ooas-waho

26/03/2026

L’Organisation Ouest Africaine de la Santé a convoqué une session technique sur la politique régionale de santé communautaire à Cotonou le 23 mars 2026.

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The West African Health Organisation convened a technical session on the Regional Community Health Policy in Cotonou on 23 March 2026.

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A Organização Oeste Africana da Saúde convocou uma sessão técnica sobre a política regional de saúde comunitária em Cotonou no dia 23 de março de 2026.

26/03/2026

ECOWAS launches Regional Community Health Policy to strengthen health systems in West Africa

The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) launched, this Monday 24 March 2026, at the Sofitel Hotel in Cotonou, the Regional Community Health Policy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a strategic initiative aimed at positioning community health as a central pillar of universal health coverage and strengthening health systems across the region.

The ceremony brought together government representatives, technical and financial partners, as well as delegations from Member States, reflecting a shared commitment to bringing health services closer to communities and strengthening prevention strategies. The launch of the policy was presented as a strategic milestone reflecting the region’s ambition to place communities at the centre of health policies.

Representing His Excellency the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Oumar Alieu Touray, the Director-General of WAHO, Dr Melchior Athanase Joël Codjovi Aïssi, officially launched the ECOWAS Regional Community Health Policy, describing it as a turning point in addressing persistent weaknesses in health systems across the region.

Dr. Melchior Aïssi further stressed that this policy represents a paradigm shift, moving from facility-centred health systems to people-centred systems, as well as from sectoral to multisectoral approaches, and called for its swift and effective implementation.

The Minister of Health of Benin, Professor Benjamin Hounkpatin, was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Sibylle Assavoedo. stated that health begins within communities and described community health as a key strategic lever for building resilient and equitable health systems. She also highlighted the progress made by Benin, particularly through citizen participation mechanisms centred at household level, positioning the country as a regional model in implementing innovative community health approaches.
Despite these advances, she pointed to persistent challenges, including climate change, zoonotic diseases, and the need to strengthen political commitment, professionalise the workforce, improve health information systems, promote multisectoral action, and ensure sustainable financing.

In his welcome address, His Excellency Ambassador Amadou Diongue, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, emphasised that West African countries face similar health challenges, requiring coordinated responses supported by strong political commitment. He further noted that community health is fundamental to human capital development and essential to ensuring equitable access to healthcare. Recalling lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed the importance of placing communities at the centre of action to build resilient health systems.

The UNICEF Representative in Benin, Ousmane Niang, speaking on behalf of technical and financial partners, highlighted the significant investments made to extend healthcare services to the most remote populations. He underlined that community health is one of the most cost-effective approaches to reaching all population groups and paid tribute to the work of community health workers.

One of the key moments of the ceremony was the official presentation of the new policy by Dr. Arístide Talon, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic of Benin on Health, followed by the handover of a copy of the policy and other strategic documents such as the Consensus Standards and Principles and the Regional Guidance Framework for its operationalisation to Member States.

MS Magdalene Harding, WAHO Liaison Officer for Sierra Leone, delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of Sierra Leone, the country currently charring ECOWAS. She highlighted the historic nature of the moment, noting that it marks not only the launch of a policy but the beginning of a movement placing communities at the Centre of healthcare delivery. She commended the leadership of WAHO and the commitment of Ministers of Health, calling on Member States to integrate the policy into their national systems and translate it into concrete action.

23/03/2026

WAHO convenes technical session on Regional Community Health Policy in Cotonou

The West African Health Organisation (WAHO), the specialised health institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), today convened in Cotonou the technical session of the regional workshop dedicated to the adoption and operationalisation of the Regional Community Health Policy (RCHP).

The opening of the session was marked by institutional remarks highlighting the strategic importance of community health for the future of health systems in the region.

In her statement, Mrs Magdalene Harding, representative of Sierra Leone, the country currently chairing ECOWAS and WAHO Liaison Officer in Sierra Leone, underscored the historic nature of the meeting and called for collective commitment from Member States. She stressed that community ownership remains the most effective pathway to ensuring accessibility, equity and sustainable quality healthcare services, in pursuit of universal health coverage. She further encouraged all participants to embrace this shift, noting that stronger health systems depend on active and empowered communities.

In his address, the Director General of WAHO, Dr Melchior Athanase Joël C. AÏSSI, emphasised the need for a paradigm shift that places communities at the centre of health policies. He observed that current systems remain insufficiently aligned with local realities and underscored the importance of prioritising preventive, promotive and integrated approaches.
He further highlighted that the Regional Community Health Policy provides a structured and sustainable response to the region’s challenges, grounded in a shared vision, harmonised standards and clear operational tools. He also called for decisive and coordinated action from Member States and partners to ensure effective implementation.
The technical session brings together policymakers, national and regional experts, representatives of civil society, the private sector, and technical and financial partners. It aims to deepen understanding of the adopted strategic instruments and to define concrete mechanisms for their implementation across Member States. Throughout the session, participants are reviewing the policy and related documents, sharing national experiences particularly the case of Benin and discussing implementation strategies, including the development of a regional roadmap.

The official launch ceremony for the Regional Community Health Policy is scheduled for 24 March 2026 at the Sofitel Hotel in Cotonou.

23/03/2026

Good morning everyone,

We are pleased to share with you the press release relating to the 27th ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers, which will take place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 20 to 25 April 2026.

You can access the press release via the following link:
https://www.wahooas.org/web-ooas/en/actualites/sierra-leone-host-27th-assembly-health-ministers-ecowas-20-25-april-2026-freetown

Organised by WAHO, this high-level regional meeting will focus on malaria elimination through an integrated approach, bringing together decision-makers to strengthen cooperation and define health priorities.

Kind regards,

Health Ministers from the Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will convene in Freetown, Republic of Sierra Leone, from 20 to 25 April 2026 for the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers (AHM) of ECOWAS, a high-level regional meeting organised un...

21/03/2026

Regional workshop on monitoring and evaluation of 2024–2025 support: WAHO strengthens the performance and accountability of its financial support to ECOWAS Member States

Cotonou, December 2025 – The West African Health Organisation (WAHO) organised a regional workshop on the monitoring and evaluation of support provided to Member States for the years 2024 and 2025, held from 18 to 20 December 2025 in Cotonou (Republic of Benin). This technical meeting brought together national focal points, financial managers from Member States, as well as WAHO’s monitoring and evaluation technical team, under the effective leadership of the Director General.

The evaluation of the support (70 funded initiatives, representing a total grant amount exceeding USD 8,800,000) indicates an overall satisfactory performance of activities, with notable results across Member States, particularly in five key interrelated areas:

• Strengthening sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and menstrual hygiene, through awareness-raising activities targeting girls and women, distribution of hygiene kits, and prevention of obstetric fistula.
• Combating epidemics and infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, dengue, malaria, cholera, meningitis and mpox, with a focus on regional coordination and preparedness for public health emergencies.
• Strengthening health systems and infrastructure, through laboratory improvements, procurement of specialised equipment, modernisation of health facilities, and support to regulatory systems.
• Training and capacity development, including the training of health professionals and strengthening of human resources.
• Scientific research and data generation, contributing to the optimisation of vaccination strategies and the resilience of health systems.

However, the evaluation also identified four key areas for improvement in order to strengthen the performance of WAHO’s support to ECOWAS Member States: i) governance, procedures and coordination; ii) financial management and accountability; iii) monitoring and evaluation and experience sharing; iv) communication, visibility and access to documentation; v) sustainability and durability of intervention outcomes.

Through this workshop, WAHO reaffirms its commitment to effectively supporting Member States in implementing structuring projects with tangible impact on populations, in line with the ECOWAS Vision 2050.

19/03/2026

Finalisation of the DETAMEV-ECOWAS Research Protocol on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

A regional workshop dedicated to the finalisation of the research protocol on the determinants of the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the ECOWAS region (DETAMEV-ECOWAS) was held from 9 to 13 March 2026 in Conakry, Republic of Guinea.

This technical meeting, organised by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), brought together representatives of Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), researchers in epidemiology and socio-anthropology from several ECOWAS Member States, as well as experts from WAHO. The workshop aimed to harmonise understanding of the regional research protocol and to analyse the factors that may explain the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the region.

The Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Guinea, Dr Abdoulaye Kaba, representing Her Excellency the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, emphasised in his opening remarks the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and prevention mechanisms for vaccine-preventable diseases. He also highlighted the importance of close collaboration among countries in the region to address shared health challenges, before officially declaring the regional workshop open.

The National Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control (DNELM), Dr Gassim Cissé, for his part, highlighted the progress made by Guinea in the field of immunisation, particularly the gradual improvement in national vaccination coverage over the past decade. However, he noted that several health crises, including the Ebola epidemic, have weakened health systems and affected the confidence of certain communities in vaccination services.

The Director General of WAHO, Dr Melchior Athanase J. C. Aïssi, in his welcome address delivered by Dr Yves Mongbo, indicated that the DETAMEV-ECOWAS study responds to a request from Member States to better understand the determinants of the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases to guide regional prevention strategies.

During the technical sessions, national delegations presented the status of vaccination coverage in their respective countries, as well as the challenges encountered in implementing immunisation programmes. Discussions highlighted issues related to the quality of vaccination data, human resources in immunisation services, difficulties in accessing certain geographical areas, and vaccine hesitancy in some communities.

Participants also emphasised the need to adopt a multidimensional approach combining quantitative and qualitative analyses, as well as a socio-anthropological perspective, to better understand the factors influencing vaccination across different national contexts.

Through the DETAMEV-ECOWAS study, Member States aim to generate robust scientific evidence to inform public health policies and strengthen vaccination strategies, thereby contributing to a sustainable reduction in the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases in West Africa.

18/03/2026

SOUS LE LEADERSHIP DE L’OOAS, LA CEDEAO LANCE UNE NOUVELLE DYNAMIQUE REGIONALE DE LA SANTE COMMUNAUTAIRE

La Communauté Économique des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO), à travers l’Organisation Ouest Africaine de la Santé (OOAS), organisera le 24 mars 2026 à l’Hôtel Sofitel Cotonou, au Bénin, la cérémonie officielle de lancement de la Politique Régionale de Santé Communautaire de la CEDEAO (PRSC).

Ce lancement de haut niveau interviendra en présence des autorités politiques et sanitaires, des représentants des État- membres de la CEDEAO, des partenaires techniques et financiers, ainsi que des acteurs de la société civile, des sociétés savantes et du secteur privé et marquera une étape majeure dans le renforcement des systèmes de santé communautaire dans la région.

La Politique Régionale de Santé Communautaire constitue un cadre stratégique régional destiné à renforcer les systèmes de santé en rapprochant davantage les services de santé des communautés, en mettant l’accent sur la prévention, la promotion de la santé, la surveillance communautaire et la participation active des populations. Elle s’inscrit en droite ligne des orientations stratégiques adoptées par la 26ème Session Ordinaire de l’Assemblée des Ministres de la Santé de la CEDEAO, tenue à Praia, au Cabo Verde, qui a appelé à un renforcement accru de la santé communautaire dans l’espace régional.

À travers cette initiative, la CEDEAO, sous le leadership de l’OOAS, vise à impulser une nouvelle dynamique régionale en faveur de la santé communautaire, afin d’accélérer la réalisation de la Couverture Sanitaire Universelle dans l’espace communautaire.

Le lancement officiel sera précédé, le 23 mars 2026, d’un atelier technique réunissant les délégués des États membres, les experts régionaux, les partenaires techniques et financiers ainsi que les principales parties prenantes multisectorielles. Cet atelier permettra de présenter en détail le contenu de la Politique, de faciliter son appropriation par les pays de la région et d’examiner les modalités pratiques de sa mise en œuvre. Il aboutira notamment à la validation d’une feuille de route régionale d’opérationnalisation, en vue d’assurer une mise en œuvre harmonisée et efficace de la politique dans l’espace CEDEAO.

Ce lancement marque le début d’une nouvelle phase d’engagement régional en faveur de systèmes de santé plus résilients, inclusifs et centrés sur les communautés, et contribuera à accélérer les progrès vers la Couverture Sanitaire Universelle dans l’espace CEDEAO.

11/03/2026

Hello everyone,

We are delighted to officially announce that the 27th Assembly of Health Ministers of ECOWAS, will take place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 20 to 25 April 2026 and the theme is:

“Advancing Malaria Elimination through an Integrated Regional Strategy.”

The Assembly represents the highest regional political platform for guiding health cooperation within the Community.

Stay tuned to our platforms for further information and updates on this important event.

WAHO Communications

08/03/2026

Message from the Director-General of WAHO on the occasion of International Women’s Day – 8 March

Dear colleagues, dear sisters,

On this International Women’s Day, I would like to take a moment to simply say: THANK YOU.

In the corridors of our institution, your presence represents far more than the responsibilities of a job. You embody compassion, dedication and the reassuring presence that brings comfort when challenges arise.

Every day, you balance professional responsibilities with your roles as mothers, sisters, wives and pillars of our communities with remarkable strength and grace.

Today, we celebrate not only women, but also your unwavering commitment, your generosity of spirit and your leadership, which continues to inspire and shape the next generation.

May this day bring you the recognition, appreciation and kindness that you so generously extend to others.

Happy International Women’s Day to all our everyday heroines.

Dr. Melchior Athanase Joël C. AÏSSI
Director-General

08/03/2026

On this International Women’s Day, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) pays tribute to all women across the sub-region for their essential contribution to the development of communities and to regional health.

Happy International Women’s Day to all our everyday heroines!

06/03/2026

On the occasion of the 69th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Ghana, WAHO extends its warm congratulations to the Government and people of Ghana.

As the first Sub Saharan African country to gain independence, Ghana remains a powerful symbol of leadership and Pan African commitment. Its active role within ECOWAS strengthens regional integration and advances shared health policies.

WAHO commends this exemplary trajectory and reaffirms its determination to continue close collaboration for the well being of West African populations.