“Together let us combat sub-standard and counterfeit products to protect our health” was the call made when the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) celebrated its tenth anniversary on 17th October, 2013.

Accra, 17 October 2014 -- The review of the National Medicines Policy has been supported by the MOH/WHO/EU/ACP Renewed Partnership to Strengthen Pharmaceutical Systems to Improve Access to Good Quality and Safe Medicines.

The National Medicines Policy represents decisions based on the best current evidence, the consensus opinion of all stakeholders as well as the general direction of governance on pharmaceuticals. Stakeholder ownership and commitment is important to take the best collective decisions for Ghana and ensure optimized implementation in the coming years.

Abuja, 17 October, 2014 - The January 2012, Global Polio Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) report delineated four distinct polio virus “sanctuaries” in Nigeria, ‘places in which polioviruses had taken safe refuge’. The sanctuaries in the northern states were Borno (Borno- Yobe), Kano (Kano-Kaduna-Katsina) and Sokoto and Zamfara; homes to two-thirds of the polio cases detected in that year. 

Dire Dawa. 16 October 2014 – The 16th Annual Review Meeting (ARM) of the Health Sector Development Programme began yesterday in Dire Dawa. The meeting organized by the Federal Ministry of Health will run from 15 to 17 October under the theme "Crossing the finish line and envisioning beyond: Towards equitable and better quality health services in Ethiopia".

WHO in support of South Sudan’s Ministry of Health, continues to enhance efforts to prevent haemorrhagic diseases. This comes amidst fresh concerns following reports of Marburg Virus Disease in neighbouring Uganda, in addition to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak that is currently affecting multiple countries, mostly in West Africa.

“Although no cases of both Marburg and Ebola have been reported in South Sudan, the two outbreaks are of concern as they place the country at greater risk,” said Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed, WHO Representative for South Sudan.

Kampala, 15th October 2014:- The 13th Dr. Mathew Lukwiya which was organized Makerere University College of Health Sciences in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) and Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health, (UNACOH) was held at Imperial Royale Hotel to remember the health workers that lost their lives to Ebola and other diseases.

Inside this issue:

Welcome Message 1
Ebola Virus Disease Update 2
IMPAC & Family Planning Adaption 2
Annual Joint Review 3
News in Brief 3
Gratitude and Appreciation 4
Coming Soon! 4
Meet the Team 5

WHO Lesotho - 2014 Quarterly Newsletter — Issue 3

Maputo, 09 October 2014- The Acting WHO Representative , Dr. Jacob Mufunda, met on  the  7th  October 2014 with the Mozambican delegates to the 6th Conference of the Parties (COP6) to the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco  Control (FCTC) to be held in Moscow, Russia, from the 14th  to the 18th  October 2014.

When Dr Peter Clements arrived in Lofa County, Liberia eight weeks ago, from the WHO country office in Monrovia, 20-30 patients were arriving at the MSF hospital with Ebola-like symptoms every day. People living in the community were afraid, civil unrest was simmering, and an ambulance and health workers were being targeted. read the full story

Assosa. 10 October 2014 – A high-level joint mission led by Dr Kebede Worku, Ethiopian State Minister of Health with Dr Pierre-M’pele-Kilebou, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, Dr Jean-Baptiste Roungou, Director of the Africa Program for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) and team leaders and technical officers from the three entitities visited the regional Onchocerciasis Program in Assosa.