PRESS RELEASE: Rwanda to vaccinate Front-line health-workers against Ebola

Press Conference: Minister of Health, Dr Diane Gashumba(middle) with Minister of State(Dr Patrick Ndimubanzi) and WHO Office in Charge(Dr Juliet Bataringaya)

Kigali, April 5, 2019 --- The Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization and other partners will launch vaccination of health care and frontline health workers to prevent them against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in case they have to deal with patients contaminated by the virus. The activity begins on Monday, April 15, 2019 in Rubavu and other districts in high risk zone located near boarders with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

WHO South Africa sets the organizational and staff objectives for 2019 in alignment with the Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW-13)

WHO South Africa Staff
To commemorate the WHO global initiative “Goals Week: Connect your PMDS to the triple billion goal, 4-8 February 2019”, the Country Office in South Africa conducted a strategic workshop “Goals Week: Aligning WHO South Africa’s work towards GPW-13 priorities” from 7-8 February in Pretoria. The workshop involved all staff to update them on the latest developments regarding GPW-13 and Programme Budget 2020-21 and catalyze strategic deliberations through group work in clusters on means for achievement of priority GPW13 outcomes at the country level and identify individual staff PMDS objectives for 2019 clearly linked to GPW-13 output(s). The WHO Representative Dr Akpaka Kalu provided strategic direction to the discussion through transparent and open dialogue. He made it clear that UHC would be central to WHO programmes in South Africa and encouraged staff to think beyond specific programmes and contribute to resource mobilization and leadership functions of WHO which are traditionally considered as functions of the WR’s office. Working as team, multiple staff can select a given GPW13 output but still have no duplication of functions. After group work presentation on PMDS objectives and their alignment to GPW13 outputs, the Programme Management Officer presented preliminary analysis of overall contribution of the office to the GPW13 outputs, as planned in the PMDS for 2019.

Imo State Health Insurance Scheme on course to achieving universal health coverage 

Biometric registration of Governor Rochas Okorocha during the launch of the ISHIS

Owerri 04 April 2019 –  In Imo, indigenes are hopeful that the recently introduced State Health Insurance Scheme (ISHIS) will fast-track Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 

This year’s commemoration of World Health Day (7 April) with the theme, Universal Health Coverage: everyone, everywhere, every time, shines a spotlight on the advantages UHC can bring to all people and in all places and why it is needed so much.

South Africa attends capacity building Workshop to accelerate implementation of the Regional Oral Health Strategy 2016-2025

ORAL HEALTH CAPACITY BUILDING
South Africa's National Department of Health representative from the Oral Health Directorate, Dr Dr. Mzimkhulu Mcuba, with Chief Dental Officers from ministries of health and NCD focal points from WHO country offices in 20 Member States completed a three day capacity building workshop to accelerate implementation of the Regional Oral Health Strategy 2016-2025 held in Brazzaville, Congo from 27 February – 1 March 2019. The workshop programme included sharing of country achievements, expert input and partner contributions covering a broad range of policy aspects, implementation challenges and opportunities, as well as global developments relevant to country implementation and monitoring, such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Over the course of the deliberations, participants and invited experts acknowledged the overall progress made in the oral health agenda. Concern over existing gaps in policy intentions and implementation were also raised.

Moving towards malaria elimination in Namibia

Participants doing a practical session

The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) is currently implementing the WHO/AFRO II larviciding demonstration project in six districts in Omusati, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Kavango East and West regions where malaria is transmitted.  The project aims to strengthen national capacity for implementing diversified mosquito control measures to contribute towards malaria elimination.

WHO supports Gauteng Provincial Department of Health to cost Maternal and Neonatal Revival Plan (2019-22)

Introduction of One Health Costing Tool
Following completion of drafting the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health Maternal and Neonatal Revival Plan (2019-22), WHO was requested to facilitate prioritization of strategic interventions and costing of the strategic plan.  The support included introduction of the One Health Tool (OHT) for financial planning of healthcare program to ten participants from Provincial Department of Health, health facility in-charge and clinical doctors (Gynaecologists and Neonatologists).

Zimbabwe Launches Mental Health Strategy

Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo, the Deputy Minister of International Relations for UAE, and Dr Munongo with the Strategy

The Ministry of health and Child Care (MOHCC) launched a Mental Health strategy to cover the period 2019- 2023. This comes at a time when the Ministry of Health and Child Care is moving with the global thrust to promote early identification, treatment, rehabilitative and palliative services in non-communicable diseases (NCDs).