Harare, 17 February 2004 -- African governments should ensure improved access to emergency obstetric care (EOC) as this is key to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in order to reduce the high maternal and neonatal mortality rate in the Region, a Reproductive Health expert said in Harare on Monday.

A meeting to develop a roadmap and common strategy for accelerating and monitoring the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to maternal and newborn health will be held from 16 to 18 February in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Brazzaville, 5 February 2004 -- The World Health Organization has re-iterated its call to Member States in the African Region to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), often referred to as female circumcision."

The practice -- still prevalent in at least 27 African countries - comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injures to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons.

Brazzaville, 3 February 2004 -- A technical consultation to review the national profiles on the status of children's environmental health in six African countries is to take place from 4 to 6 February in Cape Town, South Africa, hosted on behalf of the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) by the Medical Research Council of South Africa. 

New York, 3 February 2004 -- In observance of Africa Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF)1, Africare2 and Medilinks3, is organizing an exhibition and a panel discussion on 19 February 2004 in New York highlighting health and development issues in Africa. 

Brazzaville -- The Swiss foundation "Winds of Hope" is to make US$2 million available to the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) over a five year period in support of efforts to combat noma -- a devastating gangrenous disease which starts in the mouth and spreads quickly to disfigure the face. 

LUANDA, 09 December 2003 -- The 11th meeting of the Task Force on Immunization (TFI) in Africa and the 10th meeting of the Africa Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Committee (ARICC) ended on Friday, December 5, 2003 in Luanda, Angola with the adoption of recommendations aimed at strengthening Routine Immunization, interrupting wild polio virus in polio endemic countries and sustaining gains in accelerated disease control initiatives. 

LUANDA - African leaders have been called upon to redouble efforts to ensure that polio is eradicated from the continent by the set target of 2005 by the Angolan Prime Minister Fernando da Piedade, at the opening session of the 11th Meeting of the Task Force on Immunization (TFI) and the 10th Meeting of the African Regional Inter-Agency coordinating Committee (ARICC) on 2nd December, 2003. 

Luanda, - Task Force on Immunisation Chairman Prof Francis Nkrumah called on African governments to make concerted efforts in political and resources commitment towards immunization to rid the continent of vaccine preventable diseases, at the opening of the 11th Meeting of the Task Force on Immunization (TFI) in Africa and the 10th annual African Regional Inter agency Coordination Committee (ARICC) in Luanda, Angola on the December 02, 2003.

Luanda -- The 11th Meeting of the Task Force on Immunization (TFI) and the 10th Meeting of the African Regional Inter-Agency coordinating Committee (ARICC) whose thrust is to review recommendations made last year and make projections for the coming year opened Tuesday, in Luanda, Angola.