Tackling the issues of Ageing Population through Global Partnership

Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius enquiring about possible solutions to address the issues of ageing population in Mauritius
Social problems associated with the ageing of the population can be settled not only by formal services, like social aid, old age pension and health insurance but also through the provision of  a wide range of informal cares to support the population including self and family supports and mutual supports in community.  Such collaborations can be explored through global partnership and sharing of other countries’ experiences.  In this context, a half-day seminar was organized by the Embassy of Japan in Mauritius on Thursday 13th September 2018 at the Residence of the Japanese Ambassador.   Following a presentation by Dr Ken Masuda, Associate Professor at Nagasaki University, Japan, on the theme “Challenges of Social Welfare, Long-term Care and Insurance System in Hyper-Aged Japan”, the participants to the seminar, including Dr Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius and Mrs Christine Umutoni, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative to Mauritius, had the opportunity to participate in a live discussion.

Horn of Africa countries in a communique to speed up polio eradication

Members of the public at the Garissa venue for Horn of Africa polio launch

The global polio eradication initiative got new impetus recently as four countries from the Horn of Africa Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) met in Garissa, Kenya, in a show of unity to end the spread of polio in the region. The event  took place on September 15, 2018.
Health ministers and representatives from Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Sudan signed a communique under the auspices of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which further reinforced their support and future actions towards this goal.  

With WHO’s support, South Sudan strengthens HIV treatment cascade to improve interventions and achieve the national 90-90-90 targets

The facilitator making a presentation on HIV Care Cascades - how can cascade analysis lead to program improvements

Juba 14 September 2018 – WHO in partnership with the Ministry of Health are strengthening capacity to improve HIV programme interventions to achieve the national 90-90-90 targets in South Sudan.

Over the last decades, South Sudan has continued to face humanitarian crises of varying nature and intensity weakening the health systems and thus hindering progressive coverage of health services including HIV. 

Empowering clinical and non-clinical maternity hospital staff to promote early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding

breastfeeding

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation in collaboration with WHO and partners is rolling out Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative to promote breastfeeding by training both clinical and non-clinical hospital personnel in the three regional hospitals and the University Teaching hospital (PCMH/ODCH) in the country.  These trainings aim at equipping the clinical and non-clinical hospital staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to transform their health facilities into baby-friendly institutions through implementation of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, and to sustain and improv

New vaccine introduced to protect Seychellois children from Pneumonia and other Pneumococcal diseases

Seychelles PCV vaccine

Seychelles 14th September 2018 – Seychellois children will now be better protected against diseases caused by Pneumococcal bacteria such as Pneumonia, Meningitis and infection of the blood and middle ear. This was announced by the Minister of Health Honorable Jean Paul Adam, following the official launching of the introduction of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) into the country’s routine immunisation programme on Tuesday 11th September 2018. 

WHO steps up efforts to accelerates the elimination of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in South Sudan

Theoretical session on case management of HAT

Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, threatens millions of people in many countries across sub-Saharan Africa. 

South Sudan is one of the countries most affected by sleeping sickness. In 2018, a total of 5 469 people were screened (5 330 actively and 139 passively) for sleeping sickness of which 13 patients were treated. 

In an effort towards the elimination of the human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), WHO trained health experts on the use of different diagnostic tools and case management.