Kenya in determined effort to keep polio virus at bay

Kenyan health workers in a march to create awareness about the need to immunize children against polio

Kenya remains determined to keep the country free of the polio virus following a finding of a circulating vaccine-derived polio virus in an environmental water sample in Nairobi last April. 
Earlier in the month, the Ministry of Health launched Round Two of its planned polio campaign covering 12 counties at risk and targeting 2.8 under five children. Round Zero of the supplemental Immunization Activity was done in Nairobi only targeting 800,000 children while Round One done in July vaccinated 2.5 million children in the 12 counties. 

Uganda heightens Ebola preparedness response

US Ambassador Ms Deborah R. Malac shares her experience from the visit to Uganda-DRC border, surrounding her are the members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Minister of Health and the WHO Representative

Kampala, 23 August 2018:- In the wake of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda has heightened its surveillance and alertness at the Uganda-DRC border. This was revealed at a high-level breakfast meeting held at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala to brief the Diplomatic Corps, the Health Development Partners and the media in Uganda about the current outbreak in DRC and status of Uganda’s Ebola preparedness response.

Seychelles sets course to establish a Nutrition Information System

Bekele NIS meeting

Seychelles, 22 August 2018 - In response to the need to have a holistic information system that can continuously collect, analyse and interpret data related to nutrition, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is supporting the Ministry of Health in Seychelles to develop the country’s Nutrition Information System (NIS).

Our first year together

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

It's been just over a year since Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took office as WHO Director-General. Here’s his first annual letter outlining the achievements made towards WHO’s mission “to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable”.

 

National Blood Policy formulation and development of a Strategic Framework of Action for Blood Service for Mauritius

Dr Tapko providing technical support to the health professionals and other key stakeholders in view of formulating the Blood Policy and develop the Strategic Framework of Action for Blood Service for Mauritius
Blood transfusion is an essential part of modern health care. Used correctly, it can save lives and improve health. However, inappropriate and improper use of blood can lead to adverse reactions resulting in morbidity and even mortality. Safety of blood and blood products is of serious concern to countries, officials in charge of Blood Transfusion Services and prescribing clinicians. Apart from the well-known transfusion transmissible infections like HIV and hepatitis viruses, there are many emerging and re-emerging infections which are transmitted or could potentially be transmitted through blood transfusion.   In keeping with the WHO recommendations, Mauritius is required to have an approved National Blood Policy and a strategic framework that will ensure an adequate supply of safe and effective blood products and related medical services that are used appropriately for the benefit of all patients in Mauritius. In this context, Dr Jean Baptiste Tapko, WHO-consultant and expert on Blood and Blood products undertook a mission from 31st July to 10th August 2018 to review and finalize the National Blood Policy in Mauritius and support the country in developing a Strategic Framework for Action as well as finalize the Standards. The mission started with briefing meeting between. Dr Hon Anwar Husnoo, Minister of Health and Quality of life,  Dr. Laurent Musango, WHO Representative in Mauritius and key policy makers at the Health Ministry.   During the meeting the objectives of the mission were discussed and orientation from the Minister was provided to the team working on National Blood policy.

EBOLA - Hope is at the end of the tunnel in Mangina - (East of the DRC)

Athanase Ndungo Bonane
Mangina (North Kivu), 17 August 2018. "I was under a lot of stress and experienced insomnia  mixed with nightmare all night," says Sister Darlène Mwasi, a registered nurse at the Mangina referral health centre, which is more than 30 kilometres southwest of the town of Beni in North Kivu.