WHO Archives - Voice of the Cape

World Suicide Prevention Day: SADAG urges better access to mental health care in South Africa

By Lee-Yandra Paulsen As today marks World Suicide Prevention Day, established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). This annual event, held on 10 September, is aimed to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide, raise awareness, and remind the global community that suicide is preventable. With over 700,000 suicides reported each year worldwide, it remains a major public health challenge. […]

10 September 2024

Local

Cape Town’s Groote Schuur unveils radiation therapy machines for cancer cell destruction

Radiation therapy at Cape Town’s Groote Schuur hospital received a multi-million rand boost with new advanced machinery, including a R47 million linear accelerator, which uses high energy waves to destroy cancer cells. Groote Schuur Hospital sees about 3 000 new cancer patients per year, while it does some 33 000 follow ups annually. Oncology specialists say more than half of the new patients will require radiotherapy as part of their […]

27 June 2023

Local

The cholera-infected area of Hammanskraal has rocked the Western Cape

By Kouthar Sambo The cholera-infected area of Hammanskraal has rocked the residents of the Western Cape as fear has heightened in the province. Residents are concerned about the potential of the outbreak reaching the Western Cape. “Cholera has not reached the shores of the Western Cape province. Currently, cholera is limited to Gauteng, the Free State, and the Limpopo province. As far as I know, there been 55 cholera cases […]

26 May 2023

International

‘Shockingly dangerous’: WHO raises alarm on pregnancy risks

The World Health Organization (WHO) says one woman dies every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest data, with too few countries in the world managing to substantially reduce maternal death rates since 2016. The report, Trends in Maternal Mortality, showed that while there was significant progress in reducing maternal deaths between 2000 and 2015, those gains stalled or were even reversed in the five years to 2020. […]

23 February 2023

Local

Measles outbreak in Cape Metro district

The Western Cape Department of Health notes today’s alert by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) to declare a measles outbreak in the Cape Metro district. Four laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been reported in the Cape Metro district from 24 January 2023 to 17 February 2023. In line with the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations, a measles outbreak is defined as the occurrence of three or more […]

22 February 2023

International

WHO provides aid to fight child malnutrition in Yemen

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday announced the start of providing needed aid and medical intervention to around 18,000 Yemeni children suffering illnesses and malnutrition, Anadolu Agency reports. In a statement, WHO said the aid intervention, which is carried out in eight hospitals over a period of nine months, is implemented with support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. "WHO will support the pediatric units of these hospitals […]

15 April 2022

Local

Africa’s role in local covid vaccine production stressed during WHO visit

The importance of building local vaccine production capacity for the African continent has been stressed during a high level visit of World Health Organization (WHO) officials. WHO Director General Doctor Tedros Ghebreyesus and Health Minister Joe Phaahla, along with other delegates, visited Stellenbosch University's Biomedical Research Institute on Friday afternoon. They were visiting facilities that were collaborating to develop and build the WHO's global mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in […]

12 February 2022

International News

WHO chief lauds Saudi Arabia’s coronavirus measures during Hajj

Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts in organizing this year’s Hajj amid strict coronavirus precautionary and preventive measures. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, the WHO chief said: “As the faithful gather to perform Hajj this year, we welcome the public health planning and steps Saudi Arabia has taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims and their communities during the COVID19 pandemic.” Saudi […]

19 July 2021

Local

mRNA hub will change Africa’s image and promote self-reliance: Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the selection of South Africa by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to establish the first mRNA technology transfer hub will help change the continent’s image and promote self-reliance. The hub will boost vaccine manufacturing abilities in the region, as Africa continues to struggle with vaccine procurement. It will be established through a partnership consisting of South Africa’s Biovac Institute, Afrigen, the Africa Centres for Disease Control […]

22 June 2021

WHO

Download our new app

Download
our new app