As COVID-19 surges around the world, WHO continues its efforts to tackle the ongoing pandemic. Beyond the frontpage headlines, WHO with its partners' and donors' support, keeps working to help countries prevent, test for and treat the virus.

Increasing confidence in vaccines and boosting the fight against COVID-19 in Africa

WHO Representative to Uganda gets COVID-19 vaccine jab. Story published by AFRO/WHO on 20 April 2021.

Following work to combat vaccine hesitancy among frontline health workers in Uganda's Hoima district, WHO and the Ministry of Health helped significantly increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake with a mix of interventions. A campaign that included the distribution of informational materials helped debunk misinformation and rumours as well as demonstrate the benefits of vaccination. Through activities which also included publicly vaccinating influential health care workers and officials such as the WHO Representative to Uganda, the teams have improved vaccination rates to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. WHO and the Ministry are rolling out similar measures to further priority groups in the region.

In Comoros, WHO delivered a batch of medical equipment worth over US$ 500 000 to help strengthen the country's COVID-19 response. The equipment will improve laboratories testing capacity and protect health workers.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa has also been active on a number of fronts to strengthen the region's research, innovation and evidence gathering, Pillar 11 of WHO's response to COVID-19. The office has coordinated nearly 100 related studies in 36 Member States and has provided technical, financial and material support.

Coordinating vaccine delivery to conflict-affected countries and providing guidance for religious gatherings in the Eastern Mediterranean region

Syria received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX. Story published by WHO/EMRO on 22 April 2021.

The first batch of doses of COVID-19 was recently delivered to Damascus, Syria through the COVAX Facility. Th e vaccines will be allocated to frontline health workers, including in northeast Syria. Simultaneously, a separate batch of doses of vaccines for high-risk populations in northwest Syria was shipped through WHO and UNICEF.

Also in the region, ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, encouraged safe COVID-19 precautions during fasting and gatherings.

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