Sierra Leone commemorates World Breastfeeding Week from 1-7 Au-gust 2011 on the theme Talk to Me! Breastfeeding - a 3D experience. The theme highlights the importance of communication, information and experience sharing in protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding. The occasion was launched by the Minister of Health and Sanitation Hon Zainab Bangura. The MOHS also launched “We Pikin Network” (Our Children’s Network) initiatives which is a com-munity support group to promote exclusive breastfeeding.

The Ministry of Health of Rwanda in collaboration with its health sector development partners is conducting the Midterm review (MTR) and Joint assessment of Health Sector Strategic Plan II (JANS of HSSPII).

This activity is led by the Ministry of Health and is financially and technically supported by the IHP+ under the coordination of the WHO, both in preparatory phases, facilitation of the recruitment of the international consultants, and the actual activity of the review.

Ministry of Health and Sanitation held its second quarter 2011 Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) review meeting on 21-22 July 2011. The objectives were to discuss surveillance performance at national and district levels and to prepare plan for the next quarter. Participants of meeting included Directors, Programme Managers, and District Medical Officers, National and District Surveillance Officers. WHO provided financial and technical support for the meeting.

The Kwara state government and the World Health Organisation in Nigeria are set to work together towards reducing child and maternal mortality rate.

This consensus was reached at a recent meeting between Her Excellency, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, the First Lady of Kwara state and the Representative of the World Health Organisation in Nigeria, Dr. David Okello at the United Nations House, Abuja.

In a ceremony that took place at the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja on 15th July 2011, the acting WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. David Okello, handed over a Toyota Hilux pick-up 4-WD vehicle to the Honourable Minister of Health, Professor C.O. Chukwu, ably represented by Dr. Mansur Kabir, Head of Public Health Department at the Federal Ministry of Health, to boost Guinea worm disease (GWD) surveillance activities in Nigeria. Dr.

The reappointed Honourable Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu has applauded the World Health Organisation for its technical contribution towards uplifting the health standards of Nigerians especially at community levels.

The Minister who paid a courtesy visit recently to the WHO Nigeria at the United Nations House, Abuja said that Nigeria’s achievement in both national and international fora would not have been possible without the technical support of WHO Nigeria.

Lilongwe, 13 July 2011 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination and Chairman of The Nippon Foundation in Japan, Mr Yohei Sasakawa arrived in Malawi on Thursday (13 July 2011) on a three day visit.

Mr Sasakawa is visiting Malawi at a time when the country is witnessing an increase in leprosy cases.

Eritrea, adhering to the global commitments to tackle the appalling human and economic losses from road traffic accidents, launched the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.

The launching ceremony was held on the 11th of June 2011 in the capital city in the presence of government officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transportation and communication, WHO and UNICEF representatives as well as representatives from key stake holders and the community.

Mbabane, Swaziland, 4-6 July 2011 -- The WHO Swaziland Country Office, supported by WHO AFRO Social and Economic Determinants of Heath Unit Representative Dr Chandralall Sookram facilitated in the first of its kind national workshop to address social determinants of health in Swaziland.