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Globally, 5.4 million children under the age of 5 died in 2017. Nearly half of these deaths (2.71 million) occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria remain the main causes of death among children 2-59 months of age. Since 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have recommended the integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) as a key strategy to deliver life-saving interventions for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea to populations with poor access to health services.  iCCM is a component of a comprehensive strategy for integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI), which includes a broader and multi-sector community approach.

The second synchronized Horn of Africa cross-border polio coordination and micro planning meeting which was organized for district level health officials of Ethiopia and Somaliland and Puntland held from 16-18, July 2019 in Jigjiga city of Somali region in Ethiopia. The first synchronized cross border micro planning meeting was held in Hargeisa Somaliland from 12 to 13 June 2019 with great success where the lower level staffs were fully involved and engaged in the process of cross-border micro plan.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the WHO Africa Region discussed Pooled Procurement Programme to reduce costs and improve access to quality medicines during a First Technical Meeting held in Mauritius from 16 to 18 July 2019. Directors Pharmaceutical Services, Heads of regulatory and procurements agencies, finance experts and other key stakeholders from SIDS countries of the African Region, namely Cabo Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe and Seychelles participated in this important meeting. Madagascar also joined the meeting which aimed at building consensus towards the effective implementation of the SIDS Pooled Procurement Program in line with the Seychelles Declaration of September 2017 wherein Health Ministers expressed interest to implement a Pooled Procurement mechanism.