Political will and evidence-based action to end TB in the African Region a must – WHO Regional Director for Africa

Dr Moeti delivering her speech at the first WHO Global Ministerial Conference on ending TB in the sustainable development era

23 November 2017 - World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti recently attended the first WHO Global Ministerial Conference on ending TB in the sustainable development era – November 16 to 17, in Moscow, Russian Federation the Conference was aimed at accelerating the implementation of the “End TB strategy” by ensuing national and global commitments, deliverables and accountability. It was jointly organized by Russia’s Ministry of Health and WHO.

Monitoring the efficacy of antimalarial medicines in Tanzania

Therapeutic efficacy studies involve microscopic examinations of blood films

Tanga, 17-22 November 2017: The advent of Artemisinin Based Combination Therapies (ACTs) since 2001 as first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria has had a major impact in the steady reduction of the disease in endemic countries where it has been adopted alongside other interventions such as the use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs), Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and Rapid Diagnos

Promoting Interagency Collaboration to Ensure Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Development in Ethiopia

R to L Dr Akpaka Kalu, Representative to WHO Ethiopia in his address and Dr Mebratu Meles, State Minister to Ministry of Industry
A meeting on an interagency framework of collaboration for implementation of the National Strategy and Plan of Action for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Development in Ethiopia (NSPA-Pharma) was conducted in Addis Ababa from 14-15 November, 2017. The meeting was co-organized by WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Health and attended by various national & international organizations including UN agencies, international development partners, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Health Ethiopia and other stakeholders working in the area.

WHO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health established water quality control testing hub within the National Public Health Laboratory to guide water safety management and prevent water-borne diseases in South Sudan

Mr Alex Freeman, handing over the water quality testing kit to the national public health laboratory technician in charge for water quality and safety testing.

Juba, 21 November 2017:  The conflict coupled with the country's worsening economic crisis have more than doubled the cost of delivering water, sanitation and hygiene services. Lack of access to clean water and sanitation is a public health concern in South Sudan.  

World Antibiotics Awareness Week in Tanzania

Media training during the WAAW

Dar es Salaam, 13-19 November 2017 - This year, the United Republic of Tanzania joined the world to commemorate World Antibiotics Awareness Week (WAAW) aimed to raise awareness of the urgent need to act on antibiotic resistance and the steps to be taken. The theme is “Seek advice from a qualified health professional before taking antibiotics”.

Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections in humans and animals.

Tackling antibiotic resistance in Sierra Leone

raising awareness on antibiotic resistance with school children in Sierra Leone
Staff from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and student pharmacists engaged thousands of children at schools this week around Western Area Urban and Rural on safe antibiotic use, during commemorations of World Antibiotic Awareness Week. Other teams including those in the districts also engaged health workers, pharmacists and those working in the animal sector to promote safe and responsible use and dispensing of antibiotics among these groups, as well as adequate infection prevention and control in healthcare settings.

Ghanaians urged to seek advice from qualified health practitioners before taking antibiotics

Dignitaries at the launch of Antibiotic Awareness Week

Mr, Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, the Deputy Minister of Health, has urged all Ghanaians to seek advice from qualified health practitioners before taking antibiotics. He emphasized that the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was ever increasing with serious implications on health indicators. He added that a major contributor to AMR was the misuse of antimicrobials; largely as a result of ignorance and irresponsible use by all actors.

Women and Girls should be empowered to strengthen their capacity to prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes screening for the general public

The Honourable Deputy Minister for Health, Mr Aboagye Gyedu, has called for women and girls to be empowered with easy and equitable access to knowledge and resources to strengthen their capacity to prevent type 2 diabetes in their families and better safeguard their own health. He made this statement during this year’s World Diabetes Day Celebration at Kyebi in the Eastern Region of Ghana under the theme “Women and Diabetes-our right to a healthy future”.