The WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Joaquim Saweka has presented a Certificate of Recognition to Mr. Samuel K. Hagan for being adjudged the Best Worker for 2006. Dr. Saweka made the presentation at a WCO staff new year lunch promoted by the Staff Association on Friday 1, February 2008. The day will go into the annals of the WHO Country Office as a memorable one since it is the first time a staff has been honored for meritorious service to the Organization.

Kampala, 4 February 2008 -- At the conclusion of  his official visit to Uganda, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, thanked the government for inviting him to visit the country in order to have discussions and visit places that relate to the programme of collaboration between WHO and Uganda.

He noted with satisfaction the good progress made  by Uganda, particularly the existence of a good National Health Policy and a sector strategic plan that is working well.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Luis Gomes Sambo started a 4-day official working visit to Uganda at the invitation of the government. He was received at Entebbe International Airport by the Minister of Health Dr Stephen Mallinga, the WHO Country Representative Dr Melville George and other senior government officials.

Floods across western Africa in September were the worst for several decades. Hundreds of thousands of people were at least temporarily displaced, health risks from water-borne bacteria and viruses surged, and already over-burdened health systems were disrupted or destroyed.

As countries in the western African flood plain continue to recover, WHO and partners recently responded with distributions of badly needed medical equipment, drugs and supplies to help get health services back to normal.

The Head of State and President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour at the weekend shared moments of joy with the WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr. Joaquim Saweka at the grand durbar of the chiefs and people of Mamfe in Akwapim Traditional Area of the Eastern Region. The two personalities joined the people of Mamfe Akwapim to climax their Annual Ohum festival on Saturday 26 January 2008. 

24th January 2008, Lusaka -- The Ministry of Health in collaboration with other partners in maternal and child health launched the National Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health at a ceremony which was held at Chilenje urban clinic on Wednesday, 23rd January, 2008. The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Brian Chituwo officially launched the partnership. In his launch statement, Dr.

WHO Country Office Lesotho Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 1, Jan. 2008

The road can be a dangerous place. In Africa, traffic crashes are a leading cause of death and fatality rates are the highest worldwide. Young road users are most at risk: traffic collisions are the third cause of death for children aged 5 to 14 years. A lack of awareness or of enforcement on key risk factors - excessive speed, driving under the influence, not wearing helmets or buckling seat-belts - threatens lives.

Gambia, 10 December 2007 -- The ratification by the National Assembly of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in June 2007 was indeed an important mile stone in the history of tobacco control in a country like The Gambia where smoking and other forms of tobacco use are presumed to be on the increase.

What makes it even more important is the fact that the Assembly ratified the Convention without reservation; a move seen as a demonstration of commitment by policy makers to tobacco control.

Brazzaville, 7 December 2007 -- The World Bank and the US-based pharmaceutical company Merck & Co Inc., on Wednesday announced a commitment to contribute US $50 million in support of the World Health Organization’s African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC.)