Kenya is experiencing rapid change in the epidemiology of malaria as a result of scaled up malaria control and prevention interventions. At present over two thirdsof the country has malaria prevalence of less than 10%.

The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitationin collaboration with partners will distribute approximately 10 million nets in four provinces (Nyanza, Western, Coast and Rift valley) covering a population of 20 million. The activity is expected to deliver nets to achieve universal coverage by providing one net for every 2 persons in these regions.

Brazzaville, 7 March 2011 -- In the last week of April 2011, the African Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) will observe the first African Vaccination Week (AVW).

The establishment of the week is in response to a resolution adopted by Ministers of Health at the sixtieth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in 2010 “to institutionalize an annual African Vaccination Week for sustaining advocacy, expanding community participation and improving immunization service delivery.”

Theme, ‘’TB, TB/HIV and other lung diseases: challenges to the attainment of MDGs in Africa’’

The 18th African Union conference of the international union against tuberculosis and lung disease (IUATLD) was held from 3-5th March, 2011 in Abuja Nigeria. This biennial conference brings together stakeholders on TB and Lungs Diseases and provides ample opportunity for interaction and sharing of information and best practices for the control of these diseases

Windhoek, 1 March 2011 -- Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the major public health concerns in Namibia with 13 332 TB cases reported in 2009. The emergence of drug-resistance tuberculosis (DR-TB), which is more difficult to treat, is on the rise. TB is also the world’s biggest killer of people living with HIV. In Namibia, 60% of TB patients are HIV positive.Namibia is one of the few countries, in which patients can receive free comprehensive care for both TB and HIV.

Windhoek, 25 February 2011 --  The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners will commemorate for the first time Healthy Lifestyle’s Day on 25 February 2011, with the theme “Take a Step Closer to your Health, Get a Health Check-Up,” at Government Office Park in Windhoek from 08H00 to 17H00.

Brazzaville, 20 February 2011 - The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa Dr Luis Sambo has urged countries in the Central African Region to scale up efforts towards improving the health of populations. Dr Sambo was speaking at the 3rd meeting of Ministers of health of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) which ended in Brazzaville, Congo, on Saturday 19 February 2011.

14 February 2011 - An innovative vaccine will protect children against pneumococcal disease, which causes life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. Kenya is the fourth country to roll out the vaccine as part of its immunization programme. In the past three months, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone and Yemen have also introduced the vaccine.

Nairobi, 14th February 2011 - Hundreds of infants in Kenya received their first shots against pneumococcal disease today at a special event to celebrate the global roll out of vaccines targeting the world’s biggest child killer –pneumonia.

The ceremony held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, was presided over by Kenya’s President, His Excellency Hon Mwai Kibaki.

Brazzaville, 11 February 2011 - The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Luis Sambo on Friday 11 February 2011 called on all diplomats to be advocates for health towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. He made this call at a meeting with members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Republic of Congo in Brazzaville.

9 February 2011 - Around 70 Heads of diplomatic missions and bilateral and multilateral agencies accredited to Congo will gather at the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) in Brazzaville on Friday 11 February for a meeting with the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo.

The one-day meeting is being organized by WHO as part of the organization’s continuing efforts to strengthen ongoing partnerships with stakeholders for Africa’s sustainable health development.