Abuja, 24 April 2015 – With the theme ‘Vaccination, a gift for life’ the importance of vaccines as one of the greatest human advance in history was emphasized by the WHO Country Representative, Dr Rui Gama Vaz at a press conference held yesterday in Abuja to herald the African Vaccination Week (AVW) in Nigeria which had the presence of the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care (NPHCDA) and partners.

A child dies every minute from malaria in Africa where it is estimated that 9 out of 10 malaria deaths occur. In 2013, there were 528 000 deaths from malaria and about 78% of these were in children under 5 years of age.

Monrovia, 24 April 2015 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti has wrapped up her 3 day official visit to Liberia with a courtesy call on the President of Liberia, Her Excellency, Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Freetown, 24 April 2015 – Despite the unprecedented challenges of delivering basic health services in an Ebola emergency, Sierra Leone will hold its first public immunization and health campaign over the next four days aiming to reach an estimated 1.5 million children under 5 with life-saving interventions.

Accra, 24 April 2015 - Good Day

- CEO, Mr Haris Broumidis - Vodafone

- Dr Sylvester Anemana - Chief Director Ministry of Health

- Dr Byrite Asamoah - Vantage Medical Solutions

- Dr Samuel Kaba -  Ghana Health Services (GHS) representing the DG

- The health workers and call centre operators in whose honour we meet today and friends of the media, distinguished guests,

- Ladies and Gentleman,

There is an old African proverb that I especially find relevant for today.

Ibadan, Oyo 23 April, 2015-The World Health Organization (WHO) State coordinator (SC) in Oyo, Dr Ada Erinne is confident that Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials donated by WHO to the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) will bolster integrated disease detection and reporting as well as facilitate the attainment of certification standard acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance.

In the latest determination to achieve this, tertiary and secondary institutions are the focus for strengthening surveillance performance.

Lusaka, 23 April, 2015 - The 5th regional launch of African Vaccination Week (AVW) 2015 took place in Lusaka, Zambia on Thursday, 23 April 2015 with the First Lady of Zambia, Mrs Esther Lungu kicking off the commemorations.

This newsletter covers critical issues and achievements by WHO in supporting the Ministry of Health and responding to the Grade 3 emergency.

In this issue:

- WHO SS Celebrates International Women’s Day in Style
- WHO Trains Rapid Response Teams to Enhance Ebola Preparedness
- Rising to the Challenge: Going the extra mile to save lives
- WHO and Partners Rally to Fight Cerebro Spinal Meningitis in South Sudan
- Global Polio Eradication Initiative Alive and Active in South Sudan
- WHO News in Brief

Lusaka, 23 April, 2015 - The 5th regional launch of African Vaccination Week (AVW) 2015 took place in Lusaka, Zambia on Thursday, 23 April 2015 with the First Lady of Zambia, Mrs Esther Lungu kicking off the commemorations. She encouraged countries in Africa and immunization partners to make all efforts to reach the unreached children with vaccinations to avoid disease outbreaks and child mortality.