KAMPALA, 17 December 2015:- The African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) founded in 1995 has been formally closed and a new entity – the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), with an expanded mandate, proposed to replace it. ESPEN was formally introduced to delegates at the 21st session of the Joint Action Forum (JAF) of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) that has concluded in Kampala, Uganda.

The Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Hon. Ummy Mwalimu (MP), conducted a fact finding operation on the Cholera outbreak currently ongoing in the country.  Her programme included a Cholera Press Conference, an inspection of Mburahati Cholera Treatment Centre and an observation of DAWASCO water pipes in a sewerage trench in Manzese Ward. WHO staff were present in all the Minister’s activities.

Summary of Ministers’ Cholera Press Conference

Kampala 16th December 2015:  The Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) assembly took place at Serena Hotel in Kampala under the theme “Better accountability and coordination for Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health.

The meeting was organized for stakeholders to share experiences and lessons learned around the development, use and sustainability of an engagement platform for the RMNCAH stakeholders for better health outcomes of mothers, children and adolescents and improved accountability mechanisms.

Dakar, 14 December 2016 - Immunization experts have called for concrete actions to stem the tide of vaccine preventable diseases in the WHO African Region. The call came from the African Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (RITAG) which concluded its 2-day meeting on 14 December 2016 in Dakar, Senegal, to discuss the state of immunization in the region. The RITAG serves as the principal advisory group to the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, on regional immunization policies and programmes.

Harare: ,12 December 2015: The Friendship Bench - a brief intervention delivered by supervised lay health workers who have received training in problem solving therapy - a Cognitive-behavioural intervention geared to improve an individual’s ability to cope with stressful life experiences was hailed as a locally developed innovation in the delivery of mental health services in Zimbabwe.

14 December 2015 - In South Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) is working alongside the Ministry of Health to implement a new disease early warning system capable of monitoring approximately 500 000 people in hard-to-reach settings for only three cents per person.

ADDIS ABABA, 11 December 2015 | The World Health Organization (WHO) is working alongside the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and 22 partner organizations to respond to the health needs of 3.6 million people vulnerable to health and nutrition emergencies due to the El Niño weather phenomenon. Humanitarian partners came together in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, today to launch joint plans for the crisis response in 2016.

By Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, 11 December 2015

Health is widely considered to be a fundamental human right, yet the sad truth is that far too many people around the world still do not have access to basic health care. Millions of Africans in particular are unable to access or afford the services they need to survive and thrive without incurring financial hardship. 

Pretoria – In support of the second ever UHC on 12 December 2015, the WHO joins nearly 600 partners in celebrating progress in over 100 countries in achieving universal health coverage.

In South Africa, WHO celebrates both UHC Day and the launch of the National Health Insurance white paper launched today, which provides the roadmap for realizing universal health coverage in South Africa. 

The First Lady of Uganda, Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni, hosted and launched the 11th and final Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV & AIDS (EMTCT) campaign which began with a stakeholder breakfast meeting at her private home in Rwakitura, Kiruhura district and later a National Launch at  Nyakasharara Public grounds. The theme of the day was “Towards an HIV Free Generation”.