Windhoek 7 December 2011 -- The Third Annual Regional Conference on Immunization has ended in Windhoek, Namibia with growing calls for accelerated actions to improve immunization to save lives. Addressing the closing section of the conference, Dr Luis Sambo, WHO Regional Director for Africa, recognized the progress made and reminded that remaining challenges need to be addressed with increased commitment and collective responsibility.

Addis Ababa, 4 December 2011 -- The 16th International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) got underway in Addis Ababa on Sunday with political and health leaders calling on governments to invest more in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.

Thank you Director of Ceremonies,
Mr Kahijoro Kahuure,
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Services;
Honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Nchabi Kamwi
Honourable Minister of Health of Botswana, Rev. Dr John G. N. Seakgosing
Honourable Governor of Khomas Region, Mr Samuel Nuuyoma
Her Worship the Mayor of the City of Windhoek
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Representatives of International Organizations
Development partners
Fellow UN Representatives and colleagues

The Rwanda/Tanzania GLP inter-country workshop was held from the 21st to 25th November 2011. It involved 9 technical officers from Rwanda and 21 from Tanzania respectively. Also, arising from the late cancellations only four facilitators were able to participate in the workshop.

The facilitators had two days preparatory days prior to the workshop commencement in order to make final preparatory planning and logistic fine tuning work for the workshop. The report reflects highlights of the workshop proceedings.

Lilongwe November 2011 -- A colorful event took place at Masintha ground in Lilongwe, Malawi, on Saturday 12 November 2011, to officially mark the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV 13) as routine childhood vaccine in Malawi.

Brazzaville, 24 November 2011 -- Disease outbreaks, floods,  droughts, communal tensions, civil strife -- Africa   faces some of the world’s worst natural and man-made disasters which leave thousands dead, and millions injured, displaced and devastated.

And statistics bear this out.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, at least 32 of the 46 countries in the Region reported at least one public health emergency in 2009.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation held a stakeholders meeting to finalize a draft Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan for the health sector. The plan is being developed by the ministry in collaboration with its health development partners to measure progress towards achieving objectives of the National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP).

Lusaka, 22nd November 2011 -- The second National HIV Prevention Convention opened in Lusaka yesterday under the theme “Securing Zambia’s future through combination HIV prevention, palliative care and treatment.” The 3-day convention has been convened by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National HIV/AIDS/STI/TB Council, the United Nations County Team in Zambia and other partners to take stock of progress made in terms of the resolutions which were adopted at the first HIV prevention convention which was held in 2009.

In this Issue

1. National Health Sector review
2. Independent Monitoring of National Immunization Days
3. WHO supports Blue Trunk Library in Sierra Leone

The National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP) of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation 2010 – 2015 serves as a guide in strengthening the health system in the country.

Brazzaville, 19 November 2011 -- The African Advisory Committee on Health Research and Development (AACHRD) has recommended critical areas for action by the World Health Organization (WHO) in developing a regional response to research priorities in countries in the WHO African Region.

The recommendations were made at the end of the 25th session of the African Advisory Committee on Health Research (AACHRD which met from 17-19 November in Brazzaville, Congo.