Mbabane, 16 February 2016 - While endeavouring to achieve Universal Health Coverage, which is the goal of the newly formulated National Health Strategic Plan 2014-2018, the Ministry of Health has visited Ethiopia to learn about their best health practices.

Accra, 16 February 2016 – WHO has deployed a team of four members to work with the Ministry of Health in Ghana and Ghana Health Service to confirm through serotyping the bacterial type of meningitis causing the outbreak in the country. This follows reports of meningitis outbreak in a number of districts in Ghana with streptococcus pneumoniae being the bacteria identified in many cases.

Kampala, 15th February 2016:- “After this retreat I envision a Country Office that knows what is expected of us; we should be among the leading implementers of the Transformation Agenda by implementing the Key Performance Indicators to change the image of Africa,” said Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, the World Health Organization Representative in Uganda Country at the 3-day WHO Uganda 2016 staff retreat held at Munyonyo Speke Resort Hotel in Kampala.

Radio is an important tool for the rapid diffusion of important messages on health.  Regular live radio talk programmes have been successfully used in South Sudan.

Monrovia, Liberia, 15th February 2016 - Liberia continues to register progress in her efforts to respond to the health status of the Liberian population through building a resilient health system. A robust Health Emergency Risk Management System has been developed through building public health capacity for prevention, preparedness, alert and response for disease outbreaks and other threats.

Brazzaville/Libreville, 12 February 2016 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti is in Libreville, Gabon, for a 5 day official visit and to participate in the 7th Conference of Health Ministers of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), which begins today.

Brazzaville 12 February 2016 – Cancer control experts from nineteen French-speaking countries in Africa wrapped up a five-day workshop aimed at building their capacity to tackle the rising tide of cancer in the Region.

The cholera outbreak in Tanzania started on the 15th of August 2015, and as of 20th January 2016, the country had reported more than 14,000 cases, including 222 deaths (representing 1.6% case fatality rate).

The current outbreak is unique because of its vast geographical spread within a short time while containment has proved to be an enormous challenge. It has so far affected 25 of the 28 administrative regions of the country and Zanzibar.

Abuja, 11 February, 2016 - The Honourable   Minister of Health, Professor Isaac  Adewole, has assured the citizenry during a press briefing in Abuja on 11 February, 2016 that the “current outbreak of the Lassa fever is under control as evidenced by decline in new suspected cases, new laboratory confirmed cases and newly reported cases by week”.

Despite this achievement, Professor Adebowole informed the journalists that it is dangerous to be complacent at this stage since another second wave deep in the dry season is possible.

Dar es Salaam, 11 February 2016- Crowded areas such as fishing camps, refugee camps, prisons, military and police barracks and schools are vulnerable to outbreaks of communicable diseases like cholera. The government of Tanzania continues to battle the on-going wide spread cholera outbreak which has up-to-date affected 23 out of the 25 Regions in the country.