Brazzaville, 5 November 2010 -- After 10 years with no detected wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission in the Republic of Congo, an outbreak has been reported

Banjul: 29 November 2010: World Diabetes Day (WDD) was officially launched on 14 November 2010 by the Chief Medical Director of the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, Dr Mamadi Cham, on behalf of the Honorable Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

Organized by the Gambia Diabetes Association (GDA) in collaboration with the WHO Country Office and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), WDD in the Gambia took the form of a number of activities including the folowing

On the 23rd of July, 2010 the Ministry of Health and her partners launched mass distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) in Gweta and Tsokotshaaa villages in the Tutume sub-district, one of the high malaria transmission areas. The activity was officially launched by the Minister of Health, Dr. John Seakgosing, who encouraged the public to exercise maximum co-operation with the government in the effort to eliminate malaria in Botswana by 2015.

Kilindini 29th October 2010 -- Kenya commemorated the 19th World Mental Health Day at the Port Reitz district hospital in Kilindini District of Coast Province. The commemoration brought together officials from the Ministry of Medicals Services, the Coast Provincial Health Management Team (PHMT) and officials from the Prot Reitz District Hospital, the only mental heath center in the province.

More than 72 million children to be immunized across 15 countries to tackle remaining risks

Usaka 25th October, 2010 -- The Regional Director for the World Health Organization, African Region, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo arrived in Lusaka today for an official visit at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Zambia. He is visiting the country from 25th to 28th October, 2010. Dr. Sambo was met at the Lusaka international airport by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dr. Peter Mwaba, and other senior government officials, the WHO Representative, Dr. Olusegun Babaniyi and staff from the WHO Country Office.

Kumasi, Ghana, 24 october 2010 -- The 2010 measles supplemental immunization activities (SIA) in Ghana received a major boost last friday when a 28-member team from the UN Foundation led by the President of the Board of Directors, Mr. Ted Turner, joined health teams in two sub-districts in Kumasi capital city of the Ashanti region in preparatory activities towards the campaign scheduled from 3-6 November. Other members of the Board in the team include former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, former Director General of WHO, Dr.

Banjul, 18 October 2010: “The Government of the Gambia recognizes that mental health is at the core of any health care delivery system including our own, and is in full agreement with WHO’s slogan – No health without mental health” These were the words of the Gambia’ Health Minister, Honourable Dr Abubacarr Gaye in a televised statement marking World Mental Health Day.

Brazzaville/Berlin, 11 October 2010 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo has pointed out that, the key to attaining the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on reducing child deaths is by reaching every newborn and child with a set of priority interventions. These include appropriate breast feeding and infant and young child feeding practices; prevention of vaccine preventable diseases through effective immunization and prevention and management of common childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, malnutrition and HIV infection.

Sierra Leone joined the global community in commemorating World Mental Health Day on the theme: mental health and Long Term Illnesses: The Need for Continued and Integrated Care. The day is commemorated annually to raise awareness on mental health issues. The day was observed with broadcast statement, a float parade and an a formal ceremony.