Addis Ababa. 25 November 2014 -- As in the past, the United Nations delivering as One in Ethiopia supported and took part in the 14th Edition of the Great Ethiopian Run on 23 November 2014, organized this year with the theme, "Empower Women, Empower a Nation".

UN heads of agencies were present at the event to participate in special ceremonies or participate in the Run.  Among those present were Mr Eugene Owusu, UNDP Representative, UN Resident Coordinator and UN Humanitarian Coordinator, and Dr Pierre M'pele-Kilebou, WHO Representative. 

Addis Ababa. 24 November 2014 – The third polio outbreak assessment in Ethiopia was successfully conducted on 17-21 November 2014. The assessment follows a recommendation from the Horn of Africa Technical Advisory Group (TAG) at its last meeting in August 2014 to conduct a follow up assessment.

Abuja, Nigeria 26 November 2014- The Federal Ministry of Health  (FMOH) on Tuesday, 25th November 2014 inaugurated the WHO-Canada/DFATD Project Steering Committee (PSC) in Abuja to provide general oversight  and  articulate the implementation of the  15m CND$ Canadian Government-supported Human Resource for Health (HRH) Project.

Bahir Dar. 25 November 2014. A high-level Nutrition Advocacy Mission urged for sustained efforts to accelerate nutrition interventions and multi-sectoral linkages in Ethiopia. The round table was convened by WHO on this occasion to sensitize government delegates and partners on the Accelerating Nutrition Improvements project and other UN Renewed Efforts Against Child Hunger and undernutrition (REACH) activities supporting the implementation of Ethiopia's National Nutrition Programme.

Buwenge, 26th November 2014:-  The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust Initiative to support trachoma elimination in Uganda was launched in Buwenge at Kagoma Primary School Grounds. The Chief Guest, Hon. Elioda Tumwesigye said that the most important aspect of dealing with trachoma was to first agree on its magnitude. He said, “Trachoma is more in women and children than in men.

Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, visited an Ebola treatment centre in Bamako, Mali. She met with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Prime Minister Moussa Mara, and other government leaders to discuss Mali’s ongoing Ebola outbreak response and ways United Nations organizations could enhance their support.

 The visit occurred as the Government announced a new case of Ebola and said 2 more suspected patients were being tested.

Addis Ababa. 21 November 2014 – A project established by the Tigray Region’s Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs (BoLSA) in 2009 to address social determinants of health at community level improves access to healthcare and ensures social protection through Community Care Coalitions (CCCs). 

An international  Africa health conference opened in Nairobi, Kenya, with calls for  research-based interventions, Africa-suitable solutions and leadership to enable Africa overcome  its health challenges that include the tragedy of Ebola which has left over 5000 people dead mainly in  West Africa.

The three-day conference under the theme, ‘Evidence to Action: Lasting Health Change for Africa,’ is an initiative of Africa Medical Research Foundation, Amref, and co-sponsored by WHO.

When Ebola first swept through Port Loko District, Sierra Leone the rash of sudden inexplicable deaths was so shocking local people explained it as "a witch plane crash."
But as husbands, wives, aunts, uncles and children began to sicken and die they realized this was not a supernatural event but something very human that would take human actions to reverse.

Abuja, Nigeria 20 November 2014 - By the end of October 2014 Nigeria had recorded tremendous progress with 87% reduction in wild polio virus (WPV1) burden and 78% reduction in geographic spread of the virus. Indigenous transmission of WPV3 has not been reported in the country  for 23 months. Also, the genetic clusters circulating in Nigeria have declined from 8 in 2013 to only 1 in 2014 representing 88% reduction.