Mauritius News

Synchronizing the different plans in view of linking them with the Mauritius Vision 2030 on Health and Quality of Life, WHO Global Programme of Work (GPW13) and WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) is a priority action to achieve national and global health outcomes, one of which is the reduction in the prevalence of Non-communicable Diseases and their risk factors. As a matter of fact, the prevalence of NCDs mainly diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and respiratory diseases has increased over the past four decades. NCDs account for 85% of disease burden and 81% of mortality in 2015 in the country.  In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life Mauritius to elaborate two keys policy documents, namely the Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) 2019-2023 and the integrated strategy for prevention and control of NCDs disease 2019-2023.  As part of the initiative, the process for establishing “societal dialogue for health” and developing a roadmap was initiated to finalise the action plan for NCDs and Health Sector Strategy.   Dr. Ann-Lise Guisset and Ms. Kira Johanna Koch from WHO-Headquarters Geneva facilitated activities from 20th to 28th August in Mauritius.  Seeking the engagement of all stakeholders, namely patients, families and the community at large was crucial at this stage so that they are placed at the heart of the Health Sector Strategy. The participatory approach for diagnosing HSS challenges to addressing the NCD epidemic opened a window of opportunity to engage in more large scale population participation in developing the new Health Sector Strategy and the integrated NCD Action Plan.  It will ensure inclusiveness and participatory approaches for all stakeholders including Government, Population, Civil society, UN agencies, media, academia, NGOs, bilateral and multilateral agencies involved in health.

Blood transfusion is an essential part of modern health care. Used correctly, it can save lives and improve health. However, inappropriate and improper use of blood can lead to adverse reactions resulting in morbidity and even mortality. Safety of blood and blood products is of serious concern to countries, officials in charge of Blood Transfusion Services and prescribing clinicians. Apart from the well-known transfusion transmissible infections like HIV and hepatitis viruses, there are many emerging and re-emerging infections which are transmitted or could potentially be transmitted through blood transfusion.   In keeping with the WHO recommendations, Mauritius is required to have an approved National Blood Policy and a strategic framework that will ensure an adequate supply of safe and effective blood products and related medical services that are used appropriately for the benefit of all patients in Mauritius. In this context, Dr Jean Baptiste Tapko, WHO-consultant and expert on Blood and Blood products undertook a mission from 31st July to 10th August 2018 to review and finalize the National Blood Policy in Mauritius and support the country in developing a Strategic Framework for Action as well as finalize the Standards. The mission started with briefing meeting between. Dr Hon Anwar Husnoo, Minister of Health and Quality of life,  Dr. Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius and key policy makers at the Health Ministry.   During the meeting the objectives of the mission were discussed and orientation from the Minister was provided to the team working on National Blood policy.

In view of leveraging advocacy and strengthening of resource mobilization for vaccination and immunization, a four-day workshop is being held at Labourdonnais Hotel, Port Louis, Mauritius from 13-17 August 2018.  The overall objective of the workshop is to facilitate the elaboration of the first comprehensive Multi Year Plan (cYMP) for Mauritius. Health professionals including Regional Public Health Superintendents and technical officers from the Communicable Diseases Control Unit (CDCU), Public Health Nursing Officers, Laboratory Services Director, Advisor and Consultant, Procurement Officers, Transport officers and Human Resources Officers, Health Statisticians, Finance Officers and Health Records Officers are being trained on the strengthening of the national budgeting and planning for immunization.  Participants needs to understand  how much it costs to reach programme objectives, who will pay for these needs and how to prioritize activities based on available funding.  A credible estimate of the funding gaps will facilitate future discussion with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development on how to mobilize the resources required for the programme as well as informs decision makers on how to achieve programme improvements.

The new set of pictorial health warnings for cigarette packages that would soon be implemented in Mauritius was unveiled by the Honorable Health Minister, Dr Anwar Husnoo during the launching of activities at the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on Thursday 31 May 2018 in the context of the World No-Tobacco Day.  This year the health authorities collaborated with the MBC to mark this event.  The media as highlighted by different speakers is one of the important stakeholders in the fight against tobacco, especially with regards to sensitizing the population on the dangers of tobacco smoke.  The link between ‘Tobacco and Heart Diseases, theme chosen by the World Health Organization, was strongly emphasized during the launching ceremony.

Health Ministers and Environment Ministers, Experts, Officials and other key stakeholders from Small Island Development States (SIDS) of Africa and South East Asian regions, namely Cabo Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Reunion Island, Sao Tome and Principes and Seychelles participated in the World Health Organization (WHO) Third Global Conference on Climate Change and Health on 21-22 March 2018 in Mauritius. This special Initiative was launched by the WHO in view of supporting SIDS countries in the adoption of a streamlined and concerted approach to climate change and health. During the conference, the participants focused on climate change and health, with a vision that by 2030 all health systems in SIDS will be resilient to climate variability and change. The importance of a collaborative approach towards having a regional and national institutional mechanism for mitigating the impacts of climate change has been stressed upon by the WHO. Dr Joy St John, Assistant Director-General Climate and Other Determinants of Health in WHO Head Quarters, Geneva, Dr Magaran Bagayoko, delegated by Dr Moeti, Regional Director of the WHO Regional Office for Africa, and representatives from various international institutions, including United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Indian Ocean Commission participated in the conference. Dr St John addressed the representatives from the different SIDS countries at the opening of the conference and said that ‘SIDS should speak in one strong voice to make them heard by the whole world as SIDS countries contribute little to climate change and yet, they suffer most of the adverse effects of climate change.’ She reiterated her full support and commitment in supporting SIDS countries in mitigating the impacts of climate change. She pointed out that ‘the outcome of deliberations once finalized will be submitted in the form of a Regional Action Plan at the forthcoming World Health Assembly in May 2018 in view of obtaining support and assistance to enable SIDS to cope with health and climate challenges’. During the two day conference, the SIDS countries recognise that climate change cannot be dissociated from health as it affects, in profoundly adverse ways, some of the most fundamental determinants of health, including clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter.

The Hexavalent Vaccine, a six-in-one vaccine protecting babies against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenza type B and hepatitis B was launched on 09 January 2017 at Dr M. Hyderkhan Mediclinic in Plaine Verte, Mauritius, in the presence of the Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Dr Anwar Husnoo, the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus, Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius and other eminent staff of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life.