World Health Organization

African children

Niger becomes first African nation declared free from river blindness

By / / Good News For Humankind

This major public health triumph has eradicated onchocerciasis, or river blindness, in Niger. The nation is the first in Africa to achieve this World Health Organization-verified status. This victory eliminates a debilitating parasitic disease that had historically pushed populations away from fertile river valleys. The successful, multi-decade effort restores human dignity, unlocks agricultural land for economic development, and provides a powerful blueprint for eliminating other neglected tropical diseases across the continent.

Bacteria under microscope

Cholera vaccination campaign launched in Darfur to protect over 1.8 million people

By / / Good News For Humankind

A vital cholera vaccination campaign has been launched in Darfur, Sudan, aiming to protect over 1.86 million people. This urgent intervention is a major victory for global health, achieved despite the ongoing conflict and insecurity in the region. Humanitarian teams, led by the WHO and UNICEF, overcame immense logistical challenges to deliver millions of vaccine doses. This proactive measure is crucial for halting the spread of the country’s longest-recorded cholera outbreak and safeguarding the lives of highly vulnerable populations, especially young children.

Fly

Kenya declared free of deadly sleeping sickness by WHO

By / / Good News For Humankind

Kenya has officially eliminated sleeping sickness as a public health problem—becoming the tenth country worldwide and the fifth in Africa to reach this milestone. The disease, spread by tsetse flies, causes fever, swollen lymph nodes and, if untreated, severe damage to the nervous system, disrupting sleep and leading to coma or death. Kenya recorded its last local case in 2009 and its last imported cases in 2012 after years of investment in surveillance, diagnostics and fly control. With WHO validation, Kenya’s success strengthens Africa’s collective drive to eliminate sleeping sickness across the continent by 2030.

Poon Hill, Histan Mandali, Nepal

Nepal eliminates rubella as a public health problem

By / / Good News For Humankind

Nepal has officially eliminated rubella, a contagious virus that can cause serious complications for pregnant women and lifelong disabilities for newborns. Once a major public health concern, rubella often led to miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital rubella syndrome, which can result in heart defects, deafness, and developmental challenges. Thanks to sustained vaccination campaigns and resilient health systems, Nepal has now achieved over 95% coverage since 2012. Verified by the World Health Organization, this milestone means safer pregnancies, healthier children, and greater hope for future generations.

Timor-Leste coastline

World Health Organization certifies Timor-Leste as malaria-free

By / / Good News For Humankind

The World Health Organization certifies malaria elimination when a country has zero indigenous cases for three consecutive years. So far, 47 countries and one territory have earned this status. A Southeast Asian nation, committed to fighting malaria since gaining independence in 2002, has now joined them—demonstrating the impact of sustained, focused efforts to defeat this devastating disease.

Mosquito on a leaf

Suriname becomes first country in the Amazon region to eliminate malaria

By / / Good News For Humankind

Suriname has officially been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). This certification marks the successful interruption of indigenous malaria transmission for at least three consecutive years – a major step forward in the global fight against one of humanity’s deadliest diseases. With today’s announcement, WHO has now certified 46 countries and one territory malaria-free – and each one has successfully prevented the re-establishment of the disease.

Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgia certified malaria-free

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The country of Georgia has been certified malaria-free following a nearly century-long fight to combat the disease, the World Health Organization has announced. It joins 45 countries that have achieved this milestone. Malaria has plagued Georgia since ancient times. During the post-war period, Georgia launched an intensive program focused on eliminating malaria. The campaign successfully interrupted the transmission of many strains by 1970 and the country remained malaria-free for 25 years. But by 2002 the disease had reemerged.

A doctor is about to vaccinate a child

Sudan launches first malaria vaccine in landmark child health initiative

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Malaria remains a leading cause of childhood mortality in Sudan, which has one of the highest malaria rates in the region. The disease claimed an estimated 7,900 lives in Sudan in 2023, though the actual toll may be higher due to ongoing conflict between rival militaries. The launch follows the arrival of the first consignment of 186,000 doses to Sudan in October and the campaign will begin across 15 health facilities in Gedaref and the Blue Nile states, benefitting more than 148,000 children under 12 months-old. In 2025 and 2026, the vaccine will be introduced in a further 129 localities.

Mosquito

Egypt is certified malaria-free by World Health Organization

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Egypt as malaria-free, marking a significant public health milestone for a country with more than 100 million inhabitants. The achievement follows a nearly 100-year effort by the Egyptian government and people to end a disease that has been present in the country since ancient times. Egypt is the third country to be awarded a malaria-free certification in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region following the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, and the first since 2010. Globally, a total of 44 countries and 1 territory have reached this milestone.

Indian flag

India eliminates trachoma as a public health problem

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The World Health Organization has validated the world’s most populous country as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. India joins Nepal and Myanmar in the WHO South-East Asia Region and 19 other countries globally that have previously achieved this feat. Though trachoma is preventable, blindness from trachoma is extremely difficult to reverse. Trachoma continues to be a public health problem in 39 countries and is responsible for the blindness of about 1.9 million people.