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Verified reporting on health systems, disease response, health policy, and humanitarian health programming across eight countries.

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REGIONAL  HEALTH

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.

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Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire

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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.

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Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire

Urge Inside Health | East Africa. Urge- DevWire

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