Brazzaville, 23 May 2012 -- The number of wild poliovirus (WPV) cases in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region dropped from 657 in 2010 to 350 in 2011 representing a 47% decline.

Harare, 21 May 2012 –- Experts from about 20 countries of the WHO African Region and partners agencies today started a three-day workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe, on research and development of traditional medicine particularly for the treatment of malaria, HIV/AIDS, sickle-cell disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

20 May 2012 – With over 376 226 returnees reported across South Sudan, WHO has stepped up its support and response across all states.

This has involved prepositioning medical supplies and medicines in all 10 states, training health workers on communicable disease surveillance, response and case management, and ensuring the immunization of all returnee children.

In Juba alone, over 10 500 returnees are expected to arrive, and 1890 have already arrived by air and another 1971 by boat.

Harare, 18 May 2012 -- The Regional consultation on traditional medicine practices, practitioners and products ended in Harare on Friday with renewed calls for further investment in traditional medicine.

Banjul, 17 May 2012 -- The WHO Country Office (WCO) yesterday briefed the Gambian delegation to the 65th World Health Assembly (WHA). “Such a briefing session is now a tradition of the WCO to prepare country delegates to this important global WHO governing body”, Dr Thomas Sukwa, WHO Representative (WR) to the Gambia, reiterated in welcoming delegates to the WCO.

The Sub-national polio immunizations days campaign commenced to administer Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to children 0-59 months in selected communities on 11 May 2012. The campaign will end on 14 May. It will focus mainly on “hard to reach areas” and areas “poorly covered or missed” in the previous polio national immunization days campaigns. The campaign was officially launched in Freetown by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Mr. Tamba Borbor Sawyer.

Banjul, 14 May 2012 -- The last week of April 2012 witnessed two important health events in the Gambia. The first was World Malaria Day and the second, a sub-regional laboratory training workshop on pneumococcal surveillance and pediatric bacterial meningitis.

14 May 2012 – Dr Michael Milly Hussein, Minister of Health, pledged support and commitment for the implementation of the human resources for health policy and strategy of South Sudan. The pledge came during a validation meeting for the policy and strategy in Juba, on 14 May 2012. The validation workshop is part of the process of developing a new human resources for health policy and strategy.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) conducted a stakeholders’ consultative meeting from 8-9 May 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to seek stakeholders input, build consensus and develop a road map in finalizing the draft National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy and Strategic Plan for Sierra Leone.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kisito Daoh, in his opening statement said that the meeting should serve as an opportunity for stakeholders to make inputs into the documents which will inform & advise the Ministry in addressing HRH challenges.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) conducted a stakeholders’ consultative meeting from 8-9 May 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to seek stakeholders input, build consensus and develop a road map in finalizing the draft National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy and Strategic Plan for Sierra Leone.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kisito Daoh, in his opening statement said that the meeting should serve as an opportunity for stakeholders to make inputs into the documents which will inform & advise the Ministry in addressing HRH challenges.