Establishing the spreading of trachoma in rural Namibia

Trachoma causes blindness in poor rural communities.

Trachoma, an infectious eye disease caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. It is a public health problem in 44 countries, and is responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of about 1.9 million people. About 142 million people live in trachoma endemic areas and are at risk of trachoma blindness. The infection is transmitted by direct or indirect transfer of eye and nose discharges of infected people, particularly young children who are the principal reservoir of infection. The disease is also spread by flies.

Namibia strives to provide high quality care for persons living with HIV

Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula with Development Partners at the launch of the new ARV guidelines

The Ministry of Health and Social Services launched the revised National Guidelines on Antiretroviral therapy and the HIV care and treatment package for children and adolescents as the country transition to highly effective medicine for treating persons living with HIV.  The revised guidelines include Dolutegravir (DTG) - a relatively new medicine used to treat HIV infection. DTG, when combined with 2 other medicines, is considered to be among the best current treatments for HIV.

WHO, UNICEF help boost West Africa’s capacity to respond to polio outbreaks

WHO, UNICEF help boost West Africa’s capacity to respond to polio outbreaks

Lomé, 26 November 2019 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today kicked off a four-day regional emergency preparedness workshop in Lomé, Togo for senior public health officials to strengthen the capabilities within West African countries to respond to polio outbreaks.

Calling upon Families to Act on Diabetes Now

“Diabetes remains very high on the agenda of my government which views with much concern the health problems of the population caused by NCDs”, said Dr Hon K. Jagutpal 

The new Minister of Health and Wellness of the Republic of Mauritius, Dr Hon Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal launched a series of activities in the south of the country on 23 November 2019 to mark the World Diabetes Day at national level.  The objective of the World Diabetes Day was to raise global awareness about the increasing burden of diabetes, and the lifestyle measures that can be taken to prevent it.  Eminent personalities participated in the event including Dr Hon M. I.