Bulambuli 26th April 2016 - Uganda, like over 100 countries introduced the Inactivated Polio Virus (IPV) vaccine into its immunization programme. The introduction precedes the formal switch from tOPV to bOPV scheduled for Friday April 29, 2016 to be implemented in public and private health facilities. 

Lira, 27th April 2016 - Uganda commemorated the 10th World Malaria Day 2016 at the Golf Course grounds in Lira District under the theme “End Malaria for Good”, calling on the communities to Test, Treat and Track malaria cases.  The choice of Lira district to host the commemorations was based on the fact Lira District is one of the 14 districts implementing Indoor residual Spraying (IRS) using carbamates; derived from carbamic acid and kill insects in a similar fashion as organophosphate insecticides.  However, in effort to manage insecticide resistance, anoth

Monrovia, 25 April 2016 - The WHO Regional Director for the Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti called upon all African countries to sustain gains and strengthen immunization coverage to reach the unreached communities. This was disclosed during the regional launch of the African Vaccination Week (AVW) under the theme “Close the Immunization gap: Stay Polio Free” in Ganta, Nimba County in Liberia.

26 April 2016, Geneva - As efforts to bring an outbreak of yellow fever in Angola under control continue, WHO is reminding all travellers to the country that they are required to receive the yellow fever vaccination and to have a valid certificate of vaccination to prove that they are protected from the disease and to prevent its further spread.

Brazzaville, 26 April 2016 – The sixth African Vaccination Week (AVW) has been launched in Ganta, Nimba County of Liberia, on 25 April 2016 in the presence of high level officials and respected community leaders. The AVW is commemorated by Liberia and the rest of the countries in the African Region during the week of 24–30 April 2016 with the theme, “Close the Immunization Gap. Stay Polio Free.”

Sierra Leone commemorated World Malaria Day 2016 with the launched of four strategic national malaria control policy documents during an event that attracted partners, government officials and the general public.

The documents included:

Ethiopia launched emergency measles vaccination campaign on Friday April 22, 2016 targeting over 500 drought affected hot spot woredas in 10 regions (except AA) which includes Gambella; Benishangul Gumuz, Oromia, Amhara, SNNPR, Tigray, Afar, Somali, Dire Dawa and Harari.

Monrovia, 26th April 2016 - Liberia joined the rest of the world in celebrating the World Malaria Day on 25th April under the theme “End malaria for good” with a country slogan “pregnant women go to the clinic for malaria medicine’. This year’s theme reflects the vision of a malaria-free world set out in the “Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030”. The commemoration was integrated with the regional launch of the 6th African Vaccination Week in Ganta, Nimba County.

The Ministry of Health, with support from partners launched the house to house polio National Immunization Days (NIDs) on Friday, 22nd of April, 2016 to vaccinate under five (0 – 59 months of age) children at national level. More than two years have passed since the onset of paralysis of the last case of WPV in January 05, 2014 and Ethiopia is currently polio free and this continued effort is to re-enforce country’s polio free status.

Abuja, 25 April 2016 - Given the dire need for quality and sustainable health care in the IDP camps and hosting communities for children under five years, the Federal and State Ministries of Health, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (SPHCDA) and partners including the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed to build capacity of community resource persons living in the IDPs camps and host communities, with the support from USAID/Nigeria grant.