Ethiopia commemorates World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, launches Sector-Specific Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Containment

Ethiopia commemorates World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, launches Sector-Specific Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Containment

Ethiopia is commemorating the 2022 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) through a series of events that are aimed at raising the awareness of health professionals and the community in general on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), its hazards, containment and prevention.
The country has also launched Sector Specific Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance prevention and containment which is the first of its kind in the World Health Organization African Region.

Lutte contre la Résistance aux antimicrobiens : une affaire de tous !

Lutte contre la Résistance aux antimicrobiens : une affaire de tous !

Abdallah (nom d’emprunt) est un jeune marocain qui a succombé à une infection à Staphylococcus Aureus Résistant à la Méticilline « SARM », un type de bactérie à gram positif très résistante à plusieurs molécules. Cette infection est survenue après son retour au bercail suite à une opération chirurgicale qu’il a subie en France. Au Maroc où il devait poursuivre sa rééducation, il lui a été diagnostiqué une infection à staphylocoque doré multi résistant donc ne répondant pas à l’arsenal thérapeutique disponible sur le marché.

World Diabetes Day 2022: Mauritius launched Health Promotion Clubs in the Public Service to promote health and fight diabetes and other NCDs

Launching of Health Promotion Clubs in the Public Service to mark the World Diabetes Day 2022 in Mauritius
Port Louis, 17 November 2022.  The Honourable Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr kailash Kumar Jagutpal launched Health Promotion Clubs in the Public Service on 14 November 2022 to mark the World Diabetes Day 2022 in Mauritius.  The Health Promotion Clubs aim at promoting a healthy lifestyle among the public officers through regular practice of physical activity, talks and awareness campaigns on health issues, especially NCD risk factors and regular NCD screening programme.  Eminent personalities including the Minister of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms, Honourable Mr Teeruthraj Hurdoyal and the newly arrived World Health Organization (WHO) Representative, Dr Anne Marie Ancia attended the event.  High officials of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, representatives of other ministries  and numerous public officers were also present. “Diabetes is a silent killer.  It affects a huge proportion of the population in Mauritius,” said Dr K. Jagutpal, Health Minister in his address.  He expressed concern on the growing number of prediabetes in the population as well as the prevalence of uncontrolled diabetes. The risks of having complications are higher among the uncontrolled diabetes said Dr Hon. Jagutpal.   “You need to know yourself.  That is in terms of your family history as heredity is a non-modifiable factor for noncommunicable diseases”, added Dr K. Jagutpal.  He urged public officers to take advantage of the facilities that are being put at their disposal at their workplace for regular practice of physical activity to prevent diabetes and other NCDs. “You need to invest more in your health and you have to work hard to make this behaviour of practicising regular physical activity a habit”, further added the Health Minister.     The Health Minister emphasized on this year’s theme "Education to protect tomorrow", and the need for better access to quality diabetes education for health professionals and people living with diabetes.   The last NCD survey conducted in 2021 shows around 20% of the overall population in Mauritius has diabetes.  The prevalence of uncontrolled diabetes is a real concern as it increases the risk of severe health complications such as heart diseases, renal impairment, eyes problems and damaged arteries. Pre-diabetes and obesity are major precursors of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and therefore, promoting a healthy lifestyle at an early age will help to reverse the situation.   The support and technical assistance provided by the World Health Organization was duly acknowledged by Dr Hon. K. Jagutpal.

Stakeholders call for increased access to diabetes education 

Nigeria Minister of State for Health, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama delieving a speech on World Diabetes Day

Abuja, 15 November, 2022 - Commemorating the 2022 World Diabetes Day, the Nigeria Minister of State for Health, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama, on 14 November, emphasized that increased access to diabetes education among the populace is critical to the prevention and management of the disease.

The minister, in a press briefing in Abuja, said that a large majority of people living with the disease in Nigeria have little or no knowledge of diabetes and its complications, and this has been increasing the risk of developing the disease.

WHO provides vehicles to enhance health security in Tanzania

Hon. Minister for Health receiving keys for one of the vehicles donated by WHO

Dodoma - The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for a robust country’s capacity to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to public health emergencies of international concern in the African Region. More than a year into the pandemic, the human and the economic toll has been unprecedented, threatening decades of development gains. While the full extent of COVID-19’s impact on human health and related social and economic issues is yet to be seen, immediate measures must be taken to mitigate future public health emergencies.