Brazzaville, 14 April 2003 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) is maintaining a very high alert in the Region following the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a respiratory illness that has recently been reported in Asia, North and South America and Europe.

The Director of Programme Management at WHO/AFRO, Dr Luis G. Sambo, said in Brazzaville Monday that WHO had requested Member States in the Region to be on the lookout for any cases of this rare form of pneumonia.

More than 70% of the deaths of the children in Africa are due to six major diseases which are directly or indirectly related to environmental risks factors, namely acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition. 
It is estimated that one in five children in the Region will not live till its 5th birthday mainly because of environment related diseases. Many of those who survive are unable to grow and develop to their full potential because of disabilities and long-term disorders.

Brazzaville, 12 March 2003 -- Emergency situations caused by wars, civil strife and natural disasters constitute some of the most serious threats to health in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Samba, said Wednesday in Brazzaville.

Brazzaville 10 March 2003 -- As of 8 March 2003, 115 probable cases were reported in the current Ebola outbreak in the Republic of Congo, with the death toll rising to 97, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Congo, Dr Lamine Sarr, said in Brazzaville Monday.

Harare, 26 February 2003 -- Significant progress is being made in the control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the Eastern and Southern African epidemiological blocks, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) reports. 

The first consultative meeting of the African representatives on the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership Board got underway Tuesday 25 February 2003 in Harare, Zimbabwe, with a call on participants to ensure the strengthening of national capacity, country ownership and sustainability of malaria control programmes in the Region.

Key Personnel from the World Health Organization have crystallized public health challenges facing the six Southern African countries considered most vulnerable to prevailing health hazards in the region.

The first African Traditional Medicine Day is to be commemorated in the 46 countries of the African Region of the World Health Organization on 31 August 2003 under the theme "Traditional Medicine: Our Culture, Our Future."

This indication was given Friday in Brazzaville, Congo, by the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim Malik Samba.

The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim M. Samba, has been selected for this year's Distinguished Service Award of the New York-based International Health Medical Education Consortium (IHMEC).

The award is bestowed on individuals recognized for their outstanding and dedicated leadership in international health.

The Organization calls for immediate donor support to respond to the unfolding human catastrophe

7 February 2003 | ACCRA -- The World Health Organization today issued a joint Action Plan to alleviate human suffering in crisis shaken West Africa. During a three-day meeting in Accra with officials from Ministries of Health of the region, WHO staff examined the challenges of the health sector and finalized a co-ordinated response strategy.