Ethiopia launches national strategic action plan on non-communicable diseases and the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon partnership

WHO Urges Affected Countries to Invest More to Tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases

Kigali, 2 March 2015 -- The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning of Rwanda have organized a two day workshop from 2 to 3 March 2015 to help governments improve health and increase revenues by identifying “best practices” for tobacco taxation.

Abuja, 28 February 2015 -- In determined efforts to interrupt poliovirus circulation in Nigeria, the surge capacity personnel of the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to support the government to implement special innovations of the National Polio Eradication Emergency Plan to reach and cover areas with extant insecurity in Borno and Yobe States.

Conakry, 25 February 2015 – In an audience with the President of the Republic of Guinea, on 25 February 2015, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, expressed sincere congratulations to President Alpha Condé for his leadership role that has enabled to achieve good results.

Conakry, 26 February 2015 - This morning, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, during her stay in Guinea, visited the Coyah Ebola Treatment Centre. The Centre, situated 50km from Conakry, was opened on 31 December 2014. It has a capacity of 100 beds, 50 of which have been used till date. As of 26 February 2015, 17 patients, including 14 confimed Ebola cases and 3 suspected case were adimitted in the Centre. Patients come from  Boffa, Coyah, Dubréka and Forécariah Préfectures.

Douala, 25 February 2015 –- The World Health Organization (WHO) Inter-country Support Team (IST) for Central Africa is convening its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Managers’ meeting in Douala, Cameroon from 23 to 27 February 2015 to strengthen and improve access to immunization services in 10 countries in Central Africa.

Conakry, 25 February 2015 –- WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, arrived Conakry this afternoon for a working visit. She was welcomed by the Minister of Social Action, Women’s Advancement and Childhood, on behalf of the Minister of Health, and the WHO Representative in Guinea.

The Kingdom of Swaziland through the Bilharzia and Worms Control Programme under the Ministry of Health is embarking on a national integrated mapping survey for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Following several months of detailed planning the beginning of the survey was marked by a five day national training workshop for the survey teams. The survey, to run from the 16 February to the 6 March will cover all the 55 tinkhundla(districts), 275 primary schools, and 13 750 learners between 10 and 14 years of age.