Maternal health boost: Kenya signed a five-year USD 80m deal with the Beginnings Fund to strengthen maternal and newborn care in 21 priority counties, aiming to prevent tens of thousands of deaths by scaling health workers, medicines, referrals and health information. Breastfeeding push: Nutrition Action Zimbabwe urged media and partners to intensify support for breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week, expanding community care groups that provide counselling and male involvement to cut malnutrition and child deaths. Returnees urged to get checked: Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo minister appealed to people coming back from South Africa after xenophobic attacks to seek medical care immediately for injuries, trauma and hidden illnesses. HIV funding pressure: Global leaders warned that HIV response gains are at risk as US funding cuts disrupt health systems, with South Africa’s community health worker retrenchments highlighted. Health diplomacy row: The US Embassy in Harare disputed Zimbabwe’s claims about a rejected USD 365m health MOU, saying it would have funded lifesaving programmes with accountability conditions. Nursing training: Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa School of Nursing started clinical attachments for its first cohort at major referral hospitals, with more enrolment planned. Drug control at borders: Mukumbura Border Post was flagged as a potential drug gateway, with calls for tighter surveillance and joint operations across security and health agencies.