Brazzaville, 15 February 2013 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, 

Nairobi, 04 February 2013 -- Kenya joined the rest of the world in marking World Cancer Day. The national event was commemorated as a media briefing, held at the Sarova PanAfric Hotel in Nairobi. The occasion was attended by senior government officials, development partners and various civil society groups. The Minister of Medical Services, Hon. Prof. Peter Anyang Nyong’o graced the occasion. 

The WHO Representative, Dr. Olusegun Babaniyi visited the Eastern Province Medical Office (PMO) from 12th-15th February 2013. The mission was undertaken to gain a better insight of how health development challenges were being addressed in the province and to identify areas for further collaboration and support through the Technical Cooperation Programme with Government. Dr. Babaniyi was welcomed to the province by the Provincial Minister, Hon. Malozo Sichone (MP), The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bert Mushala and the Provincial Medical Officer, Dr. Kennedy Malama.

The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, being funded by Partners in Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, was officially launched on the 05th February 2013 at Bots’abelo in Maseru district. The function was beautified by the presence of the Right Honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane, government ministers including the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Pinkie Manamolela, United Nations, Diplomatic corps and Non-Governmental Organizations Representatives, media and community at large. 

Lesotho recently completed a training session on the development of a National business continuity plan for the country, which was followed by the development of a draft plan. Present at the training were the International Health Regulations Manager Mr Khotso Mahomo, Chief Executive Disaster Management Authority „Mé Mojaki, StratMan Consultants, Government Officials and Representatives from non-governmental organizations. Dr. Mufunda, WHO Representative, opened the training session, which took place over 3 days.

The Director of programs PEPFAR (The United States President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief), Madam Marie F. Mc LEOD, and representatives of the United Nations systems, bilateral and multilateral partners involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS held a working session at the WHO Country office on February 5, 2013.

This meeting was part of the activities to be performed by the PEPFAR Program’s Director in order to oversee the results and impact obtained through their support.

7 February 2013 – Nine months after starting work in Bor State hospital, WHO has handed over a fully-equipped maternity ward to Jonglei State health authorities. The new ward, built by WHO with funds from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), is a 40-bed health facility with modern maternity equipment. The ward comprises two operating theatres, a labour suite, procedure room, emergency room, neonatal unit and eight cubicles each with four beds.

In many countries, medicines are required to go through a national process of quality assurance before their use is authorized – a lengthy, expensive procedure. This feature story describes how ten African countries have joined a WHO initiative that aims to speed up access to medicines and develop local expertise in medicines’ regulation.

WHO Regional Director for Africa underscores the need to work to further the aims and objectives of the United Nations and its specialized agencies.

About this issue...

The WHO country office produces a monthly newsletter to share information on what the country office does to support the national health sector agenda, in line with the country cooperation strategy.