Addis Ababa. 21 November 2014 – A project established by the Tigray Region’s Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs (BoLSA) in 2009 to address social determinants of health at community level improves access to healthcare and ensures social protection through Community Care Coalitions (CCCs). 

An international  Africa health conference opened in Nairobi, Kenya, with calls for  research-based interventions, Africa-suitable solutions and leadership to enable Africa overcome  its health challenges that include the tragedy of Ebola which has left over 5000 people dead mainly in  West Africa.

The three-day conference under the theme, ‘Evidence to Action: Lasting Health Change for Africa,’ is an initiative of Africa Medical Research Foundation, Amref, and co-sponsored by WHO.

Abuja, Nigeria 20 November 2014 - By the end of October 2014 Nigeria had recorded tremendous progress with 87% reduction in wild polio virus (WPV1) burden and 78% reduction in geographic spread of the virus. Indigenous transmission of WPV3 has not been reported in the country  for 23 months. Also, the genetic clusters circulating in Nigeria have declined from 8 in 2013 to only 1 in 2014 representing 88% reduction.

Kampala, 19th November 2014:- The World Health Organization Representative for Uganda, Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu visited the Prime Minister of Uganda Dr Ruhakana Rugunda at his office in Kampala. During this visit, they discussed various health challenges facing the country.

Abuja, Nigeria, 18 November, 2014 - The Federal Government has conferred an Award on WHO for its meritorious service, outstanding technical assistance and unflinching efforts in resource mobilization for tuberculosis (TB) management in Nigeria at the launching of the National TB Prevalence Survey Report and the National Strategic Plan for TB control 2015-2020, in Abuja on 18th November 2014. The Award was presented by the Honorable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan.

17 November 2014 -- Dead bodies can be very contagious when it comes to Ebola, but that does not mean that every deceased person has died due to the disease. In order to speed up the process of identifying the cause of death of each patient, WHO is working closely with the Liberia Institute for Biomedical Research to train burial teams on how to collect an oral swab from deceased patients safely.

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Kampala, 17th November 2014:- Uganda has been declared free of Marburg outbreak. At a press-briefing that took place at the Uganda Media Centre, the Minister of State for Health in charge of Primary Health Care, Hon. Sarah Opendi said, “The Marburg outbreak in Uganda has been controlled and we thank development partners for their tireless efforts in providing technical advice."

Abuja, Nigeria, 17 November 2014-The World Health Organization/African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (WHO/APOC) has donated three (3) 4WD vehicles to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) Abuja on Friday, 14th November, for onward delivery to the benefitting states of Kwara, Taraba and the FMOH Zonal office in Akure, Ondo State.

14 November 2014 - Monrovia, Liberia. Today, Dr Bruce Aylward, head of the Ebola Response Team at the World Health Organization, wraps up a four-day visit to Liberia to get a better understanding of the Ebola response activities on the ground.

While the number of new cases appears to be declining, with reported cases in the capital city going down from 75 to 25 new cases per day, a mixed picture emerges in different counties.

“I didn't know I had diabetes until I became sick. I went into hospital and was told: ‘Your blood sugar level is way up.’”

In 1996, Evelyne Musera’s diagnosis of type 2 diabetes set her on a life-long path of medical treatment. The ongoing costs of managing her condition pose a serious financial burden on her family.