Johannesburg, 10 September 2015 - Polio eradication is a global effort coordinated by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to deliver a polio-free world by 2018. The effort requires countries to strengthen surveillance, improve the quality of immunization campaigns and build national capacity to respond to outbreaks.

Johannesburg, 28 September 2015 - South Africa’s health information systems provide a rich source of data on the burden of disease caused by tuberculosis (TB) and the effectiveness of efforts to reduce this burden, both of which are crucial for public health action. However, the available data are often underused, or not used at all. At least in part, this may reflect the absence of clear guidance on recommended approaches to the analysis of such data.

A new report highlighting progress made on the strategic actions initiated by Dr Moeti Matshidiso, the WHO Regional Director for Africa to make better health and well-being a reality for Africans has been released.

30 September 2015, Geneva - Anyone infected with HIV should begin antiretroviral treatment as soon after diagnosis as possible, WHO announced Wednesday. With its "treat-all" recommendation, WHO removes all limitations on eligibility for antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV; all populations and age groups are now eligible for treatment.

30th September 2015, Monrovia - The Liberian Ministry of Health is working to strengthen the supply chain management system, a key strategic area of theInvestment Plan for Building a Resilient Health System (2015- 2021). This is to ensure accessibility and availability of drugs and medical supplies at all levels to reduce wastage. To build the county health teams supply chain management system, 15 County Pharmacists and 17 Supply Chain Coordinators have been recruited and deployed by the Ministry of Health.

Johannesburg, 30 September 2015 - Climate change is a major global health threat, posing immediate and long-term threats to human health and survival. Nowhere is this anticipated to have greater impact than in Africa, where social, political, environmental and economic conditions already create serious health vulnerabilities for many communities.

Kaduna, Nigeria  29 September, 2015 - The Kaduna State government in North West Nigeria has disclosed that the series of productive consultations and technical support received from the World Health Organization (WHO) remain  the basis for improving access to basic health care, including strengthening health systems and achievement of milestones in the country.

UK parliamentarians The Lord Sheikh, Dr Philippa Whitford MP and Mr Jonathan Oates (recently elected to the House of Lords); will visit Ethiopia from 28th September to 2nd October 2015. The delegation will meet with Health Extension Workers, the Women of the Ethiopian Health Development Army, decision makers at the Federal Ministry of Health, and Regional health actors and partners to look at the national health system and community-based health programmes

A regional workshop to discuss on substandard/spurious/falsely labeled/falsified/counterfeit (SSFFC) medical products and to introduce participants – who will also serve as national focal points for SSFFC medicines control – to the WHO surveillance and monitoring system took place in Addis Ababa on 11-13 August 2015.

The workshop brought participants from 11 Anglophone African countries to deliberate and renew partnerships to create a network and fight together the negative impact of illicit medical products. 

A joint WHO mission composed of Ethiopia Country Office, the Africa Regional Office and the Horn of Africa Office for Polio Response Coordination visited health facilities and refugee communities in Gambella Regional State on 5 and 6 August 2015. The mission aimed to strengthen support to the refugee emergency response in the Region.