Cotonou, Benin. 5 November 2014 - Countries in the WHO African Region have resolved to stop the spread of polio, and eliminate measles, tetanus in newborn babies and control other vaccine preventable diseases. It is estimated that over three million children under five years old, die each year in the WHO African Region and a significant number of these deaths could be prevented by vaccines.

Maputo, 28 October 2014- The Acting WHO  Country Representative for Mozambique, Dr. Ambrose Disadidi, met on  Monday-  with the Mozambican delegation to the 64th Session of the WHO Regional Committee (RC 64)  for Africa to take place in Cotonou, Republic of Benin from 3rd to 7th  November 2014. The Acting WHO representative was accompanied by Program Officers from the WHO country Office.

31 October 2014 - WHO has conducted a formal review of personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines for healthcare workers and is updating its guidelines in the context of the current Ebola outbreak. The updated guidelines aim to clarify and standardize safe and effective PPE options to protect health care workers and patients, as well as provide information for obtaining PPE during the outbreak.

Second Africa Regional Health Report Launched

As the Ebola outbreak grows and spreads, a small but significant group of people is also growing - the Ebola survivors. Emerging shell-shocked from what one described as a "glimpse of hell", the survivors have not found life easy on the other side of the Ebola ward.

Some in the community brand them as "witches" for surviving. For many, the faces they longed to see again while lying in the Ebola ward are no longer there. Husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers have all been carried off to unmarked graves by Ebola virus disease.

Cotonou, 3 November 2014 – President Boni Yayi of Benin has urged African countries to strengthen their fragile health systems to respond to the epidemics that plague the continent.

On the 6th of November 2014 at 8am, the Observatory for Human Resources for Health hosts its Third Annual Conference with the Theme: 

“Maternal and Neonatal Health Workforce towards Universal Health Coverage”

The Conference will debate and share information on the role of health professionals in service delivery for maternal and neonatal health. The first part of the Conference will be a round table discussion with panellists and thereafter there will be nine thematic sessions from different national and international institutions. 

Cotonou, 3 November 2014 – Countries in the WHO African Region have made progress in improving the health of the people in the past decade, but much remains to be done. This is highlighted in a report released today in Cotonou at the meeting of the 47 health ministers and high ranking health officials from the WHO African Region.  

As the Ebola outbreak grows and spreads, a small but significant group of people is also growing - the Ebola survivors. Emerging shell-shocked from what one described as a "glimpse of hell", the survivors have not found life easy on the other side of the Ebola ward.

Some in the community brand them as "witches" for surviving. For many, the faces they longed to see again while lying in the Ebola ward are no longer there. Husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers have all been carried off to unmarked graves by Ebola virus disease.

Lira, 3rd November 2014:-   The Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) Project was launched in fourteen districts of Lango, Bukedi and Teso Sub-regions of Uganda. This followed the closure of the same project that has been done in Acholi sub-region where 10 districts were covered since 2009.  This is a project that is being implemented by ABT Associates with funding from PMI and DFID. The ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Health in Charge of Primary Health Care, Hon. Sarah Opendi.