14 December 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -- In a handover ceremony hosted at WHO Ethiopia Country Office, Mr. Nahu-Senaye Araya, Chairman, Rotary International National Polio plus Committee (NPPC), Polio plus Program handed over a check of ETB 3.5 million to Dr Khaled Bessaoud, Acting WHO Country Representative and Ms. Patrizia DiGiovani, Deputy UNICEF Country Representative to support Polio Eradication activities in Ethiopia.

On 12th December, 2012, The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luis Sambo visited the United Republic of Tanzania mainly with the purpose to participate in the 4th Annual Regional Conference on Immunization.

Dar es Salaam, 12 December 2012 -- Nigeria, the only polio-endemic country in Africa, has outlined its strategies to interrupt wild polio virus transmission in the country by 2013.

The strategies were outlined in a presentation made by Dr Mahmud Mustafa Subaru of Nigeria’s National Primary Healthcare Development Agency at the fourth Annual Regional Conference on Immunization in Africa which ended on Wednesday (12 December)  in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The training targeted health workers from Kambia, Port Loko Districts and the Western Area. The cadre of the participants included medical doctors and nurses, national and district disease surveillance officers, laboratory tech-nicians, pharmacists, M&E and health education officers as well as sector partners such as the Office of National Security.

Dar es Salaam, 12 December 2012 -- Strengthening Africa’s immunization systems, curbing the increase in the number of wild polio virus cases in Nigeria and closing the funding gap for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) topped the list of recommendations made by the fourth Annual Regional Conference on Immunization in Africa (ARCI) which ended on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Other recommendations related to lowering the cost of delivery of vaccines and strengthening human resource capacity in Africa.

The Ministry of Health in partnership with the UN Agencies conducted a workshop on Adolescents Health Situational Analysis and Development of Adolescents Health Standards in Lesotho which started from the 19th to 24th November 2012 at Khali Hotel in Maseru.

Pretoria, 10 December 2012 -- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) welcome last week’s publication by the Government of South Africa of the Regulations Relating to Foodstuffs for Infants and Young Children, based on the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and World Health Assembly Resolutions.

Lisbon, 10 December 2012 -- The Universidade Nova de Lisboa (Portugal) has bestowed the title of "Doutor Honoris Causa" on Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, the World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa. The ceremony took place today in Lisbon, Portugal presided over by Professor Antonio Rendas, Rector of the University and the Members of the University Council.

The distinction was awarded in recognition of his distinguished expertise and outstanding contribution to public health in Africa.

The fourth Annual Regional Conference on Immunization commenced today, 10th December, 2012, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The three days conference has brought together experts from different countries within and outside the African region, delegates from UN agencies, bilateral and multilateral development institutions, Non-Governmental organizations, foundations and civil society with the aim to discuss how to strengthen the delivery of immunization services in all Member States in the African Region.

Brazzaville, 10 December 2012 -- “Immunization is an important component of health systems and a key strategy to reducing child mortality, improve maternal health and combat diseases. It is for this reason that we need to work together as a region to reach all children with Immunization Services in Africa”.