Ethiopia sets to strengthen its capacity to detect, prevent and respond to public health emergencies

NAPHS
The Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia launched the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2019 – 2023. In a colorful ceremony, the plan was launched by HE Mr Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.  The Plan, which was developed based on the Joint External Evaluation conducted in 2016, sets a primary goal of achieving a secured capacity that ensures community resilience for public health threats and their impact. The plan puts three strategic pillars which will help the country achieve its mission and vision in line with prevention, detection, and response of public health threats. These are:  •    Preparedness and Coordination  •    Detection Capacity and Communication •    Response Capacity

AFRO Regional Director Dr Moeti urges EPI managers to strengthen immunization through accelerated implementation of Addis Declaration on Immunization in ESA countries

AFRO Regional Director Dr Moeti urges EPI managers to strengthen immunization through accelerated implementation of Addis Declaration on Immunization in ESA countries
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, today called on Expanded Programme on Immunization managers in the 20 East and Southern African countries to redouble efforts to strengthen immunization services by accelerating implementation of the Addis Declaration on Immunization to attain the Universal Health Coverage.

WHO Supports Uganda to Improve Viral Hepatitis Data Reporting

Officials from the Ministry of Health, WHO, and partners at the workshop

Kampala, 17 March 2019: - Uganda now has the capacity for the roll-out of the WHO Global Hepatitis Reporting System (GRSH) and the subsequent quarterly reporting requirement.

This followed a two-day training for various carders of health workers by WHO on hepatitis surveillance. Existing data systems for viral hepatitis in the country were also evaluated at the training.I

Ugandans Among Top Contenders for WHO Innovation Challenge Award

Health innovations to address gaps in health service delivery in Africa

Kampala, 16th March 2019: - A Ugandan researcher, Dr Misaki Wayengera, attached to the Department of Pathology at Makerere University’s College of Health Sciences, is a top contender in the final race for the WHO Africa Innovation Challenge. This follows his trailblazing invention that diagnoses hemorrhagic fevers.

Dr Wayengera’s invention also known as Pan-Filovirus Rapid Diagnostic Test, uses a paper-strip test, like the one used in testing for pregnancy. This, however, will be used in detecting Ebola, Marburg and other hemorrhagic fevers.

Mauritius participating in 5th African Health Economics and Scientific conference in Ghana from 11th to 14th March 2019

Mauritius Delegates at the afHEA Conference in Ghana, March 2019: Dr A. Samura, WHO Technical Officer, Dr L. Musango, WHO Representative, Dr (Mrs) Timol, Director Health Services, Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Mr A. Nundoochan, WHO-NPO (Operations), Mr Y. Ramful, Lead Health Analyst, Ministry of Health and Quality of Life and Dr F. Shaikh, WHO Technical Officer
More than 400 economists, financing and policy experts from more than 40 countries of the African region and other continents are participating in the 5th biennial international conference of African Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA) that is being held from 11th to 14th March at Kempinski Gold Coast in Ghana in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Ghana, Ghana Health Services, University of Ghana and Centre for health policy and systems research GIMPA. World Health Organization is also one of the partners supporting this conference. The theme for this year conference is ‘Securing PHC for all: The foundation for making progress on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa’. The conference will deliberate on strategies towards attainment of UHC in the continent, and seek to suggest Primary Healthcare (PHC) as the most important first step towards reaching this goal within various African countries.

Nigerian women are penetrating enclaves to reach children and vulnerable populations.

Women leading House to house interventions

Abuja, 13 March 2019 - “In Northern Nigeria where I work as a nurse and polio vaccinator, only women are allowed to enter houses because most women in this part of the country are in purdah (practice of seclusion)”, says Ramatu Garba of Dala Local Government in Kano State.
Not only that, many times, mothers require the permission of their spouses to take ailing children to hospitals.

Ethiopia is making significant progress in the implementation of International Health Regulation (IHR) core capacities: The country plans to launch the National Action Plan costed at over 368 million USD

Ethiopia labratory
Addis Ababa 13 March 2019: The National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) is a country owned, multi-year planning process that will accelerate the implementation of International Health Regulation (IHR) core capacities, and is based on a One Health for all-hazards, whole-government approach. The NAPHS captures the national priorities for health security, brings sectors together, identifies partners and allocates resources for health security capacity development.