Addis Ababa, 24-28, September -- The 5 -day Regional consultation on Regional Agenda for Accelerating Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health involving participants from 28 African countries kicked off on the 24th of September 2012.

World Rabies Day for 2012 was commemorated in Lesotho at Manthabiseng Convention Centre under this year’s global theme;

“Working Together to make Rabies History”.

The Government of United Republic of Tanzania on 24th–25th September, 2012, hosted the Third East Africa Conference on Alcohol in Arusha drawing participants from the five East African countries i.e. Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania and others from Malawi, South Sudan, Norway and Sweden.

Dear MR Sentayehu Abebe, Assistant Director Urban health promotion and Disease Prevention, from the FMoH

Dr. Tigest Ketsela, Director, Health Promotion Cluster, WHO/AFRO

Dear country participants,

Colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen

16 August 2012 / Soweto, South Africa -- In collaboration with the University of South Africa (UNISA), WHO trained sixteen participants from Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda on injuries and violence data collection. Injuries and violence are major problems affecting the health and welfare of vulnerable populations. In the African region in 2004 injuries were responsible for close to 769000 deaths, with millions more injured or disabled.

24 September 2012, 11:40 A.M.

Visitor: Mrs. Guenet Guebre-Selassie, Program Director, Canadian International Immunization Initiative, and Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) met Dr. Khaled Bessaoud, Acting WHO Representative (WR) to Ethiopia at the WCO.

Present at the debriefing meeting were: Dr. Fiona Braka, Dr. Gavin Grant, and Dr. Kassahun Mitiku from WCO EPI Sub-Unit

As of 23 September 2012, the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported by the Ministry of Health were 19,674 and 278 deaths respectively.

The number of daily reported cases of cholera continues to show a downward trend. On 23 September 2012, Western Area continued to report the highest number of cases (77), followed by Kenema (15) and Bombali (8) . No case of death was reported from all the districts. It is noted that case management has improved in most districts.

The national trend of the cholera situation in Sierra Leone continues to show a decline. Cases in the Western Area, which accounts for the highest number, are also on the decrease.

As of 20 September 2012, the update released by the Min-istry of Health and Sanitation on the outbreak reported 19,283 cases and 276 deaths with a case fatality rate of 1.4%. The Western Area reported the highest number of cases followed by Tonkolilli, Kenema and Bombali dis-tricts as shown in the table above. Kailahun remained the only district without a confirmed case.

Lesotho commemorated World Blood Donor Day on 17th August in Mohale’s Hoek under this year’s global theme “Every Blood Donor is a Hero”.

The national trend of the cholera situation in Sierra Leone continues to show a decline. Cases in the Western Area, which accounts for the highest number, are also on the decrease.

As of 20 September 2012, the update released by the Min-istry of Health and Sanitation on the outbreak reported 19,283 cases and 276 deaths with a case fatality rate of 1.4%. The Western Area reported the highest number of cases followed by Tonkolilli, Kenema and Bombali dis-tricts as shown in the table above. Kailahun remained the only district without a confirmed case.