The Human Security Unit (HSU) of the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) visited Lesotho from 3-9 March 2013. The purpose of the mission was to provide an opportunity for the HSU to assess the progress of the project implementation and the application of the human security, appreciate the challenges and added value of implementing the human security approach as well as providing guidance where necessary.

WHO is working with the government of Mauritania to improve water quality, sanitation and hygiene for its most vulnerable people.

In Mauritania, life expectancy is less than 60 years. Twenty years of drought have caused a profound demographic transformation in this country, which is 90% desert. The nomadic population has rapidly declined, with people settling in rural areas and in shantytowns in cities where access to clean water and sanitation is scarce.

"The ICASA conference remains one of the most important events in the calendar of the year, contributing towards overcoming the HIV and TB epidemics that grip our region. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region with over 22 Million people living with HIV and AIDS and the highest Tuberculosis rates world-wide. Through scientific advancements in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of HIV significant progress has been made to reduce the mortality and morbidity of AIDS.

The National Department of Health (NDOH), Communicable Diseases Control Cluster (CDC) initiated once a year nationwide influenza vaccination campaign beginning 2010 targeting specific groups of people who are at increased risk for severe influenza. 

In order to contribute to the improvement of surveillance of antimicrobial resistance at the country level, WHO/AFRO has developed a Guide for establishing laboratory-based surveillance for antimicrobial resistance.  

The Guide provides background information and defines the key steps for countries to conduct AMR surveillance for meningitis, bacteraemia and common enteric epidemic-prone diseases in a national bacteriology reference laboratory.  

The National Department of Health is planning to carry out two immunisation rounds during 2013.  First round will cover Polio and Measles starting between 29 April and 17 May.  Second round will cover only Polio and will run between 17 and 28 June 2013.  The WCO is supporting the NDOH to successfully carry out the planned immunisation. 

The conference theme is Building on Successes: Integrating Systems. According to the conference chair, Koleka Mlisana, Associate Prof and Head: Dept of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal and NHLS, “it is … time for all of us to ‘Build on all … successes’ as we tackle TB and HIV co-infections and move to the next phase  of  conquering TB and HIV & AIDS.” The conference provides an opportunity for participants to showcase the great work and contribution they are making in achieving “our common goal of an HIV free world”.

On the 28th March, 2013 the WHO Country Office handed over to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, vehicles and equipment to support major activities in the area of immunization as well as surveillance at the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA). 
The items handed over included: 7 vehicles, 129 fridges, and temperature monitoring tools, 3 desk top computers, 3 UPS, 4 laptops, 1 photocopy machine, 1 printer and 1 scanner. The value of all these items is USD 1,685,369.45 equivalent to Tsh. 2,733,669,248.

Brazzaville, 26 March 2013 -- Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa (PALOP) and their Latin American counterparts are set to benefit from the inauguration on Monday (25 March) of a Centre for the Study of Tobacco and Health (CETAB) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Established by Brazil’s School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), CETAB will focus on research and teaching as well as the provision of technical assistance in addressing noncommunicable diseases related to unhealthy life style, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.

Brazzaville, 26 March 2013  -- Countries affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in the African Region should  intensify efforts along with their health and development partners to raise the profile of these diseases of poverty. 

They should also advocate for increased domestic funding to sustain implementation of national NTD programmes, work to strengthen national health services, and improve national NTD programme implementation at the community level so that treatments can directly reach those targeted with minimum delay.