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Uganda’s State Minister for Health (Primary Health Care) Hon Sarah AcengOpendi made an appealed to the Ugandan media to partner with government to sensitize communities on the benefits of immunization to help reduce the large numbers of unimmunized children in the country.

Speaking at a media advocacy breakfast meeting to commemorate African Vaccination Week and to announce the impending launch of the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Hon Opendi commended the media for playing an important role in and development of the country.

Brazzaville, 25 April 2013 -- WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo,  has called for Increased domestic and external funding, stronger political commitment and  strengthened cross border collaboration and regional cooperation in the on-going fight to “defeat malaria” in the WHO African Region.

25 April 2013 – Every year, countries over the world commemorate World Malaria Day. South Sudan joined the rest of world to commemorate and renew its commitments to ensuring a malaria-free country by 2016.

To support malaria control efforts in South Sudan, WHO provided the Ministry of Health with 3000 first response malaria rapid tests, 2700 doses of first-line ACTs (artesunate and amodiaquie) drugs, two large outdoor tents, first aid kit with IV fluids and cash worth US$ 5000.

Over the past decade, Malawi has made significant progress reducing deaths in children under five. Still, pneumonia is the single biggest killer, taking the lives of an estimated 1000 babies and young children in 2010. Diarrhoea is another major threat, causing the deaths of 600 Malawian children per year.

The good news is, these diseases are both preventable and treatable, and Malawi is making good progress tackling them.

New vaccines

25 April 2013: The African Ministers of Health hold their 6th Conference at the AU, Addis Ababa, under the theme, “the impact of Non- Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) on the development in Africa.” The two day conference provides an opportunity for Ministers of Health to discuss, share experiences, acknowledge the challenges posed by the growing trend of Non communicable Diseases and Neglected Tropical Diseases and is expected to produce recommendations that shall reposition the African continent in addressing challenges posed.

Addis Ababa, 25 April 2013 - The African Union jointly with the WHO Roll Back Malaria Partnership marked the commemoration of the 2013 World Malaria Day under the theme, “Invest in the future. Defeat malaria” in the presence of Dr Nkosasana Dlamini –Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union, Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, Commissioner of Social Affairs, Honorable African Health Ministers, representing the UN agencies, Dr Luis G.

AFRICAN UNION, ADDIS ABABA, 24 APRIL 2013: AIDS WATCH AFRICA (AWA) is an African Union High Level Advocacy and Accountability Platform to combat HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa. In January 2011, it was decided by the AU Assembly to revitalize AWA as an advocacy, resource mobilization and accountability platform of Heads of State and Government.

The second day of the meeting of health experts of African countries as part of the 6th Session of the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers of Health (CAMH6) continued with deliberations on Harnessing Africa’s Demographic Dividend, the Africa Diaspora initiative on enhancing capacity and strengthening the healthcare workforce on MNCH, and on AU-G8 accountability report on AIDS, TB and Malaria. A side event on CARMMA was held. In addition, the participants shared experiences on the new momentum global and regional developments in tackling NTDs.

Kampala – The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, The Right Hon.  Alintuma Rebecca Kadaga on Wednesday officially launched the 2013 edition of the African Vaccination Week with a call on leaders to prioritize vaccination in order to save lives and promote health.

“Fellow leaders at all levels, health workers, parents, caretakers and communities should make the reversal of high number of unimmunized children our utmost priority this year”, Hon. Kadaga said at the regional launch organized at Kamuli district in eastern Uganda.