Ghana, 24 march 2011 -- Every year, March 24, the birthday of Dr Robert Koch who discovered the germ that causes Tuberculosis, is celebrated as World TB Day. This year in Ghana was no exception with all roads leading to the Jubilee Park, Sunyani the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region for the national launch of the World TB Day (WTB) 2011. The theme was "On the move against TB; Transforming the fight towards elimination".

Entebbe, 22 March 2011 -- A group of patients, family members and advocates from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia, joined health-care workers and policy-makers, in a workshop in Entebbe last week. Participants urged Member Sates and health-care providers to make patient safety a priority in Africa. This unique gathering organized by the WHO African Regional office gave participants the opportunity to share their experiences of harm in healthcare and passion for change to work together to improve health-care safety in their countries.

Eritrea has been officially certified free of Dracunculiasis transmission.

This was officiated with a Letter of Certification from the WHO Director General, Dr Margaret Chan, which was delivered by Dr Idrissa Sow, WHO Representative in Eritrea, to Ms Amina Nurhusien, the Minister of Health in December 2011.

Eritrea is among the nine countries certified by the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication (ICCDE) in 2011. In the African region, three countries namely Burkina Faso, Eritrea and Togo were certified dracunculiasis free.

Africa joins global efforts to fight noncommunicable diseases

18 March 2011 -- In an effort to address the growing problem of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), technical experts and Ministers of Health in the African region will gather from 4 to 6 April in Brazzaville, Congo, for the first African regional consultation on NCDs under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss the region’s response to the crisis.

- Urges Harmonised and Holistic Technical Support for Developing National Health Policies, Strategies and Plans

Lusaka, 14 March 2011 -- A cross-border meeting between Angola, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and Zambia is taking place in Lusaka from 14th to 18th March 2011. The five-day meeting has been convened by the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Zambia to provide a forum for discussing and formalizing inter-country strategies for the common cross-border disease threats and use of fake and counterfeit drugs.

WHO African region became live on GSM as from January 2011. The Region has progressively moved into training Regional, IST staff members and WHO Country Office staff on the use of this global system to ensure smooth activity implementation is maintained and supported at all levels within the region.

Tanzania_GSM_training_21st_25th_feb2011

11 March 2011, Nairobi --The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis G. Sambo, today in Nairobiheld discussions with the Kenyan Minister for Public Health and Sanitation, Hon. Beth Mugo, and theMinister for Medical Services, Hon. Anyang’ Nyong’o. Present at the meeting were the WHO Country Representative, Dr Abdoulie Jack, and the Permanent Secretaries of both Ministries.

WHAT: Media Invitation to the Launch of First Lady Campaign on Male Involvement in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT)

WHO: His Excellency, President of the Republic of Namibia, Mr Hifikepunye Pohamba; First Lady of the Republic of Namibia, Ms Penehupifo Pohamba, Honourable Prime Minister M Nahas Angula; Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Nchabi, Kamwi; Honourable Governor of Khomas Region Samuel Njoma, WHO Representative, Dr Magda Robalo, UNICEF Representative, Mr. Ian MacLeod

WHEN: Date: 10 March 2011: Time: 09H00 – 12H00

Kenya is experiencing rapid change in the epidemiology of malaria as a result of scaled up malaria control and prevention interventions. At present over two thirdsof the country has malaria prevalence of less than 10%.

The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitationin collaboration with partners will distribute approximately 10 million nets in four provinces (Nyanza, Western, Coast and Rift valley) covering a population of 20 million. The activity is expected to deliver nets to achieve universal coverage by providing one net for every 2 persons in these regions.