Africa and Arab countries

PSI has sent a solidarity letter to its affiliates in Sierra Leone following the devastating mudslide that took place on 14 August near Freetown. This is one of Africa's worst flooding-related disasters in years killing hundreds and leaving thousands homeless.

The health workers’ union, SOLSICO, organized a public discussion forum on health in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). More than 150 participants from government, health unions, employers, international organisations and civil society discussed three themes: the health system in the DRC and its challenges, the right to health, and the determinants of health.

Health care is a measure of human development. When we analyse the health situation in the Arab countries, it soon becomes clear that there are obstacles to obtaining quality healthcare for all. Those most in need of health services, the poor and disabled, do not receive the essential care they deserve.

The PSI Ebola Response Strategy, focusing on argumentation, networking and lobby work, is almost coming to an end, and the participating unions are still as active as ever. In Liberia, where the PSI affiliates set up a wide collaboration between trade unions and civil society organisations, the Project Management Committee (PMC) with representatives of NAHWAL, NTUPAW, CTIL, CSA and HRM organised two workshops to boost the expertise and means of action of the broad network.

There has been a renewed surge of the cholera outbreak in Kenya, with 146 persons affected at an international conference in June and a further 146 at the China Trade Fair in July. The current epidemic commenced on 10 October 2016 at the Tana county, but had been brought under control by the end of the first quarter of 2017.

This year, the day is dedicated to celebrating young people’s contributions to conflict prevention and transformation as well as inclusion, social justice, and sustainable peace. The current generation of youth is the largest in history and young people often comprise the majority in countries marked by armed conflict or unrest.

Unions and civil society organisations have warned about the devastating effects of the privatisation of education on both students and teachers during the launch of a new study on Liberia’s PSL project.

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