Brazzaville, Congo 4 April 2011 -- More than 150 experts on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) began a consultation in Brazzaville, Congo as part of efforts of Member States in the WHO African Region to address the growing prevalence of these diseases.

World TB Day was celebrated on 24th March at Botsabelo Multi–Drug Resistant (MDR)/ Extensively-Drug Resistant (XDR) TB Hospital in Maseru. This is a modern state of the art facility that reflects innovative ways in management and control of MDR/XDR TB with bed occupancy of 22, laboratory, X-ray and pharmacy units. The Hospital was established in 2006 by the Government of Lesotho in collaboration with Partners.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 March 2011 -- Vaccines save millions of lives in developing countries; eradicated smallpox; lowered the global incidence of polio by 99 percent since 1988; and have achieved dramatic reduction in morbidity and mortality from a wide range of vaccine preventable diseases.

However, the cost of immunizing a child exceeds the total per capita governments spend on all health care in many developing nations. Sustainable vaccine financing increasingly represents a critical aspect of maintaining a stable vaccination program.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 March 2011 -- Vaccines save millions of lives in developing countries; eradicated smallpox; lowered the global incidence of polio by 99 percent since 1988; and have achieved dramatic reduction in morbidity and mortality from a wide range of vaccine preventable diseases.

However, the cost of immunizing a child exceeds the total per capita governments spend on all health care in many developing nations. Sustainable vaccine financing increasingly represents a critical aspect of maintaining a stable vaccination program.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 30 March 2011 -- The construction of African developmental states has been called for as a means for promotion of structural economic transformation, scaling up integration endeavors, achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other social development objectives.

Sierra Leone launched the first round of polio National Immunization Days (NIDs) Campaign 2012 in Waterloo on 23 March 2012. Hon Borbor Sawyer, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation launched the campaign, which will run from 23-26 March 2012. Delivering his state-ment, the Hon Deputy Minister said, “the community must ensure that the campaign is successfully delivered to ensure our children are pro-tected from the discomforting challenges of permanent disability”. He further reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment “to remain a strong party to the global polio eradication effort”.

The Tenth Eritrean National Book Fair was held from 18 to 27 March 2011 in Expo Compound under the theme “School Libraries: foundation to Reading Culture”. The fair which is an annual public event was officially opened by Mr. Semere Russom, Minister of Education.

The main objective of the book fair was to promote more and more reading habit among the society. Throughout the week visitors have expressed their appreciation of the book fare. Even some requested to have access of WHO materials.

Tens of thousands of cases prevented, but more needs to be done to secure lasting success

Brazzaville/Dakar, 25 March 2011 -- Health experts today confirmed that a devastating polio epidemic in west African countries is on the verge of being stopped - but warned that complacency could breathe new life into the outbreak. Since mid-2009, polio has re-infected eleven countries across west Africa, claiming many lives and leaving hundreds of children paralyzed for life.

Brazzaville, 24 March 2011 -- WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, has called for innovative actions to prevent and control tuberculosis (TB) which continues to be a public health problem to people in the African Region.

Ghana, 24 march 2011 -- Every year, March 24, the birthday of Dr Robert Koch who discovered the germ that causes Tuberculosis, is celebrated as World TB Day. This year in Ghana was no exception with all roads leading to the Jubilee Park, Sunyani the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region for the national launch of the World TB Day (WTB) 2011. The theme was "On the move against TB; Transforming the fight towards elimination".