Deputy Governor becomes Disease Surveillance Ambassador in South-West Nigeria

Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga (left) and Dr Mejebi Philips

Abeokuta, Ogun 22 September, 2015 - The Ogun state Deputy Governor Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga  in south-west Nigeria has offered to become an ambassador for disease surveillance during an advocacy meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO) state team on 22 September, 2015 at the Government House in Abeokuta.

Chief Onanuga assured the team which also presented her with surveillance roll-up banners that “I will strategically display the banners in my office and also be an ambassador for disease reporting in the state”.

Dr Okello meets the new Deputy Minister for Health and Child Care

Dr David Okello and Mr Aldrin Musiiwa shaking hands

Harare, 21 Sept. 2015 - WHO Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello yesterday paid a courtesy call to the new Deputy Minister for Health and Child Care, Mr Aldrin Musiiwa at his Kaguvi Building office.  Prior to his appointment, Mr Musiiwa has been a Member of Parliament for Chakari Constituency in Mashonaland West Province, and was a member of the Health Portfolio Committee in Parliament. The new Deputy Minister assumed his new position earlier this month following the recent cabinet reshuffles.

Zimbabwe launches new vaccine during the National Immunization Days

Eastview nursery school performing a play about immunization

Harare, 21 Sept. 2015 :  The Honorable Minister of Health and Child Care Dr. David Parirenyatwa, in conjunction with WHO, UNICEF, and other partners, launched the National Immunization Days (NIDs) on 21 September in Harare. NIDs are selected days when measles vaccines as well as vitamin A supplements are given to children between the ages of 6 – 59 months, irrespective of vaccination status, and are extra doses which supplement and do not replace the doses received according to routine immunizations.

WHO/UNICEF report: Malaria MDG target achieved amid sharp drop in cases and mortality, but 3 billion people remain at risk

Child in front of insecticide treated bed net EPA/K. Ludbroo

17 September 2015 - Malaria death rates have plunged by 60% since 2000, translating into 6.2 million lives saved, the vast majority of them children, according to a joint WHO-UNICEF report released today.
The report – “Achieving the malaria MDG target” – shows that the malaria MDG target to “have halted and begun to reverse the incidence” of malaria by 2015, has been met “convincingly”, with new malaria cases dropping by 37% in 15 years.

The African regional workshop on Pediatric and Adolescent HIV & AIDS

8e481b6d0e658fe6d85565ec9d0b85b3_XL

Entebbe, 17 September 2015:- Day 3 of the workshop focused on delivering HIV & AIDS services through a continuum of care, Community Engagement and Participation and Strategic information; monitoring and evaluation.

Delivery of HIV & AIDS services through a continuum of care

Rapid response to new Ebola infection in Bombali, Sierra Leone

Ebola contact tracing team at work in the quarantined village, Bombali district, Sierra Leone.

WHO is helping Sierra Leone to mobilize all its experience and partners to ensure that any new cases of Ebola are investigated and transmission of the disease stopped as rapidly as possible. Sad news that a 16-year old girl had died from Ebola in Bombali district, a part of the country that had a large outbreak 6 months ago, sparked an immediate inter-agency rapid response. Partners sent people with the skills and equipment needed to stop further infection in Bombali.

13th African Traditional Medicine Day commemorated in Ethiopia

13th African Traditional Medicine Day commemoration in Ethiopia

The 13th Africa Traditional Medicine Day was commemorated under the theme “Regulation of Traditional Health Practitioners in African Region” in August 31, 2015 in a workshop organized by WHO and the Food, Medicine and Health Care Administration and Control Authority. On this occasion, Ms Heran Gerba, Deputy Director General of Food Medicine and Healthcare Administration and Control Authority (FMHACA) while delivering an opening remark highlighted the valuable contribution of the traditional medicine in Ethiopia where 80% of the people use the traditional medicine.

Day One Bulletin: African Regional Workshop on HIV in Children and Adolescents

cd78d504ca95b665feae011540685fcd_X

Entebbe, 15 September 2015:- The African Regional Workshop on HIV & AIDS in Children  and Adolescents has today opened at Imperial Golf View Hotel under the theme  “Stepping up the case for HIV & AIDS care and treatment among children and adolescents in the African Region”, to review country progress in addressing HIV among children and adolescents.