Zaria, Kaduna 27 April 2015 - As part of efforts to adequately  respond to the recent isolation of circulating vaccine derived polio virus (cVDPV) from the environment in Zaria, Kaduna state, WHO and other Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners have solicited  the support of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zaria, Dr Shehu Idris to mobilize communities for the upcoming targeted polio campaign of combined inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) scheduled for 27 April – 2 May, 2015.

27 April, 2015: Bangui - A drastic shortage in funding is jeopardizing free access to health care services being provided by the World Health Organization and partners in the Central African Republic for hundreds of thousands of people.

Ghana adopted a Food Safety Policy on 27 April, 2015 at a Stakeholders Meeting held in Accra ahead of World Health Day 2015 with the theme Food Safety from Farm to Plate. The policy was developed with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Ghana commemorated World Malaria Day on 25 April in Takoradi, Western Region, under the theme, “Invest in the future: Defeat Malaria” Speaking at the function, Dr Gloria Quansah-Asare, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), disclosed that Ghana has made significant progress in the fight against malaria over the past two decades as evidenced in the Ghana Demographic Health Survey (GDHS) 2014.

Freetown, 24 April 2015 – Despite the unprecedented challenges of delivering basic health services in an Ebola emergency, Sierra Leone will hold its first public immunization and health campaign over the next four days aiming to reach an estimated 1.5 million children under 5 with life-saving interventions.

A child dies every minute from malaria in Africa where it is estimated that 9 out of 10 malaria deaths occur. In 2013, there were 528 000 deaths from malaria and about 78% of these were in children under 5 years of age.

Accra, 24 April 2015 - Good Day

- CEO, Mr Haris Broumidis - Vodafone

- Dr Sylvester Anemana - Chief Director Ministry of Health

- Dr Byrite Asamoah - Vantage Medical Solutions

- Dr Samuel Kaba -  Ghana Health Services (GHS) representing the DG

- The health workers and call centre operators in whose honour we meet today and friends of the media, distinguished guests,

- Ladies and Gentleman,

There is an old African proverb that I especially find relevant for today.

Monrovia, 24 April 2015 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti has wrapped up her 3 day official visit to Liberia with a courtesy call on the President of Liberia, Her Excellency, Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Abuja, 24 April 2015 – With the theme ‘Vaccination, a gift for life’ the importance of vaccines as one of the greatest human advance in history was emphasized by the WHO Country Representative, Dr Rui Gama Vaz at a press conference held yesterday in Abuja to herald the African Vaccination Week (AVW) in Nigeria which had the presence of the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care (NPHCDA) and partners.

Lusaka, 23 April, 2015 - The 5th regional launch of African Vaccination Week (AVW) 2015 took place in Lusaka, Zambia on Thursday, 23 April 2015 with the First Lady of Zambia, Mrs Esther Lungu kicking off the commemorations.