The Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) Cluster at the WHO Regional Office for Africa is delighted to share the 2025 report on responding to communicable and noncommunicable diseases in the Region.

In 2025, the Cluster made significant strides toward ending disease in Africa and ensuring healthier lives for our populations.

Measles and rubella have been eliminated in Cabo Verde, Seychelles, and Mauritius. Niger is the first African country and the fifth worldwide to eliminate river blindness.

Botswana is the first high-burden country to achieve Gold Tier certification for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

With only four years remaining to reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal targets, the public health landscape remains complex and demands tailored, context-specific solutions.

In this exclusive interview with Dr Kalu Akpaka, Team Lead- Vaccine Preventable Diseases Programme, WHO Regional Office For Africa, we take a look at the significance and lessons to be learnt.