Mauritius: Achieving leadership in the Codex Process through implementation of the Codex Trust Fund Project

Implementation of the Codex Trust Fund Project in Mauritius: Achieving leadership in Codex Alimentarius through capacity building of national stakeholders- August 2023
Port Louis. With the aim to continuously improving food safety for greater health outcomes, Mauritius has made a leap of progress in achieving leadership in the Codex Alimentarius Commission through the implementation of the Codex Trust Fund (CTF) “Building Codex Mauritius” Project. Mauritius is the only African Country selected by the CODEX Trust Fund for support in 2019. This 3-year project administered by World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) aims to build strong, solid and sustainable national capacity to engage in Codex Alimentarius Commission at global and regional levels. This project was officially launched in June 2023 by the Minister of Agro-industry and Food Security in the presence of the WHO Representative in Mauritius, other Partners and national stakeholders. WHO supported the country to (i) adapt the Codex Procedural Manual and establish procedures for submission of comments, national positions, and participation/follow-up in Codex committees; (ii) enhance understanding and awareness of the importance of Codex among high-level policy and decision-makers, industry and scientific community, government officials and consumer activists and (iii) improve dissemination of information on the relevance of Codex and preparedness to generate data to contribute to the right level of information in development of global, regional and national food safety standards. A high level meeting with key ministers and decision makers in July 2023 provided valuable insights to draft the National Codex documents which were validated before the capacity building sessions held in August 2023.

WHO, partners urge stronger action to accelerate childhood vaccination in Africa

WHO, partners urge stronger action to accelerate childhood vaccination in Africa

Lusaka – With one in five children in Africa still missing basic, life-saving vaccines, World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are calling for accelerated action to reach all children and put the continent back on track to achieve the Immunization Agenda 2030 goals towards reducing illness and deaths due to vaccine-preventable diseases.

SADC Health Ministers' meeting in Angola: Focus on Health for All

SADC Health Ministers' meeting in Angola: Focus on Health for All

Luanda – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV/AIDS met in Luanda, Angola, on 28 November highlighting health sector progress in the region, sharing experiences, and developing common solutions to the challenges.

Accelerating action for HPV vaccination in Africa

Accelerating action for HPV vaccination in Africa

Lusaka – In an effort to reinforce the fight against cervical cancer in Africa, World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are supporting countries to scale up vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer.

WHO Director General, Dr Tedros receives prestigious CPHIA Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Health

Dr Tedros receives CPHIA Lifetime Achievement Award

Lusaka, 28 November 2023 – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has been honoured with the prestigious CPHIA Lifetime Achievement Award in Public Health for his unwavering commitment to advancing global health and his transformative leadership during unprecedented crises.  

Dr Tedros received the award at the 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) opening ceremony in Lusaka on 27 November 2023. 

Health and social workers empowered on Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE)

Training of Trainers on Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) - Mauritius, Oct 2023
Port Louis. Mauritius achieved another milestone in its quest to improving health and wellness of older people and promoting healthy ageing through training of a core team of trainers from multi-disciplinary background on integrated care for older people (ICOPE). Over the past few decades, Mauritius has been experiencing a rapid ageing of its population. The percentage of people aged 60 years and above was 9% in the year 2000, 18.7% in the year 2021 and the figure is projected to increase to 36.5% in the year 2061.The “oldest, old people”, the population over 80 years, is projected to increase more than twofold by 2061, adding pressure to the health system and requiring adaptation of health services to the specific needs of elders. In June 2022, a national strategy to proactively respond to the health needs of older people, the integrated care for older people (ICOPE) strategy and action plan 2022-2026 was developed with the support of WHO and launched by the Prime Minister in March 2023.The training of a core team of trainers was therefore a step forward in the implementation of this important strategy. “It is the Government’s vision to effortlessly diagnose the health issues of the elderly at an early stage and allow them to live a better life”, said the Health Minister, the Hon. Dr Jagutpal, who also added, “my Ministry will leave no stone unturned to promote better medical assistance and uplift the quality of health care for our elderly persons who have worked very hard and contributed to the development of the country. The training of trainers on ICOPE was conducted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity (MSISSNS) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Senior Citizens Council, the largest association of senior citizens in Mauritius; the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of Mauritius, and the Club Le Flamboyant (the association of retired workers from the Civil Service) have been involved in the adaptation and dissemination of ICOPE in Mauritius and in this training.

WHO Ethiopia and the Health Cluster are delivering the last mile in Amhara

Trauma emergency kits delivered by WHO to Bahir Dar, Amhara reiong in Ethiopia/ @WHO/Addise Abebaw

Bahir Dar–The World Health Organization (WHO) is living up to its commitment to reach the last mile delivery as over 95,000 vulnerable people can now access emergency supplies for Cholera, Malaria and conflict related casualties’ management in Amhara region. The 17, 8797 metric tons of emergency drug kits have been on the road for over a week during which drivers never really had the certainty to reach their destination safely.