BANJUL, 04 October 2010 -- A four-day Research Capacity Strengthening proposal and protocol development workshop organised jointly by WHO/AFRO, WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Disease (TDR) and in collaboration with the WHO Country Office (WCO) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOH&SW) opens in Banjul today.

Brazzaville/Washington, DC, 06 October 2010 - The World Health Organization’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo has called for greater private sector involvement to improve health outcomes.

He made this call while addressing delegates at the 2010 Biennial U.S-Africa Private Sector Health Conference, which is taking place from 4 -6 October 2010 in Washington, DC USA. The event is organised by the Corporate Council on Africa, under the theme: “Integrating Business Solutions for Expanding Access: Perspectives from Africa’s Leaders”

Matopos, 30 Sept. 2010. Zimbabwe commemorated a belated African Traditional Medicine Day at the Ndebele Cultural Village in the picturesque Matopos valley. The commemoration brought together traditional healers, the Traditional Medicines Practitioners Council (TMPC), and the Lushumbe community, who are some of the consumers of traditional medicine.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr D. Mombeshora appreciated the role played by traditional healers, especially in rural areas where health centers are few and far between. 

The ministry of health and sanitation has launched the Basic Package of Es-sential Health Services to improve health service delivery in the country espe-cially for women and children.

The package highlights the government’s pri-ority health interventions and provides guidance on the essential services re-quired by patients at each level of health care delivery. The Ministry devel-oped the document with support from health development partners including the UN country team (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA etc).

Nairobi, 30 September 2010 -- There has been significant progress and positive development in increasing access to HIV/AIDS services. This was according to the latest progress report released in Nairobi on 28th September as part of the global launch of the report “Towards Universal Access”, also held in Geneva and Washington. The report by WHO, UNICEF and UNAIDS was the fourth annual report for tracking progress made in achieving the 2010 target of providing universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care.

Tanzania, 29 September 2010 -- Hon. Minister of Health and Social Welfare of the United Republic of Tanzania, Prof. David Homeli Mwakyusa, officiated at the handing over of the WHO Director General’s World No Tobacco Day Award 2010 to Madam Kagaruki Lutgard, the Executive Director of Tanzania Tobacco Control Forum (TTCF) in Tanzania.

28 September 2010 -- Developing countries demonstrate that increased access to HIV/AIDS services is possible, according to the report Towards universal access, released today. Despite challenges there is steady progress in many areas for example, access to services to prevent mother-to-child transmission and treatment for HIV positive children.

The Ministry of Health with the support of WHO and World Bank conducted a three day consensus building workshop to finalize a five year strategic plan for Human Resources for Health (HRH) in Eritrea.

The workshop which continued from 15 to 17 September was officially opened by the Honourable Minister of Health, Ms Amina Nurhusien. In her remarks, the Minister emphasised that the HRH strategic plan which will be the outcome of this workshop should be in line with the National Policies in general and that of the Ministry of Health in particular. 

To adopt and finalize the five year action plan for strengthening the National Codex Committee in Eritrea Ministry of Agriculture with the WHO support conducted a workshop on September 8, 2010.

In this workshop about 40 participants from key government institutions as well as representatives from WHO and FAO serving on the committee gathered to review the draft plan and provide their inputs for its finalization. 

As part of its continued demonstration of commitment to strength-ening the country’s health systems and a successful Free Health Care Service delivery, the WHO on Wednesday 8th September handed over items worth $126,000 to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

The items that were donated included computers and accessories, brand new Toyota Hilux, motor bikes and their full gears. This is not the first time WHO is making such a good will gesture.