EAST AFRICA's Development Community
Urge Inside Health
Kenya | Uganda | Tanzania | Rwanda | Somalia | Ethiopia | South Sudan | DRC
Verified reporting on health systems, disease response, health policy, and humanitarian health programming across eight countries.
LATEST ON
REGIONAL HEALTH
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire


Mobile Science Laboratories Expand STEM Access for Students in Rural Northern Kenya
MARSABIT, Kenya — 4 August 2026
Somalia Launches Five-Year WFP Strategy for Food Security and Resilience




MOGADISHU, Somalia — 4 August 2026
Somalia has launched the World Food Programme (WFP) Country Strategic Plan 2026–2030, establishing a new five-year framework that links food security with resilience, livelihoods and longer-term development.
Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama launched the strategy in Mogadishu on 4 August at an event attended by government officials, United Nations representatives, ambassadors and development partners.
Kenya and United Kingdom Renew Health Alliance. Photo/Courstey
Students at Maikona Junior school, Marsabit County, carrying out a science experiment. Photo: Concern Worldwide.
Deputy Prime Minister Launches WFP Somalia Country Strategic Plan 2026–2030 — Photo/SONNA
Kenya and the United Kingdom have renewed their health partnership for another five years, extending cooperation in healthcare delivery, research, workforce development and health-system strengthening. The Kenya–UK Health Alliance (KUKHA) was renewed in London on 29 July, according to Kenya's Ministry of Health. The renewed partnership will run from 2026 to 2031 and builds on collaboration between Kenyan and UK health institutions.
Students in rural Marsabit County are gaining greater access to practical science education through mobile laboratories and science kits designed to address persistent gaps in school infrastructure. Concern Worldwide's programme supports schools with mobile laboratories, integrated science equipment and digital learning resources while strengthening teachers' capacity to deliver practical science lessons. The programme reported reaching 3,420 students across 16 junior schools, including 1,782 girls and 1,638 boys.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire


Ethiopia Trains 89 Health Professionals for Rapid Emergency Response
Somalia Launches New Breast-Milk Substitute Regulations






MOGADISHU, Somalia — 1 August 2026
Somalia has introduced new national regulations governing breast-milk substitutes as the country marked the beginning of World Breastfeeding Week 2026. The regulations were officially signed and launched on 1 August 2026 by Somalia's Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services in partnership with UNICEF, WHO and other partners. The new framework is intended to strengthen protection, promotion and support for breastfeeding across Somalia's health system.
Uganda and United Kingdom Deepen Global Health Partnership. Photo/Courstey
The graduation of 89 health professionals under the fourth cohort of the African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC SURGE) initiative. Photo/WHO
The Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services (FMoH), together with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and partners across Somalia, image by UNICEF Somalia
Uganda and UK Deepen Health Partnership Around Research and Workforce
KAMPALA, Uganda — 30 July 2026
Uganda and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in healthcare, research and health-worker development following the Second UK–Uganda Health Partnerships Summit in Kampala. The summit brought together government officials, health professionals, researchers, academics, development partners and members of the Ugandan health diaspora. Uganda's High Commission in London reported on the meeting on 30 July 2026.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — 31 July 2026
Ethiopia has expanded its public-health emergency workforce with the graduation of 89 health professionals trained under the African Volunteer Health Corps – SURGE initiative.The World Health Organization reported the development on 31 July 2026, saying the professionals had completed an intensive one-month programme implemented by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with support from WHO and funding from the Pandemic Fund.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
DRC Ebola Outbreak Accelerates Sharply to 3,200 Confirmed Cases
Kenya Manages Four Concurrent Disease Outbreaks Alongside Ebola Risk






Nairobi, Kenya | WHO AFRO situation reporting, week 28, July 2026
Kenya's Ministry of Health, working with WHO, is currently responding to multiple concurrent public health emergencies: mpox across 39 counties with 1,170 cumulative cases and 19 deaths, measles in six counties, cholera in two counties and dengue fever in two counties, according to the latest WHO AFRO weekly situation report.
A stray dog searching for food in a pile of garbage. Image/ Frostee Lens Ug/Pixel Photo
Image Dirole Lotsima Dieudonne/AP Photo
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Ms. Mary Muthoni, and Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga. Photo/ Courtesy
Uganda Reports Four Suspected Rabies Deaths as Vaccine Shortage Persists in Adjumani
Adjumani District, Uganda | 27 July 2026
At least four people, mainly children, have reportedly died of suspected rabies in Adjumani District's Arinyapi, Leanguru, Nyabila and Itirikwa sub-counties, according to reporting on 27 July, amid a prolonged shortage of anti-rabies vaccines at government health facilities.
Ituri, DRC | Data to 25 July, reported 26 to 27 July 2026
The Democratic Republic of Congo reported 3,200 confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease cases and 1,405 related deaths as of 26 July, according to ECDC, data current to 25 July. This marks an increase of 125 new confirmed cases and 51 deaths in a single day.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
DRC activates emergency roadmap to break Ebola transmission in Ituri
Ethiopia's public health institute earns WHO recognition as continental model






Addis Ababa, 17 July 2026
The World Health Organization said it will formally seek concurrence from Ethiopia's Ministry of Health to designate the Ethiopian Public Health Institute as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Health Emergency Management, a recognition expected to elevate the institute into a global hub for emergency management training and capacity building.
Uganda's Minister of Health. Dr Chris Baryomunsi at the MOH event. Photo/Courtesy
Photo/Courtesy
Photo Courtesy
Uganda begins countdown to declare end of Ebola outbreak
Kampala, 16 July 2026 –
The World Health Organization said Uganda has begun the mandatory countdown toward declaring the end of its Ebola outbreak following the discharge of the country's last hospitalised patient.
Bunia, 16 July 2026 –
The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and response partners activated an emergency delivery roadmap intended to break transmission of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, placing immediate deadlines and clear operational responsibility behind measures.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
WHO launches trial testing antiviral drug to prevent Ebola after exposure
US extends entry restrictions after humanitarian worker's Ebola infection






Washington and Bunia, 13 July 2026 – The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that an American citizen working for a humanitarian organisation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo tested positive for Bundibugyo virus and was medically evacuated to Germany on 13 July for treatment.
Kenya's Minister of Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale and Ministry officials and Partners at the MOH partners event. Photo/Courtesy
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General (WHO)Photo/Courtesy
File Photo
Kenya health sector partners align ahead of national Health Summit
Nairobi, 16 July 2026
Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale convened a Health Sector Partners and Stakeholders' Breakfast Briefing ahead of the Kenya Health Summit, bringing together development partners, the private sector, professional bodies and civil society to align on the summit's objectives and priorities.
Bunia and Geneva, 14 July 2026 – The World Health Organization confirmed the launch of a clinical trial testing obeldesivir, an oral antiviral developed by Gilead Sciences, as post exposure prophylaxis against Bundibugyo virus among people who had direct contact with confirmed cases within the preceding five days but show no symptoms.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Uganda receives maternal and newborn equipment worth 2.2 billion shillings for 31 health facilities
Kenya launches preparations for Presidential National Health Summit 2026.






Nairobi, 6 July 2026 –
Kenya's Ministry of Health formally began preparations for the Presidential National Health Summit 2026 following the inaugural meeting of a National Planning Committee chaired by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
(Africa CDC) Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya.Photo/Courtesy
Photo/Courtesy
IOM/Photo Courtesy
Africa CDC calls for stronger protection of Ebola responders after US aid worker infected
Addis Ababa, 9 July 2026 –
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said 112 health workers have been infected with Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the outbreak began, including 35 who have died, and called for stronger protection of everyone working on the response.
Kampala, 7 July 2026 –
Uganda's Ministry of Health, together with Rotary District 9213, flagged off the distribution of maternal and newborn care equipment worth approximately 2.2 billion Ugandan shillings to 31 high volume public health facilities across 14 districts.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Gavi Board sets Gavi 6.0 targets; Ethiopia's health minister named Vice Chair
WHO documents community reintegration effort on Uganda's Ebola frontline






Kampala, 1 July 2026
The World Health Organization's country office in Uganda documented the work of its rapid response team supporting the safe return home of a suspected Ebola patient in Kampala, illustrating the community engagement dimension of the country's outbreak response.
Photo/Courtesy
Photo/Courtesy
IOM/Photo Courtesy
Gavi launches new supply chain strategy, citing gains in Rwanda, Tanzania and South Sudan
Geneva, 1 July 2026
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance unveiled a new Immunisation Supply Chain Strategy for its 2026 to 2030 strategic period, aimed at reducing stock outs, improving cold chain efficiency and strengthening equitable vaccine access in underserved communities.
Geneva, 2 July 2026
The Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance concluded a two day meeting agreeing overall targets for its 2026 to 2030 strategic period, known as Gavi 6.0, including reaching 500 million children, preventing eight to nine million deaths and reducing under five mortality by a further 10 percent.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
DRC Bans Mass Gatherings in Kinshasa as Ebola Reaches Six Provinces
WFP Deploying Ebola Responders and Food Assistance in Eastern DRC as Outbreak Deepens






BUNIA, DRC, June 2026
The World Food Programme has mobilised a logistics and food assistance operation in eastern DRC to support both Ebola-affected communities and the humanitarian response teams deployed to contain the outbreak.
Photo/Courtesy
Photo/File
WFP/Photo Courtesy
Uganda Records No New Ebola Cases Since 21 June; 15 Patients Have Recovered
KAMPALA, 30 June 2026
Uganda had reported no new confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease since 21 June 2026, as of the latest official update covering data through 30 June. The Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. Of the 20 confirmed cases, 15 had travel links to the DRC, and five were associated with local transmission events within Uganda.
KINSHASA, 29–30 June 2026
The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo extended precautionary measures in the final days of June, banning mass public gatherings in the capital Kinshasa as the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak expanded to six provinces.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Africa CDC and WHO Joint Continental Ebola Response Plan Seeks US$518 Million
Tanzania Hosts African NCD Summit; Health Budget for NCDs Up from 7% to 24%






DAR ES SALAAM, 25 June 2026
The 3rd International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa concluded in Dar es Salaam on 25 June after three days of deliberations attended by health ministers, policymakers, civil society organisations, development partners, and people living with noncommunicable diseases from across the African continent.
File Photo
Photo/File
NCD Summit/Photo Courtesy
Ebola Outbreak Surpasses 1,155 Confirmed Cases as WHO Launches Therapeutics Trial
KINSHASA / KAMPALA, 26 June 2026
The Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda continued to expand through the final week of June, with the DRC Ministry of Health reporting 1,155 confirmed cases and 304 confirmed deaths as of 25 June. A further 385 patients were hospitalised in isolation as of 24 June.
ADDIS ABABA / BRAZZAVILLE, June 2026
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization launched a joint continental preparedness and response plan for the ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak, calling for US$518 million to fund a six-month response covering June to November 2026.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
WHO Calls for Scale-Up of Newborn Screening in Africa; Sickle Cell Disease a Priority
Uganda Declares End of Circulating Variant Polio Outbreak Following Two Year Public Health Response






KAMPALA, Uganda, 23 June 2026
Uganda has officially closed its outbreak of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 after completing more than two years of intensive surveillance, vaccination campaigns and coordinated public health interventions, the World Health Organization announced this week.
Director-General- WHO. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. File Photo
Photo/Courtesy
Photo Courtesy
WHO Announces Ebola Therapeutics Trial to Begin in Ituri; Over 100 Patients Have Recovered
GENEVA / BUNIA, 24 June 2026
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on 24 June that preparations were complete for a clinical trial of two candidate therapeutics against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, set to begin the following week at a hospital in DRC's Ituri Province.
GENEVA, 23 June 2026
The World Health Organization released a new report on 23 June calling on countries to expand newborn screening for birth defects, identifying the practice as a critical opportunity to accelerate progress in child survival.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Africa CDC Mandates Exit Screening Across All African Union Member States as Ebola Tops 856 Confirmed Cases
Kenya Health Ministry Advances Local Manufacturing Strategy






Nairobi | 17 June 2026
Kenya’s Ministry of Health listed the signing of the Local Manufacturing Strategy 2026 to 2030 on its official platform on 17 June 2026. The strategy is intended to support local production of health products and technologies as part of Kenya’s health systems and industrial development agenda.
File Photo
Photo/Courtesy
Kenya MoH Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga
Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak: African Heads of State Convene Emergency Summit as DRC and Uganda Case Count Passes 856
KINSHASA / KAMPALA / ADDIS ABABA — 16 June 2026
African heads of state and government convened a high-level virtual summit on 16 June 2026, hosted by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, to coordinate a continental response to the Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak.
ADDIS ABABA — 18 June 2026
Africa CDC, two days after the African heads of state summit on the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, formalised a directive requiring all African Union member states to immediately strengthen exit screening at international airports, seaports, and major land border crossings.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
UNICEF Warns Climate Hazards Are Disrupting Children’s Health Across Eastern and Southern Africa
Rwanda Maintains Ebola Preparedness as DRC Outbreak Enters Second Month






Kigali | 16 June 2026
Rwanda’s Ministry of Health says the country remains on alert as it continues to monitor the Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nairobi | 16 June 2026
UNICEF has warned that children across Eastern and Southern Africa are facing overlapping climate hazards that are disrupting essential services, including health, water, sanitation and nutrition.
Photo/Courtesy WHO
Photo by UNICEF South Sudan/ Naftali
Photo/Courtesy
WHO Releases 2026 Africa Health Workforce Report
Brazzaville | 16 June 2026
The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa has released the 2026 State of the Health Workforce in Africa report, calling attention to the role of health workers in resilient health systems, universal health coverage and health security.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Africa CDC Warns DRC Ebola Outbreak Could Become Continent’s Worst






Garissa | 15 June 2026
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has called on citizens to embrace voluntary blood donation as a lifesaving contribution to the health system.
Bujumbura | 16 June 2026
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could become the most severe Ebola outbreak the continent has experienced if transmission is not brought under control quickly.
Photo/Courtesy
(Africa CDC) Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya.
Photo/Courtesy
Garissa | 15 June 2026
Kenya has commissioned the Northern Regional Blood Transfusion Centre at Garissa County Referral Hospital to strengthen access to safe blood and blood products in North Eastern Kenya.
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge-DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Kenya and Africa CDC Deepen Collaboration on Health Security
Kenya Tables Health Tariff Amendments to Strengthen UHC Financing






Nairobi | 10 June 2026
Kenya and Africa CDC have opened high-level consultations aimed at strengthening cooperation on regional health security, epidemic preparedness, and Africa’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
Photo/Courtesy
Nairobi | 12 June 2026
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation to present the Tariffs for Healthcare Services Amendment Regulations, 2026.
Photo by: WHO Regional Offices
Photo/courtesy
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
EAC Health Ministers Establish Regional Technical Task Force for Coordinated Ebola Response
High-Level DRC-Uganda-South Sudan Ministerial Meeting on Cross-Border Ebola Coordination Held in Kampala






KAMPALA — 22 to 23 May 2026
The Ministers of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan convened a High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Cross-Border Coordination on the Ebola Disease Outbreak in Kampala on 22 and 23 May 2026, under the theme Regional Solidarity,
Photo/Courtesy
EAC Flag
Photo/Courtesy/
Somalia: AfDB, WFP, and UNOPS Launch 11.8 Million Dollar Agricultural Resilience Initiative for Drought-Affected Communities
MOGADISHU — 8 June 2026
The Federal Government of Somalia, the African Development Bank Group, the UN Office for Project Services, and the World Food Programme launched an 11.8 million dollar three-year initiative on 8 June 2026 to strengthen agricultural and pastoral systems in drought-affected states.
ARUSHA — June 2026
The East African Community Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health convened in Arusha and agreed on a unified regional strategy for responding to the Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Urge- Intelligence
Urge- DevWire
Urge Skill-Up
Knowledge is power.
Stay connected. Be empowered.
© 2026 All rights reserved.




East Africa's Development Community.
© Urge Communications 2026
