The climate crisis is a health crisis. Across Africa, rising temperatures, floods, droughts and shifting rainfall patterns are already putting millions of lives at risk. As #COP31# approaches, Africa must speak with one voice: health must be central to every climate decision.

In Bunia, a training centre for frontline responders has been set up to strengthen the #Ebola# response. Over 330 health professionals are receiving theoretical and practical training in different stages of patient care. The aim is to harmonise protocols and improve care quality.

Pleased to join government representatives and partners in #Addis# Ababa ahead of the seventh Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting, the first to be held in our region. Congratulations to Ethiopia on the @WHO classification of its national emergency medical team. I also appreciate the contribution of African teams supporting emergency responses across the region. Sustained investment in national teams, through training and financing, is essential to ensure rapid deployment when emergencies strike. I urge governments and partners to sustain this investment, guided by country priorities. WHO will continue supporting countries build effective emergency medical teams. #EMTGlobalMeeting2026#

A historic moment for Africa. Together with @Diop_IFC, Managing Director of @IFC_org, and @DrTedros, @WHO Director-General, I’m honoured to take part in the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games at the stadium in Dakar. For the first time in history, the Youth Olympic Games are being hosted on African soil, showcasing the continent’s talent, ambition and limitless potential. A proud day for Africa, its youth and the global Olympic movement. #Dakar2026# #YouthOlympicGames# ------------------------ Un moment historique pour l’Afrique. Aux côtés de @Diop_IFC, Directeur général de @IFC_org, et du Dr Tedros, Directeur général de l’@WHO, j’ai l’honneur de prendre part à la cérémonie d’ouverture des Jeux Olympiques de la Jeunesse, au stade de Dakar. Pour la première fois de leur histoire, les Jeux Olympiques de la Jeunesse sont organisés sur le sol africain, mettant en lumière les talents, l’ambition et l’immense potentiel du continent. Une journée de fierté pour l’Afrique, sa jeunesse et le mouvement olympique mondial. #Dakar2026# #YouthOlympicGames#

Delighted to meet Prof. Ibrahima Seck, Vice President of Galien Africa, in Dakar. Exchanges such as these help strengthen the leadership, partnerships and innovation needed to advance health and well-being across Africa. #HealthForAll#

Just arrived in Senegal for high-level engagements with government leaders and partners. Merci beaucoup for the warm welcome. Looking forward to a productive visit, including the opening of the 4th Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event ever held on African soil. WHO is proud to support Senegal in delivering safe, healthy Games and making health a lasting legacy for its young people.

WHO is working closely with the DRC Government to intensify and sustain the #Ebola# response. During his recent visit to Beni, @ProfJanabi engaged with communities and handed over supplies and equipment, including motorbikes and #IPC# materials, to strengthen the response.

Over 10,000 cases of Bundibugyo virus disease have now been reported in the DRC, a sobering indication of the toll this outbreak has taken on families and communities. Yet there are reasons for hope. More than 2,600 people have recovered. New vaccine and treatment candidates for Bundibugyo virus are advancing through clinical trials, while laboratory testing, treatment capacity, infection prevention and control, community engagement, and surveillance continue to strengthen. Our teams are on the ground, working side by side with the government and partners to stop transmission and save lives. With sustained commitment, community trust and solidarity, and safe access to affected communities, this outbreak can be brought to an end.

The medical evacuation of a patient with Bundibugyo virus disease and her close contact from Nigeria to Switzerland has been completed successfully. I commend the national authorities and the health workers whose close collaboration enabled safe transfer. @WHO continues to support Nigeria in strengthening all aspects of the #Ebola# response, as the country continues to monitor contacts following the detection of the now-evacuated case. ----------------- L’évacuation médicale vers la Suisse d’une patiente atteinte de la maladie à virus Bundibugyo et de son contact proche, tous deux en provenance du Nigéria, a été effectuée avec succès. Je salue les autorités nationales et les professionnels de santé dont l’étroite collaboration a permis d’assurer ce transfert en toute sécurité. @WHO continue d’accompagner le Nigéria dans le renforcement de tous les aspects de la réponse à l’épidémie d’#Ebola#, alors que le pays poursuit le suivi des contacts identifiés à la suite de la détection du cas désormais évacué. ----------- A evacuação médica de uma paciente com doença pelo vírus Bundibugyo e do seu contacto próximo da Nigéria para a Suíça foi concluída com sucesso. Felicito as autoridades nacionais e os profissionais de saúde cuja estreita colaboração tornou possível uma transferência segura. A OMS continua a apoiar a Nigéria no reforço de todas as vertentes da resposta ao #Ebola#, enquanto o país mantém a monitorização de contactos na sequência da deteção do caso agora evacuado.

Honoured to receive the Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Public Health (DFAPH) award, the highest tier of the Academy’s Fellowship Roll, alongside an exceptional group of public health leaders whose contributions have advanced health and well-being across Africa and beyond. This honour belongs not only to those recognised, but also to the health workers, researchers, policymakers and communities whose dedication drives progress every day. I congratulate my fellow awardees and look forward to joining them for the formal induction ceremony in Abuja this December. Together, for #HealthForAll#. -------------- Honoré de recevoir le titre de Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Public Health (DFAPH), la distinction la plus élevée de l’Académie, aux côtés d’un groupe exceptionnel de leaders de la santé publique dont les contributions ont fait progresser la santé et le bien-être en Afrique et au-delà. Cette distinction honore non seulement les personnes récompensées, mais aussi les professionnels de santé, les chercheurs, les décideurs et les communautés dont l’engagement contribue chaque jour aux progrès de la santé publique. Je félicite les autres lauréats et me réjouis de les retrouver à Abuja en décembre prochain pour la cérémonie officielle de remise de cette distinction. Ensemble pour la #SantéPourTous#. #HealthForAll# -------------- Sinto-me honrado por receber a distinção de Distinguished Fellow of the Academy of Public Health (DFAPH), o mais elevado nível da Academia, juntamente com um grupo excecional de líderes da saúde pública cujas contribuições têm promovido a saúde e o bem-estar em África e além-fronteiras. Esta distinção pertence não apenas aos homenageados, mas também aos profissionais de saúde, investigadores, decisores políticos e comunidades cujo empenho impulsiona o progresso todos os dias. Felicito os meus colegas distinguidos e aguardo com expectativa a oportunidade de me juntar a eles na cerimónia oficial de admissão, que terá lugar em Abuja, em dezembro. Juntos, por uma #SaúdeParaTodos#.

Today, 20 contacts associated with Kenya’s first imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease were released from quarantine and reunited with their families after completing the mandatory 21-day monitoring period. All 20 remained asymptomatic during quarantine.

Earlier this morning, the Ebola patient in Nigeria and her contact, who is also her husband, were medically evacuated to Switzerland. The reasons for the evacuation are: ✅ Both the patient and her husband are Swiss citizens. ✅ The patient is clinically stable. The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilized her condition. On behalf of WHO and all partners, I warmly congratulate the Government of Nigeria, health workers, clinicians, emergency responders and all those involved in the response. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to what Africa can accomplish when we work together. With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases. However, vigilance remains critical. Nigeria will continue the close follow-up of 52 contacts, while Switzerland will assume responsibility for the continued management of the patient and the follow-up of contact number 53, her husband. Congratulations once again to everyone involved. This is a proud moment demonstrating African expertise, resilience, and leadership in public health. ---------------------------- Ce matin, la patiente atteinte d’Ebola au Nigéria et son contact, qui est également son époux, ont été évacués médicalement vers la Suisse. Les raisons de cette évacuation sont les suivantes : ✅ La patiente et son mari sont tous deux citoyens suisses. ✅ La patiente est cliniquement stable. L’équipe médicale nigériane a réussi à la prendre en charge durant la phase aiguë de la maladie et à stabiliser son état. Au nom de l’OMS et de tous les partenaires, je félicite chaleureusement le Gouvernement du Nigéria, les agents de santé, les cliniciens, les intervenants d’urgence et toutes les personnes impliquées dans la réponse. C’est une réalisation remarquable et une preuve de ce que l’Afrique peut accomplir lorsque nous travaillons ensemble. Avec l’évacuation de la patiente et de son mari, le Nigéria ne compte actuellement plus de cas d’Ebola. Cependant, la vigilance reste essentielle. Le Nigéria poursuivra le suivi rapproché de 52 contacts, tandis que la Suisse assurera la prise en charge continue de la patiente et le suivi du 53ᵉ contact, son mari. Félicitations encore à toutes celles et ceux qui ont contribué à cette réussite. Ce moment est une fierté, démontrant l’expertise, la résilience et le leadership africains en santé publique. ---------------------------- Hoje de manhã, a paciente com doença pelo vírus Ebola na Nigéria e o seu contacto, que é também o seu marido, foram evacuados por via médica para a Suíça. A evacuação deve-se aos seguintes motivos: ✅ Tanto a paciente como o seu marido são cidadãos suíços. ✅ A paciente encontra-se clinicamente estável. A equipa médica nigeriana conseguiu prestar-lhe cuidados durante a fase aguda da doença e estabilizar o seu estado de saúde. Em nome da OMS e de todos os parceiros, felicito calorosamente o Governo da Nigéria, os profissionais de saúde, os clínicos, as equipas de resposta a emergências e todas as pessoas envolvidas na resposta. Esta é uma conquista notável e uma prova do que África pode alcançar quando trabalhamos em conjunto. Com a evacuação da paciente e do seu marido, a Nigéria não tem atualmente nenhum caso de doença pelo vírus Ebola. No entanto, é fundamental manter a vigilância. A Nigéria continuará a acompanhar de perto 52 contactos, enquanto a Suíça assumirá a responsabilidade pela continuidade dos cuidados à paciente e pelo acompanhamento do contacto número 53, o seu marido. Mais uma vez, felicito todas as pessoas envolvidas. Este é um momento de orgulho que demonstra a competência, a resiliência e a liderança de África no domínio da saúde pública.

African institutions and communities should help shape the recommendations of the WHS–Lancet Commission on Academic Responsibility. African experience must shape the knowledge and decisions that affect our health. Today at #WHS2026#, I joined a panel discussion at the launch of the Commission, which will consider how academia can contribute to the public good and build trust in science. Research capacity is part of health sovereignty. Universities should use their independence and expertise in the service of society, generating evidence that helps countries make informed health decisions and hold policies to scrutiny.

At #WHS2026#, I made the case for equitable Africa-Europe partnerships that strengthen countries’ ability to determine their priorities and deliver on them, grounded in mutual accountability and respect for African leadership. Moving from reaction to resilience requires sustained investment in national institutions that can recognize health threats early, respond effectively and protect everyday health care.

Polio eradication is achievable, but it requires an emergency mindset, not business as usual. Good discussions with the #Polio# Oversight Board in Berlin today, reinforcing the need to accelerate action & strengthen accountability at all levels. Outbreak closures in 5 African countries this year show what strong campaigns, surveillance + political commitment can deliver. Yet funding constraints are already weakening response & surveillance in high-risk countries. Protecting the 2027 outbreak response budget and strengthening routine immunization are essential to sustain progress & finish the job.

Across Africa, close to 150 million people live with mental health, neurological or substance use conditions, yet many still cannot access the care and support they need. For too long, people directly affected by these conditions have been invited to share their experiences but excluded from the decisions that follow. Listening must lead to participation. On this #WorldMentalHealthDay#, I urge Member States to establish formal and sustained mechanisms for lived experience participation.

Borders divide jurisdictions, but they do not divide risk. At #UNGA81#, I was pleased to join leaders and partners at the Presidential Dialogue on High-Threat Pathogens. I spoke about the need to make preparedness a permanent part of national development and work together across borders. The New York Call to Action provides an important roadmap for putting this into practice. Preparedness must be built, sustained and funded, with standing arrangements that connect institutions and communities across borders and turn fragmented data into preparedness intelligence.

Across the African Region, 178,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and one million newborns are lost. Most of these deaths can be prevented with care we already know how to provide. At the SHE RISES high-level side event at #UNGA81#, we discussed women’s leadership in maternal and child health. Women must have a stronger voice where decisions are made, but representation alone will not save lives. Leadership must be matched by delivery. Political commitment must reach the facility where a woman gives birth, with skilled care, essential supplies and referral systems that work.

Malaria remains one of Africa’s greatest public health challenges. The WHO African Region accounts for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of deaths. At #UNGA81#, I joined Heads of State and partners to call for a financing push to match the Big Push against Malaria. With stronger domestic investment, financing aligned with national priorities and action across sectors, we can put malaria elimination back within reach.