Ebola vaccination begins in North Kivu

Ebola vaccination begins in North Kivu

8 August 2018, Mangina/Geneva - The Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo today announced the launch of Ebola vaccinations for high risk populations in North Kivu province.

The vaccinations have begun just one week after the announcement of a second outbreak of Ebola this year in the country. A total of 44 cases have been reported so far, of which 17 have been confirmed.

Work has begun to prepare ring vaccination in the Mangina health area, 30km from the town of Beni.

Nigerian Government partners with the World Health Organization to improve healthy ageing

Centre (from left to right) : In light blue jacket, Baba Idris Haliru, Dr Andrew Mbewe (WHO) and Mrs Abigael Molme (Molme Foundation). Behind: Some of the beneficiaries of the intervention at Goza IDP camp.

 Abuja, 8 August, 2018 - Baba Idris Halilu Ibrahim is a retiree in in his late 70’s.  A native of Gwoza local government area, Borno State, Baba Idris fled his hometown and relocated to Goza IDP camp in Abuja when terrorists attacked his village in August 2014.   

“Since coming to Abuja, I thank God I have been able to access at least three meals a day and basic healthcare,” he says.
“I wonder what would have happened to me if I decided to remain in Gwoza like my fellow elderly friends,” he states tearfully. 

Ghana Health Service and its Health Partners engage the media during Breastfeeding Week

Dr Kaluwa interacts with a nursing mother at a Postnatal Clinic

As part activities of the 2018 breastfeeding week celebration in Ghana, the Ghana Health Service and its health partners organized a media briefing and orientation on the importance of breastfeeding at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
Speaking at the function, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), , said although the country has made appreciable strides in promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF), rates, have stagnated in the recent past.

Ghana launches the Parliamentary TB Caucus

Group photograph of TB Parliamentary Caucus and other invited guest at the launching

Ghana on 02 August, 2018 made strides when it launched its Parliamentary TB Caucus. The launch of this body was done by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Honorable Joseph Osei-Wusu. This event organized by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health in collaboration with the Stop TB Partnership and the Aurum Institute took place at the Parliament House.

Ethiopia launches an integrated measles, vitamin A, and deworming campaign for displaced people in Gedeo Zone

Preventive measles vaccination campaign for displaced and host community, Gedeo Zone
The Ethiopian Ministry of Health has launched a preventive measles vaccination campaign to immunize 928 000 children aged 6 months to 15 years among the internally displaced and host communities in Gedeo Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. The campaign will also involve administering vitamin A to children aged six months to five years and deworming of children aged two to five years. Plans are underway for a similar campaign targeting 516 000 children in West Guji Zone of Oromia Region.

WHO and partners take first step to develop National Action Plan for Health Security to improve emergency preparedness

Group photo of participants NAPSH Seychelles

Seychelles, 6th August 2018 - Ministry of Health in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) has ended a two days workshop to develop the Seychelles Nation Action Plan on Health Security (NAPHS). The workshop took place at the Savoy Hotel, Beau Vallon, Mahe on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd August 2018. It was facilitated by two WHO staff, Dr Allan Mpairwea and Mr Antonio Oke and brought together multi stakeholders including various line Ministries and agencies, Laboratories, Educational institutions, Media houses, and Port and Airport authorities.

Health Market Inquiry (HMI) Report Released

The Health Market inquiry (HMI) established by competition commission to investigate South Africa’s private healthcare market released its provisional report on 5th July 2018 in the presence of the Minister of Health, media and stakeholders from healthcare sector. The HMI was chaired by Judge Sandile Ngcobo, a retired Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court. The Commission after 4 years of detailed investigation and multiple stakeholder consultations concluded that: Private health market is characterised by high and rising costs of healthcare and medical scheme cover; disempowered and uninformed consumers; and ineffective regulation and failures of accountability at many levels. The 808 page provisional report makes several interesting findings and lists out some recommendations including (but not limited to): Establishment of a supply side regulator to set the rules of the game and scrutinize the private sector: Measurement and Public reporting of health outcomes by the private providers to improve competition and inform patients about quality of care; Replacement of Certificates of Need with hospital licences for equitable spread of facilities across the country.

WHO supports South Africa’s draft bill to control Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems

Tobacco: deadly in any form or disguise
The Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, approved by the Cabinet of the Republic of South Africa (the Bill) and published for public comment until Thursday 9 August 2018, is a highly comprehensive piece of tobacco control legislation. It is consistent with South Africa’s obligations under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and brings South Africa back to the forefront of international tobacco control best practice. The Bill updates existing tobacco control laws to keep pace with global tobacco control recommendations and allows the effective regulation of new tobacco products, in particular electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS) and heated tobacco products (HTPs). These and other novel and emerging tobacco products are not adequately covered under South Africa’s current tobacco control legislation which was drafted to regulate cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products.