Another study was commissioned by the WCO on Alcohol Advertising Trends in South Africa to provide empirical data to inform public health policies. The study found that total alcohol advertising expenditure increased from around R550 million per year between 1997 and 2003, to more than R1.7 billion in 2011 and 2012. Total alcohol advertising represents 4.4% of total advertisements, and it is increasingly focusing on new media and new products (such as ciders and flavored alcoholic beverages) that are popular among youth.

The World Health Organization South Africa Country Office (WCO) commissioned study on alcohol affordability and the impact of excise taxes on alcohol consumption in South Africa. The purpose of the study was to increase the evidence base for, and support the development of, country level policies on the reduction of harms related to alcohol consumption.  The report focuses on the fiscal aspects related to alcohol policy in South Africa.

Banjul, 21 February 2014 -- The Ministry of Health & Social Welfare in collaboration with the World Lung Foundation in New York, and with the technical support of the WHO Country Office, launched on Wednesday, 19 February 2014, the first-ever national mass mediacampaign to warn people about the harmful effects of tobacco.

The World Health Organisation is currently working with the National Department of Health and key stakeholders in planning the following: 

Commemoration of Africa Vaccination Week (AVW) 2013 in April. The goal of the AVW in SA is to increase the awareness of the benefits of the second dose of measles vaccination at 18 months among health care workers, parents and caregivers. WHO is a member of the AVM 2014 Coordination Team, is involved in AVW planning and has assisted in drafting a related concept note.

Brazzaville, 21 February 2014 -- The World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo has urged governments to accelerate efforts towards ensuring that all people are able to access quality health services - including the appropriate mix of preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care, without suffering fi

Cluster RSU Management Officers, ISTs Management Officers and HR Officers, Operations Officers from DRC and South Africa, including HR Assistants from Angola and Kenya are attending a training workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa, to enhance their core competencies and develop skills and strategies for managing their work. It is expected that on completion the training, the attendants will have a more coordinated effort in: 

Libreville, 25 February 2014 – Ministers of Health of the  six-nation Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) met on 20 February in Libreville, Gabon, to launch the Common Pharmaceutical Policy of the regional economic grouping.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Health of Gabon, Prof.  Fidele MENGUE ME ENGOUANG, representing His Excellency Ali BONGO ONDIMBA, President of the Republic of Gabon.

A second study by World Health Organization suggests keeping vaccines at ambient temperatures during campaigns could cut storage and transportation costs in half

| GENEVA (19 February 2014) – The first mass vaccination campaign conducted in Africa with a vaccine that does not require constant refrigeration succeeded in providing complete coverage while ensuring the vaccine stayed viable even in ambient temperatures up to 39°C (102.2°F), according to a study published online today in the journal Vaccine.

Harare 19 Feb. 2014 -- A Social Determinants of Health Working Group Orientation Meeting was held in Harare. The meeting, which was attended by Focal Persons from 10 ministries in the Govern-ment of Zimbabwe, including the Office of the Presi-dent and Cabinet and the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), marks the birth of the Social Determinants of Health Working Group.

The Federal Ministry of Health in the presence of WHO Country representative and other key partners, launched today (18th February, 2014) the Malaria and Lymphatic filariasis co-implementation guideline. 

The document provides a broad guideline for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the co-implementation of Malaria and Lymphatic Filariasis programmes at the National, state and local government levels. The guideline seeks to harmonize key vector control strategies for both programmes to produce synergistic effect in a cost effective manner.