Kampala, 8th November 2013 -- The Government of Uganda has launched a major national drive to end maternal and child deaths across the country. 

As part of the global “Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed” movement, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Edward Ssekandi, unveiled a sharpened plan that aims to prevent an additional 40 per cent of Under 5 deaths and 26 per cent of maternal deaths by 2017.

Dakar, 8 November 2013 -- The Regional Directors of the Harmonization for Health in Africa – a coalition of international agencies working together to improve health in the African Region will meet in Dakar, Senegal from 14 -15 November 2013 to discuss a range of issues aimed at strengthening coordination and harmonization of actions at country and regional

Brazzaville, 8 November 2013 – A consultative meeting of Health research experts from the WHO African Region has selected four pilot projects that can be financed innovatively to accelerate the development of medi-cines and necessary health technologies in the Region. 

Banjul, 6 November 2013 -- The Gambia successfully concluded a second round of 2013 synchronized national immunization days against polio. An esti-mated 412613 children, aged 0 – 59 months, were targeted during the four- day exercise - Friday 25 to Monday 28 October 2013. Overall, 99.5% of the target population was immunized with marked im-provement registered in all the seven health regions.

Harare, 4 Nov. 2013 -- The United Nations Country team in Zimbabwe, women’s activists, and the Ministry of Health and Child Care spoke loudly on one of Zimbabwe’s health challenges as the United Nations Agencies in Zimbabwe celebrated the 68th anniversary of the United Nations at Chitungwiza Central Hospital with a call “For Safer Motherhood in Zimbabwe”.

Luanda, 30 October 2013 –- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo has today, called on governments, international partners and the populations to increase routine immunization coverage to at least 90%; improve the quality of immunization campaigns; strengthen epidemiological surveillance; and implement the International Health Regulations

Harare, 29 October 2013 -- Zimbabwe held joint commemorations for the global hand washing day and the national sanitation week in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe in Mashonaland East province. The joint commemorations were held at Uzumba primary school and brought together players in the WASH cluster, school children and some political leaders in a show of government commitment to improve sanitation. 

Juba, 25 October 2013 -- A Basic Agreement between the World Health Organization and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan for the Establishment of Cooperation was signed on 25 October 2013 in a signing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where the Honorable Minister, Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin signed on behalf of the Republic and WHO Africa Regional Director, Dr Luis G Sambo, signed on behalf of WHO.

Juba, 25 October 2013 -- A high level delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO), led by the Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis G Sambo is visiting South Sudan to assess WHO’s technical cooperation and officially welcome the country as the 47th Member State to the African Region. On arrival, Dr Sambo met with the President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, in the President’s Office, in the presence of the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr Riek Gai Kok.

The WHO Regional Director (RD) for Africa, Dr Luis G Sambo has arrived in South Sudan for an official visit and to orient himself with the health situation in the country. The Regional Director’s visit follows South Sudan shift from the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to the WHO African region.

Dr Sambo was received at Juba International Airport by the WHO Head of Country Office, Dr Abdi Aden Mohammed, the Under Secretary, Officer in Charge also the Director General for Planning,