Bulawayo, 24 Mar. 2012 -- Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating World TB Day under the theme Stop TB in my lifetime. The event, which took place at the White City Stadium in Bulawayo brought together the different players in TB, local and international TB partners, former TB patients, health workers, civil societies and community members, sector government ministries and members of the uniformed forces.

The Ministry of Health, with the support of WHO, conducted a national TB program review from 15 to 23 March 2012.

The review was conducted with a technical support of a team of five external reviewers from the WHO Regional Office, IST, WHO Kenya and Zambia, National TB Program Manager and Lab Specialist from Malawi.

The objective of the review was to conduct an in-depth review of the status of prevention and control interventions of the TB control program in Eritrea from 2004 to 2011.

Nairobi Kenya, 23 March 2012 -- As a build up to this year’s World TB Day commemorations, the country held a media briefing to sensitize the public and the media fraternity on national issues related to the TB epidemic. This year’s national celebration commemorated “calling for a TB-Free Kenya through sustainable financing” were held in both Nairobi on 21st March and in Thika district on Saturday 24th.

Nairobi Kenya, 16 March 2012 -- The WHO Country Representative, Dr Abdoulie Jack handed over vehicles, a range of equipment and medicines to the Minister of Public Health and Sanitation, Hon Beth Mugo at an official handing over ceremony held at the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation Headquarters in Nairobi.

In attendance were the Permanent Secretary Mr Mark Bor, the Director of Public Health and Sanitation Dr S.K Sharif, Senior officials of the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and members of the media.

23rd March 2012 -- On the occasion of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Nigeria donated TB laboratory diagnostic equipment and consumables worth $330,000 to improve TB care in Nigeria. The materials were procured with support of USAID.

The items donated included 65 binocular microscopes, 840,000 sputum containers and 540 boxes of laboratory consumable kits.

Le Rwanda a célébré cette année la Journée Mondiale du Cancer le 22 mars 2012. Le thème de l’année, « Ensemble, c’est possible», a été adapté et traduit en langue nationale. Aussi, une campagne de vaccination contre le cancer de l’utérus a été organisée durant la semaine précédente.

22 March 2012 | Singapore - WHO Director-General Margaret Chan today urged the world to "stand shoulder to shoulder" against the tobacco industry's attempts to overturn Australia's new path breaking tobacco control law.

Tobacco products to be sold in "plain packaging"

Brazzaville/Dakar, 21 March 2012 -- Health Ministries, UN agencies and communities are uniting with tens of thousands of volunteer immunizers over four days to go door-to-door and hut to hut for a vaccination campaign against polio in 20 African countries starting on 23 March.

Preparation leading to the implementation of the first round of 2012 polio National Immunisation Days (NIDs) Campaign are on-going in Sierra Leone. Chiefdom level micro-plannings have been completed and compiled at district and national levels; and orientation of civil society groups, training of National Supervisors, Independent Monitors and the media have been done. The trainings would be rolled out to the districts and chiefdom levels with the objective to ensure quality training of vaccinators and to increase participation of community stakeholders.

Dr Wondi Alemu, WHO Representative handed over various items worth US$600,000 to Hon Minister of Health & Sanitation, Mrs Zainab Bangura on behalf of the WHO Director General, Dr Margaret Chan and the Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo on 19 March 2012. The Representative stated that WHO has prioritized building capacity of MoHS to take owner-ship of its programmes thereby ensuring strengthened and sustained health system for better health outcomes in the country. He assured WHO's continued support to improve the country's health indicators.