The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners officially launched the African Vaccination Week (AVW) on Monday 22 April 2012 under the theme: “Save lives. Prevent disabilities. Vaccinate”.

The launching programme was held in ‘Hotel le Fleuve’ in Kinshasa. The press was strongly represented; more than 15 TV Channels, Radio and written press attended the launch as well as various national deputies and WR.

Friday 19 of April 2013, a press conference on the African Vaccination Week was held at the library of WHO, Yaoundé, Cameroun.

The press conference was organized to announce the third African Vaccination Week, which will be celebrated jointly with the Maternal and Child Nutrition Action Week (MCNAW) from 26 until 30  April in all ten regions of Cameroun.

The Launch of the African Vaccination Week took place on the 22 of April by an advocacy meeting chaired by the Ministry of health. 

The AVW will continue up to the 28 April in health districts with the implementation of strategies aiming at increasing vaccination coverage in hard to reach areas, in vulnerable groups, and screening and management of malnutrition. 

African Union, Addis Ababa, 22 April 2013: The experts meeting in preparation for the 6th Session of the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers of Health (CAMH 6), kicks off today, and will run up to 26 Apr 2013 in Addis Ababa. The theme for the conference focuses on “The impact of Non –Communicable diseases (NCDs) and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on development in Africa”.

BRAZZAVILLE/DAKAR/NAIROBI, 22 April 2013 - Reaching more people and strengthening immunization on the continent is the aim of the third African Vaccination Week (AVW) being celebrated from 22–28 April 2013 under the theme “Save lives. Prevent disabilities. Vaccinate!”

Nairobi Kenya, 22 April 2013 -- The World Immunization Week (WIW) was successfully launched at a colorful ceremony at Makadara Health Centre grounds in Nairobi County. Gracing the occasion was the representative of the Director, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Dr Tatu Kamau.

Kampala, 22 January 2013: As the third annual African Vaccination Week (AVW) got under way today in all of Africa Region’s countries, Uganda launched its beginning by holding a media briefing announcing the region’s intensified vaccination activities to protect children against diseases.

A launch media event was held in Kampala with the participation of Minister of State (Primary Health Care) Honourable Sarah Opendi Aceng, the World Health Organization Representative for Uganda, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu and other Ministry of Health officials. 

The observance of the African Vaccination Week in Liberia was primarily a mass media campaign.

The strategies used were as follows:

Nutrition Stakeholders in Sierra Leone with leadership from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS)  and technical support from WHO ended a 3 day micronutrient stakeholder consultative technical workshop on 12 April 2013 in Freetown. The meeting was held to engage partners to come up with concrete strategies and recommendations that will guide a successful conduct of the 2013 National Micronutrient Survey as well as to finalize the survey protocol. The opening session of the meeting was graced by Mr Foday Sawie, Deputy Minister-II of MoHS.

Lilongwe, on 19 April 2013 -- In commemoration of 2013 World Health Day, the Minister of Health, Honorable Catherine Gotani Hara, MP was the guest of honor when Kasungu District Health Office (DHO) led all District Health Offices and the Ministry of Health to commemorate World Health Day with the theme: “High blood pressure” and the slogan “act now to prevent high blood pressure.” The main event took place at Kasungu community ground but some activities started at the district hospital.