I. Background and Justification

Cotonou, 15 November 2012 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Luis SAMBO has commended the commitment of governments, development partners and other health stakeholders in the ongoing efforts to prevent and control meningitis in the Men

Two months after Maripaz Callejas’ husband died of AIDS, she was diagnosed with HIV. One doctor told her that she would be dead within five years.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, yesterday began a two-day official visit to Libreville, Republic of Gabon. The climax of the visit is an audience he has had this morning with the Head of State, the President of Gabon, Mr Ali Bongo Ondimba.

The two dignitaries discussed four main issues, namely Gabon’s support to WHO, implementation of Gabon’s national health policy, the ongoing health system reform, and the meeting on the « one-health initiative », being held in Libreville from 12 to 14 November 2012. 

Libreville, 12 November 2012 -- A meeting on the “One health” approach in the WHO African Region started on 12 November 2012 at the Okoume Palace Hotel in Libreville, Gabon.

The meeting is being attended by senior policy makers from ministries of Health, Environment, Livestock, Wildlife and Agriculture. Also in attendance are researchers, scholars, experts, representatives of International NGO and partners of WHO such as FAO, USAID, CDC, OIE, OHCEA, and AU-IBAR.

Over the last few years, public health, animal health and environmental authori-ties have made considerable progress at the international level in identifying mechanisms for collaboration to minimize risks associated with the emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases emanating from animals. 

Brazzaville, 12 November  2012 -- A meeting on  "One Health" gets underway today (Monday, 12 November) in Libreville, Gabon, to discuss ways of further strengthening the prevention and response to threats posed by emerging diseases of zoonotic origin in the WHO African Region. 

The Lesotho Ministry of Health has recently concluded meetings on Annual Operational Plans 2013 with hospital representatives from throughout the country. The first planning exercise was conducted in Leribe from 22/10-26/10/12 with representatives from Mokhotlong Government Hospital and District Health Management Team (DHMT), Butha-Buthe Hospital and DHMT, Leribe Hospital and DHMT, Berea Hospital and DHMT, Maseru DHMT, Seboche, Mamohau, Maluti, Scott and St Joseph’s Hospitals.

Harare, 12 Nov. 2012 -- Today the new WHO Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello presented his credentials to the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi at his Munhumutapa Building offices.

Pretoria, 17-21 September 2012 -- National Department of Health has concluded a five days’ Workload Indicator of Staffing Needs (WISN) Trainer of Trainers (TOT) training in Pretoria, South Africa. Opening the training, the Director General for Health, Ms Precious Matsoso, observed the WISN training as important and urgent ammunition to enable her to respond to a number of Human Resource (HR) issues and to inform policy decisions. The purpose of the training was to train the core team that would be competent in the WISN tool and its application.