Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases will strengthen national programmes and help secure sustainable financing to combat diseases of poverty

Masaka 23th May 2016:- The Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), GAVI, UNICEF and other partners over the weekend implemented a  mass Yellow Fever vaccination campaign in Masaka, and Rukungiri districts which  have recently had confirmed cases of the disease.  The preparation for Kalangala district is in progress.

Monrovia, 20 May 2016 - The Ministry of Health Liberia with support from the World Health Organization, Development and Implementing Partners initiated a comprehensive training program for its County Health Teams and Health facility Managers as part of the health system strengthening plan. This is aimed at building the capacity at county level to implement integrated and people-centered operational plans for better health care service delivery.

May 18, 2016: The 6th African Vaccination Week has been officially launched in Ethiopia, in Assosa town of Benishangul Gumuz region. The launching was very colorful attended by partners including WHO, UNICEF, Rotary, CHAI, PATH, JSI/UI-FHS, Core Group, CUSO, World Vision, IRC as well as by the national and local medias and the celebration will continue with serious of events throughout the week from 18-24 May, 2016.

By Dr Michel Yao
WHO Representative to Central African Republic

Three years of conflict have left a heavy toll on the people of the Central African Republic – a country among the 10 poorest in the world. Nearly one million people are still uprooted from their homes and communities. Half of the total population of 4.6 million people lack access to essential health services. Whilst a peace process slowly takes hold, the people need support to recover and rebuild, and health plays an essential role.

AVW 2016 Theme, “Close the Immunization Gap. Stay Polio Free!”

Addis Ababa,  May 18-24, 2016: The Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) is commemorating the 6th African Vaccination Week (AVW) countrywide from 18-24 May 2016, with the national launching taking place in Assosa, Benishangul Gumuz on 18 May 2016. In line with the AVW theme, “Close the Immunization Gap; Stay Polio Free,’’ the commemorations aim to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination in reducing child mortality and renew efforts to reach the unreached children. 

Kampala, 20th May 2016:- The WHO Country Office (WCO) in Uganda hosted a two day international workshop on the newly introduced Strategic Partnership Portal (SPP) that aims at building stronger health systems for sustainable health security in WHO member states.

The SPP is an online tool that allows countries, donors and partners to see all funding coming into a particular country and how it is distributed and other information collected from national authorities and stakeholders. 

Sequencing of the virus in Cabo Verde by Institut Pasteur, Dakar confirms that the Zika virus currently circulating in Cabo Verde is the same as the one circulating in the Americas - the Asian type- and was most likely imported from Brazil. This is the first time that the Zika strain responsible for the outbreaks linked to neurological disorders and microcephaly has been detected in Africa.

Victoria, Seychelles 19 May 2016 - The Seychelles islands have welcomed Mr Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General on a two day historical visit in the country from the 7th to the 8th of May 2016. Mr. Ban Ki-moon’s visit to the small island state follows the invitation of the President of the Republic of Seychelles Mr James Michel, who was at the Seychelles International Airport to meet the UN Secretary on his arrival Saturday. Mr Ban is the first sitting UN secretary general to visit Seychelles since the country joined the Organisation in September 1976.

BISHOFTU - 10 May 2016 | Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) of the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in collaboration with the World Health Organization HQ and Country Office in Ethiopia (WCO) trained 30 experts drawn from EPHI, the office of Disaster Risk Management and Food Security (DRMFS), and academia.