Praia, 17 October 2013 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, paid an official visit to Cape Verde from 13 to 15 October at the invitation of the Government of Cape Verde.

Ghanaians are living longer. The proportion of the population older than 60 is estimated to reach 12% in 2050, from close to 7% in 2010. The Ministry of Health, with the help of WHO and partners, is taking steps to help Ghana’s older people live healthier and more productive lives.

Collecting the evidence

In 2010, the Government of Ghana approved a national policy on ageing. Two years later, it asked WHO to support it in moving from policy to practice.

“I will continue to love and serve…”

Few people, if any, would bravely continue to work in situations that nearly ended their lives. This  is more so if the cause of that near death is the dreaded Ebola Hemorrhagic fever!

The African Region is still dominated by very high prevalence of communicable diseases as well as high maternal and infant mortality in weak and fragmented health systems thus facing significant health challenges in spite of the multitude of stakeholders active in health.

On the 11th of October, 2013, the WHO Country Office handed over to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare 17 computers to strengthen management of medicines in the 17 peer learning districts.

Malaria accounts for a high burden of morbidity and mortality in all parts of Mozambique especially among children. The disease is particularly prevalent in the rural areas, where almost 1 in 2 children under five have or have had malaria

To lower the high disease burden and reduce mortality rates, the Ministry of Health and WHO conducted a training course for a core team of malaria laboratory technicians from the National Reference Laboratory. 

Lichinga, Niassa, 30-31 Aug 2013 – The dirt road leading to the machamba in Machomane outside Lichinga city (22Km) is dry and dusty. Though the road is quiet, the machamba is very different that usually. The machamba is bustling with dancing women in colourful capulanas and men playing drums. The crowd is awaiting the arrival of the Vice-Minister for Health, Dr Nazira Vali Abdula. Among the participants is Dr Felisbela Gaspar, Director of the Institute for Traditional Medicine, in the Ministry of Health established four years ago in 2009. 

Addis Ababa, 3 October 2013 – Ethiopia on Thursday 3 October launched a campaign to immunize 13 million children under the age of five against polio following the outbreak of the disease in some neghbouring countries.

WHO and partners are supporting the country in carrying the excerice which wil last four days.

The World Health Organization with support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has inaugurated the construction of a maternity complex in Yambio hospital, Western Equatoria state and a maternity waiting home in Wau hospital, Western Bahr el Ghazal state.