South Africa News

10 - 14 December 2012, Durban South Africa -- WHO and the Department of Health of the Republic of South Africa organized a practical training course on ship sanitation inspection (SSI) and issuance of ship sanitation certificates for States Parties in the African Region. The purpose of the training was to build countries' capacity in the implementation of the International Health Regulations.

WHAT: Stakeholders’ dialogue to address risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the WHO African Region. The theme of the meeting is: “Today’s risk factors are tomorrow's diseases.” 

WHEN: 08:00 am – 10:00 am, Monday 18 March, 2013 

WHERE: Birchwood Hotel, Viewpoint Road, Bartlett, Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

The National Department of Health (NDOH), Communicable Diseases Control Cluster (CDC) initiated once a year nationwide influenza vaccination campaign beginning 2010 targeting specific groups of people who are at increased risk for severe influenza. 

The National Department of Health is planning to carry out two immunisation rounds during 2013.  First round will cover Polio and Measles starting between 29 April and 17 May.  Second round will cover only Polio and will run between 17 and 28 June 2013.  The WCO is supporting the NDOH to successfully carry out the planned immunisation. 

The conference theme is Building on Successes: Integrating Systems. According to the conference chair, Koleka Mlisana, Associate Prof and Head: Dept of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal and NHLS, “it is … time for all of us to ‘Build on all … successes’ as we tackle TB and HIV co-infections and move to the next phase  of  conquering TB and HIV & AIDS.” The conference provides an opportunity for participants to showcase the great work and contribution they are making in achieving “our common goal of an HIV free world”.

"The ICASA conference remains one of the most important events in the calendar of the year, contributing towards overcoming the HIV and TB epidemics that grip our region. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region with over 22 Million people living with HIV and AIDS and the highest Tuberculosis rates world-wide. Through scientific advancements in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of HIV significant progress has been made to reduce the mortality and morbidity of AIDS.

Honorable Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgoba
Director General of Health, Ms Precious Matsoso
Senior Government Officials from National and Provincial levels
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Heads of Diplomatic Missions and Representatives of Development Partners of the health sector
Colleagues from the UN in South Africa
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen

Policy makers and key academics from multiple sectors including media, marketing and advertising, nongovernmental organizations and consumer organizations met at a two day dialogue to develop a research agenda that would support South Africa’s Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013-2017.  The plan flows directly from targets set at the South African Summit on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable diseases and on the WHO global NCD monitoring framework.

The World Health Organisation is currently working with the National Department of Health and key stakeholders in planning the following:

WHO, at the request of South Africa's Department of Health, has been providing technical assistance with the development of the National Strategy on Community Mobilization for PMTCT to address late booking.