Dr Cory Couillard

Brazzaville, 8 April 2015 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has called on the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Republic of Congo to advocate with their national governments to strengthen health systems to be able to address the health challenges facing the African Region. She briefed the diplomats about the on-going Ebola epidemic in West Africa, current and emerging health threats in the WHO African Region, progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and the strategic priorities for WHO’s work in the Region for 2015-2020. The Regional Director underscored the importance of strong national health systems to be able to withstand epidemics and emergencies while delivering essential health services to people who need them most. Dr Moeti pointed out that the Ebola epidemic has had devastating impacts on families, livelihoods, security, health workforce, service delivery and overall socioeconomic development of the...

Freetown/ Brazzaville, 24 August 2015  – Ongoing efforts to get to zero Ebola cases in Sierra Leone are yielding good results. This follows a massive deployment of experts by the World Health Organization and partners, to track and break each and every transmission chain of Ebola virus disease (EVD) through linking intensive community engagement and social mobilization efforts with surveillance and contact tracing.  The tracking and breaking of transmission chains requires tremendous numbers of qualified staff to work with the communities to identify if a person has been in contact with someone infected with EVD, monitor them for symptoms for up to 21 days, and to quickly isolate and treat them in a treatment centre if symptoms develop.  “Stopping Ebola transmission chains has required rapid mobilization of human and financial resources; this has been my top priority since my appointment,” says Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.  “Over 530 highly-...

An Independent Advisory Group (IAG), comprising renowned public health experts and leaders, has endorsed the Africa Health Transformation Programme 2015–2020: a vision for universal health coverage, proposed by Dr Moeti, the World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa. At its inaugural meeting held in Johannesburg from 4-5 May 2015, the IAG congratulated the Regional Director for convening the IAG and for her vision, calling it a step in the right direction and a testimony to her personal commitment to change the work of WHO in the African Region. In her opening remarks, Dr Moeti observed that addressing the health challenges in the African Region required rethinking of the way the WHO Secretariat approaches the planning and implementation of health programmes and services in support to Member States.  It is expected that the implementation of the Transformation Programme will address the unacceptable inequities and injustices in the Region’s health development. “...

Monrovia, 22 April 2014 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti has underscored the importance of involving the communities in the fight against Ebola. Speaking to residents of Zuma town, Monrovia, one of the communities which were heavily affected by the Ebola virus disease, Dr Moeti commended the high level of involvement by the community and the tremendous efforts to stop Ebola in Liberia. “We admire your courage and ability to adjust to fight the disease because of your efforts we stand here today counting down for Liberia to be declared free of Ebola,” Dr Moeti said. In her remarks, the Mayor of Monrovia Clara Mvogo appreciated the very important role the community played and she called on them to continue their positive behaviour practices for other non- Ebola related issues. Welcoming the Regional Director, Honourable Alice Wear, and Governor of New Kru town expressed her gratitude on behalf of the community to WHO and other partners for the support in re...