Aba, Democratic Republic of the Congo– “Information is necessary. Being notified becomes part of avoidance,” states Cosmas Sandani Lasuba, a South Sudanese refugee living in the Méri camp in the Aba health zone, about 18 kilometers from the border in between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan. As President of the South Sudanese refugees settled at this website, Cosmas carefully follows an awareness session on Bundibugyo infection illness. He is entrusted with raising awareness amongst his peers about preventive procedures.

“People need to clean their hands and regard distancing. I believe this is extremely essential to prevent being contaminated with Ebola,” he discusses. Like Cosmas, more than 26,000 South Sudanese refugees reside in the Aba health zone. Found about 436 km from Isiro, the capital of Haut-Uélé province, Aba is a tactical monitoring point along the border with South Sudan. The distance of neighborhoods, cross-border motions, and refugee streams need consistent watchfulness on both sides.

These population motions are a significant issue as the Ebola break out has actually currently impacted numerous health zones in Haut-Uélé. Since 17 October 2026, the province had actually taped 408 validated cases and 176 deaths, with 7 of its 13 health zones affected. Aba has actually not reported any cases, however its geographical position and routine cross-border motions make it a high-risk location.

To lower this threat, health authorities in the DRC and South Sudan, with assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO), are enhancing cross-border security and coordination to rapidly spot signals and avoid the infection from spreading out beyond the border.

For Dr Simon Sebit Yatoma, Medical Director of Yei River County in South Sudan, the obstacle is anticipation: “Ebola remains in the DRC, and the DRC is close to Yei. That is why we are collaborating so that, if a case takes place, we have the ability to react collectively and quickly. As you understand, infections have no borders, and just our uniformity can assist us beat them.”

Health authorities from both nations satisfied in Aba to specify typical systems for security and reaction. The conference led to a roadmap covering details sharing, illness security, joint examinations, and threat interaction.

“Since there are lots of motions in between Aba and the Yei health zone, this was a chance for us to exchange and establish joint systems to efficiently combat the spread of this epidemic,” discusses Dr Patrick Banza Piongo, Head of the Haut-Uélé Provincial Health Division. “We have actually developed a schedule where every week we will share details on interaction and illness monitoring. We will interact in coordination to perform this battle collectively.”

At points of entry, the system depends on handwashing, temperature level checks, and info collection to rapidly recognize tourists with suspicious signs. A short-term seclusion area enables presumed cases to be held till a fast action group steps in for examinations, sample collection, and client care.

In Aba, 5 of the eleven proposed entry and control points are currently functional. Difficulties stay: the health zone deals with lacks of individual protective devices, insufficient seclusion capability, and the lack of an ambulance for moving presumed cases. Evaluations are underway by the Ministry of Health with partner assistance to fill these spaces as rapidly as possible.

For WHO, this regional cooperation needs to make sure that neighborhoods surviving on both sides of the border gain from a collaborated reaction.

“Our concern is to enhance the capabilities of surrounding nations so they can rapidly identify informs, validate believed cases, and guarantee client care. This is vital to lower the threat of Ebola spreading out beyond borders,” highlights Dr Marie Roseline Bélizaire, Regional Director for Emergencies at WHO Africa.

WHO is likewise supporting capability structure in South Sudan and other nearby nations at danger of importing the infection. This assistance consists of examining existing capabilities, reinforcing illness security, training in contact tracing and examinations, boosting lab detection and verification capabilities, preparing treatment centers, and training health experts associated with all these activities. In Aba and Yei alike, this cooperation likewise predicts joint examinations, contact tracing, and balanced awareness messages for neighborhoods.

In Méri, reinforced security and avoidance straight issue the countless refugees living near the border. In this context of an Ebola break out, Cosmas invites the attention provided to them: “We value the dedication of the authorities and partners who consider our health and act to safeguard our neighborhood versus Ebola,” he concludes.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 20 October 2026– The World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia Country Office, in collaboration with Plan International Ethiopia, hosted Ms. Timrhabiruk Mulugeta as the symbolic WHO Representative for a Day as part of the international Girls Takeover 2026 (#ChangeHerForecast) project. The effort marked the International Day of the Girl and supported this year’s style, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”

The Girls Takeover effort empowers teen women and girls by offering chances to presume management functions, enhance their voices, obstacle gender stereotypes, and take part in decision-making procedures. This year’s worldwide project, #ChangeHerForecast, highlights the out of proportion effect of environment modification and humanitarian crises on ladies, especially in relation to their health, education, security, and future chances.

Throughout her symbolic management function, Ms. Timrhabiruk took part in top-level conferences and engagements, getting direct insight into WHO’s operate in Ethiopia. She accompanied the WHO Representative on a check out to the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute and added to conversations on development, health, youth management, and advancement. She likewise took part in a coordination conference to get ready for the 7th Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting.

Throughout the day, Ms. Timrhabiruk promoted for women’ rights, gender equality, youth involvement, and more powerful action to attend to the obstacles that environment modification and humanitarian crises posture to ladies and girls. Her involvement highlighted the value of producing significant chances for girls to engage straight with leaders and add to forming policies that impact their neighborhoods.

A 2026 graduate of the School of Social Work at Addis Ababa University, Ms. Timrhabiruk has actually been actively taken part in neighborhood assistance, youth involvement, and social justice advocacy. Through her deal with the Ethiopia ACT Project, she has actually supported susceptible people and households through psychosocial services, counselling, income help, and dispute resolution efforts.

Speaking at the conclusion of the occasion, Professor Francis Chisaka Kasolo, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, the African Union, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), applauded Ms. Timrhabiruk’s management and engagement.

“We applaud her dedication and interest and extend our finest long for her ongoing success as a future leader and supporter for favorable modification,” Professor Kasolo stated.

The occasion declared the shared dedication of WHO Ethiopia and Plan International Ethiopia to promoting women’ management, empowerment, and significant involvement in decision-making. By purchasing women and developing chances for them to lead, the Girls Takeover effort adds to constructing a more fair and inclusive future.

Maseru — The Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftainship, the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), and the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, with assistance from the World Health Organization, introduced a collaborated effort to promote health screening and more secure initiation practices for kids, acknowledging the crucial function of standard initiation schools in forming the shift to their adult years.

The effort follows an evaluation of initiation schools carried out in between December 2024 and February 2025 throughout 8 districts. The evaluation evaluated 3,646 starts and recognized cases of diarrhoea, throwing up and septic foot injuries, in addition to difficulties connected to sanitation, access to health services and postponed recommendation of ill starts.

To deal with these issues, a series of neighborhood discussions was held in between July and September 2026 in 6 of the eleven targeted Principal Chiefs’ locations throughout Mohale’s Hoek, Mokhotlong, Maseru, Thaba-Tseka and Qacha’s Nek. The conversations combined conventional leaders, initiation school stakeholders, males and neighborhood members to analyze essential problems impacting the health and health and wellbeing of guys and young boys, consisting of psychological health, gender-based violence (GBV), health screening and much safer initiation practices.

Individuals reviewed hazardous behaviours, checked out favorable designs of masculinity and went over the function of standard management in enhancing health and social results. The discussions likewise offered an unusual platform for males to freely go over tension, anxiety, relationship obstacles and the value of looking for assistance for psychological troubles.

For Chief Seabelo Phakisi of Mokhotlong, the program triggered a modification in how he reacts to cases of GBV.

“I no longer simply send out victims to the authorities. I listen, I recommend, and I attempt to fix where possible.”

Chief T’seiso Phakisi highlighted the significance of engaging males in household health and health and wellbeing.

“Sexual and reproductive health problems in the household frequently begin with the hubby. When males are actively associated with household health and decision-making, whole homes advantage.”

Conversations likewise highlighted issues about contagious illness, persistent diseases, injuries and other health dangers that might impact starts, especially in remote locations with restricted access to health care. In action, conventional leaders and initiation school stakeholders devoted to motivating potential starts to go through health screening before getting in initiation schools.

“This dedication represents a substantial turning point beforehand neighborhood health. It shows that cultural customs and public health objectives are not equally special, however can work hand in hand to secure lives, promote wellness and reinforce neighborhoods,” stated Daniel Baroane Phenethi, Head of Health Education and Promotion at the Ministry of Health.

“Men and young boys need to be motivated to gain access to health services before going to initiation schools. Where a health issue is recognized, they must be described the proper health centers for more evaluation and care.”

According to Phenethi, the dedication will reinforce partnership in between health centers and standard management while producing chances for early medical diagnosis, recommendation and treatment.

The discussions likewise checked out the links in between damaging gender standards, GBV and health results. Individuals analyzed how expectations around masculinity can dissuade guys and young boys from looking for assistance, while motivating them to welcome favorable functions as caretakers, partners and coaches within their households and neighborhoods.

“Men and young boys should belong to the service to gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health difficulties. Enduring modification can just be accomplished when both females and males interact to advance gender equality and develop more secure, much healthier neighborhoods for all,” stated Thae Makhele of the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development.

Ngaka Makhaola of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy highlighted the prominent function of conventional leaders in promoting favorable social standards.

“Traditional leaders have a vital function to play in forming favorable social standards and affecting behaviour within neighborhoods. By motivating males and kids to turn down damaging practices, promote regard and equality in relationships, and support the rights and health and wellbeing of ladies and ladies, conventional leaders can assist cultivate more secure, healthier and more inclusive neighborhoods for all.”

The Lesotho Mounted Police Service stressed the duty of males and kids in avoiding violence and promoting responsibility.

“Men and kids should comprehend that violence is not a presentation of strength. Avoiding gender-based violence needs guys to take obligation for their behaviour and to appreciate the rights and self-respect of ladies and women,” stated Bataung Nchoai of the LMPS.

The program produced an area for chiefs, initiation school owners, initiators, neighborhood members and federal government agents to go over a few of the most important obstacles impacting neighborhoods. Individuals got health promo messages on contagious and non-communicable illness, psychological health, GBV avoidance, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the value of prompt health-seeking behaviour.

WHO stays dedicated to supporting the Ministry of Health, standard leaders and other partners in enhancing health and wellness within initiation schools. Through partnership, health education and enhanced access to preventive and alleviative services, partners intend to secure the health of starts while appreciating and maintaining essential cultural customs.