective verticality" to help nations tailor service integration based on their individual institutional readiness. This guidance aims to support nationally led health systems in maintaining effective treatment continuity.
- UN News
DR Congo receives 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses as Bundibugyo outbreak spreads
The International Vaccine Coordination Group is supplying seventy thousand Ervebo vaccine doses to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This shipment aims to safeguard frontline populations amid a spreading Ebola outbreak in the region.
- UN News
Ebola outbreak becomes deadliest in DR Congo’s history
The World Health Organization reports that the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed all previous national records for fatalities. This milestone underscores escalating public health risks and highlights the urgent need for intensified humanitarian intervention and regional containment resources to halt viral transmission.
- UN News
‘Ebola is winning’: Epidemic now killing one person every 30 minutes
The eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo faces a rapidly accelerating Ebola epidemic. With fatalities occurring every half-hour, the outbreak has become the fastest-growing on record. Humanitarian officials note it is on course to surpass previous crises in total mortality.
- UN News
An attack on healthcare every six hours, and no one held to account
Over the past eight years, global medical facilities and personnel faced more than 10,000 violent incidents in conflict zones and disease response areas, such as Ukraine and the DRC. These frequent disruptions severely undermine humanitarian operations and endanger vulnerable populations, while accountability for the perpetrators remains entirely absent.
- UN News
WHO chief voices concern over Trump Administration’s executive order on vaccines
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus publicly defended standard immunization protocols after Washington issued a directive to revise national childhood vaccination guidelines. Global health specialists monitor this policy shift closely, as US endorsement significantly influences worldwide immunization strategies and disease prevention efforts.
- Devpolicy Blog
Lessons from one of the world’s largest health surveys
India's sixth National Family Health Survey surveyed 679,000 households to evaluate public health indicators. Despite the withdrawal of international donor backing, the initiative successfully transitioned into sustainable domestic infrastructure. This proves that large-scale demographic assessments can endure as permanent public assets rather than remaining temporary, donor-dependent evaluations.
- UN News
After post-pandemic improvement, youth unemployment is rising again
Global youth unemployment is rising again following post-pandemic gains. This persistent economic exclusion is fueling widespread civil unrest among young populations demanding greater inclusion in national economic development, as demonstrated by youth-led protests in Nepal that resulted in the prime minister's resignation.
- UN News
Ebola deaths top 2,000 as scientists race to develop vaccine
Ebola fatalities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have exceeded 2,000, driven by an alarming acceleration in recent weeks. Researchers are urgently accelerating vaccine development to contain the outbreak, which remains a critical public health emergency for humanitarian workers responding in the region.
- UN News
DR Congo: Ebola is killing people before they ever reach a doctor
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has caused over 1,900 fatalities. Most victims perish within their communities before accessing medical facilities. This high rate of out-of-facility mortality has become a primary focus of the World Health Organization's containment strategy.
- The Guardian — Global development
‘Reaching 50 is a success story’: how one trans woman survived HIV and stigma in Latin America
Erika Castellanos, a transgender activist in Latin America, marked her fiftieth birthday despite a regional life expectancy of thirty-five for trans individuals. Diagnosed with HIV in 1995, she survived systemic barriers that historically devastated her community. She now warns that contemporary aid reductions and human rights rollbacks threaten ongoing global efforts to eradicate AIDS.
- UN News
Ebola in DR Congo: Childhood deaths rise; hopes raised over new vaccine
More than 300 children have died during the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In response, medical professionals are advocating for clinical trials involving a novel vaccine. This intervention is critical to stopping the further transmission of a rare virus strain.
- The Guardian — Global development
Ebola virus behind massive outbreak in DRC could be mutating, officials say
Confirmed Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have surpassed 4,000 amid concerns that the pathogen is evolving. In response to the escalating crisis, health authorities plan to intensify containment operations through proactive, community-wide patient searches, signaling a significant shift toward more aggressive intervention strategies.
- Devpolicy Blog
Budget delays can kill: medicine shortages in PNG health facilities
New research from Manus province in Papua New Guinea demonstrates how delayed government budget disbursements directly cause critical shortages of essential medicines in local health facilities. The findings highlight how public financial management bottlenecks undermine frontline healthcare delivery and jeopardize patient well-being.
- The Guardian — Global development
Women behind the lens: ‘I may not be able to decide whose faces are painted on walls but I can make sure female boxers are part of that archive’
Nigerian photojournalist Olaoluwa Olowu is documenting female amateur boxers in Accra, Ghana, to challenge male-dominated visual narratives of the sport. By juxtaposing portraits of women fighters against street art celebrating male athletes, the project aims to integrate female athletes into the local public archive and increase their visibility.
- UN News
New Ebola vaccine trial launches as outbreak spreads in DR Congo
The World Health Organization has initiated clinical trials for the initial vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This intervention coincides with a significant escalation in fatalities and infections during the nation's largest recorded epidemic, aiming to bolster future outbreak response capabilities.
- The Guardian — Global development
The US government’s mislabelled map of Africa at a global Aids conference shows again a failure to understand the continent | Kenneth Ngure
During a July global HIV conference in Rio de Janeiro, a senior United States State Department official displayed a presentation slide featuring an incorrectly labeled map of Africa. Attendees noted that the geographic error symbolizes a persistent tendency by foreign policymakers to view the continent monolithically, which critics argue undermines critical funding decisions for global health programs.
- UN News
DR Congo: New centre opens at heart of record Ebola outbreak
New United Nations-supported facilities have opened in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to address a rapidly expanding Ebola crisis. This outbreak has become the largest ever recorded in the nation, making the expansion of treatment infrastructure critical for containing the highly contagious disease.
- UN News
Wildfire smoke poses hidden health threat
The World Health Organization warns that wildfire smoke creates severe public health risks well beyond immediate disaster areas. Fine particulate matter from these blazes travels vast distances, threatening populations far from active fire zones and complicating global humanitarian response efforts.
- The Guardian — Global development
The dead doctor and a dicey diet: how a ban made a hero of Egypt’s rogue medic
Despite losing his license for promoting unscientific medical claims, deceased Egyptian physician Diaa al-Awadi continues to amass a substantial online following. His digital broadcasts advocate for self-healing through dietary changes rather than conventional medicine, highlighting a growing public distrust in traditional healthcare systems within Egypt.
- The Guardian — Global development
Ebola outbreak in DRC the fastest growing in the history of the virus
The ongoing Ebola epidemic in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the most rapid expansion in the pathogen's history, reaching 3,360 confirmed infections across five provinces. Congolese authorities report nearly 1,500 fatalities and an approximate 45 percent mortality rate. Ongoing regional conflict significantly obstructs containment efforts and complicates vaccine deployment.
- The Guardian — Global development
‘They targeted us directly’: how the Israel-Lebanon war became deadly for healthcare workers
- UN News
HIV, hepatitis, STI gains at risk as funding falls, WHO warns
The World Health Organization warns that declining financial support threatens decades of global progress against HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections. Reduced resources risk cutting off millions of vulnerable individuals from essential prevention, diagnostic, and therapeutic services.
- Inter Press Service
The Americas have the Tools to Eliminate HIV, but Gaps in Access & Coverage remain, says PAHO
During the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026), PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa highlighted that while the Americas possess advanced tools for HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, significant gaps in access and coverage persist. Addressing these disparities is crucial for ensuring that all individuals in the region benefit from available HIV interventions.
- Devpolicy Blog
A not-for-profit medicine development model to address global health inequities
Mark Sullivan has proposed a $30 billion endowment to establish a permanent financing model for neglected disease research. The initiative aims to prevent recurrent funding interruptions from international donors. This approach seeks to address persistent health disparities affecting vulnerable populations in developing regions.
- World Health Organization
WHO: Integration, innovation and community leadership key to ending HIV, hepatitis and STIs
The World Health Organization published an evaluation of its 2030 global health strategies at the international AIDS conference. The report details ongoing obstacles alongside major milestones in managing HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases. It emphasizes that localized engagement, technological advancements, and streamlined care delivery remain vital to overcoming these epidemics.
- UN News
Cyberattacks and the digital divide are creating new barriers to HIV services
According to UNAIDS, digital threats such as cyberattacks, data breaches, and online harassment are emerging as major barriers to HIV prevention and treatment. These technology-based hazards jeopardize patient privacy and safety, making digital security a critical component of global efforts to combat the epidemic among vulnerable populations.
- UN News
High prices and funding cuts stall HIV prevention revolution
A new United Nations report warns that escalating expenses and reduced international financial support threaten global efforts to curb the AIDS epidemic. Released ahead of the International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, the findings highlight how disparities in accessing advanced preventative treatments could reverse hard-won public health progress.
- Devpolicy Blog
Attacks on healthcare: the decade major powers failed humanity
A decade after the United Nations Security Council urged safeguards for medical care in conflict zones, violence against healthcare infrastructure and personnel has intensified globally. MSF Australia Executive Director Tom Roth examines how middle powers like Australia can better uphold international humanitarian law to protect medical workers and facilities in active war zones.
- Inter Press Service
Hunger in Latin America Keeps Falling – Now Healthy Diets Must Become Affordable
- Inter Press Service
Africa’s Health Defenses Have Improved But Its Funding Has Not
- The Guardian — Global development
Trump’s HIV funding cuts having ‘severe and devastating’ impact around the world
A new report indicates that recent reductions in U.S. funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief have led to widespread clinic closures and staff layoffs globally. These policy shifts threaten to undermine decades of progress in international HIV/AIDS control efforts and jeopardize treatment access for millions of patients.
- UN News
DR Congo: Ebola outbreak still expanding, WHO sees signs of stabilization
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is managing a significant Ebola outbreak in its eastern provinces, with 2,423 confirmed cases and 967 fatalities reported as of July 19. Despite ongoing regional instability complicating containment efforts, the World Health Organization has noted early indications that the spread of the virus may be stabilizing.
- The Guardian — Global development
Healthy diet too expensive for one in three people globally, UN report finds
A new UN report reveals that 2.69 billion people globally cannot afford a nutritious diet, despite a three-year decline in hunger rates. Addressing the high costs of essential food groups like produce and dairy remains critical to meeting the international goal of eradicating hunger by 2030.
- UN News
Health response brings lifesaving care closer to thousands in Yemen
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is funding expanded medical services for vulnerable populations across Yemen. By decentralizing care through the Yemen Humanitarian Fund, this initiative improves access to essential health treatments for residents living in areas severely impacted by ongoing conflict.
- UN News
WHO warns DR Congo Ebola outbreak is outpacing response as Uganda reaches milestone
- UN News
Breaking the silence: Zimbabwean youth leader calls for urgent investment in mental health
Tanatswa Amanda Chikaura, a youth leader in Zimbabwe, is advocating for increased investment in mental health services following the suicide of a fellow student during her psychology studies. Her efforts highlight the urgent need for improved mental health support in the country, emphasizing its significance for youth well-being and community resilience.
- UN News
Childhood vaccination rate increases slightly, but millions remain unprotected
In 2025, global childhood vaccination efforts showed a slight recovery, yet millions of children remain at risk due to ongoing conflicts, poverty, and increasing vaccine hesitancy. New data from the UN highlights the urgent need to address these challenges to protect vulnerable populations from preventable diseases.
- UN News
World News in Brief: Schools closed in West Bank, AI in healthcare, Indigenous rights
The United Nations reported a continued decline in access to education in the West Bank, highlighting the challenges faced by students in the region. This situation underscores broader concerns regarding the impact of ongoing conflicts on educational opportunities and the well-being of children in affected areas.
- World Health Organization
Global childhood immunization coverage inches forward despite conflict and hesitancy – UNICEF, WHO
In 2025, 90% of infants worldwide received at least one dose of the DTP vaccine, while 85% completed the three-dose series, according to WHO-UNICEF data. Despite slight improvements, global immunization rates remain below 2019 levels, with 13.5 million children unvaccinated, contributing to ongoing measles outbreaks in 57 countries.
- World Health Organization
El Salvador validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem
The World Health Organization has recognized El Salvador for successfully eliminating trachoma as a public health issue. This infectious disease is a primary cause of blindness globally, and its eradication in El Salvador marks a significant achievement in public health efforts within the country.
- Devpolicy Blog
Fiji’s HIV crisis is a syringe crisis and the fix is sitting on a pharmacy shelf
In January 2025, Fiji's Minister for Health declared a national HIV outbreak, with reported cases increasing from 131 in 2018 to 1,583 in 2024. Current estimates suggest approximately 6,100 individuals are living with HIV in Fiji, highlighting a significant public health challenge that remains largely unaddressed through available medical resources.
- World Health Organization
WHO adds first diagnostic test for Ebola Bundibugyo virus to its Emergency Use Listing
The World Health Organization has included the first diagnostic test for the Bundibugyo virus in its Emergency Use Listing. This test enables rapid and accurate detection of the virus in blood samples, facilitating early case identification and effective outbreak response, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
- World Health Organization
Patient enrolment begins in a scientific trial to identify the first effective treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease
The PARTNERS clinical trial has commenced patient enrolment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to assess potential treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease, a type of Ebola. This initiative represents a significant international collaboration aimed at identifying effective therapies for this serious viral infection.
- The Guardian — Global development
Africa can end Aids on its own terms. Will the world back us to finish the job? | Jean Kaseya and Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah
As funding for HIV response declines by 70%, African leaders emphasize the need for a self-sufficient approach to health care, viewing it as a matter of sovereignty. The continent has significantly reduced AIDS-related deaths and new infections over the past decade, highlighting its capability to manage health crises independently and sustain ongoing treatment for millions.
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