Malawi launches the National Alcohol Policy on 18 August 2017

The Minister of Health, Honorable Atupele Muluzi waves high the newly launched National Alcohol Policy for Malawi
On 18 August the Malawi Government launched the National Alcohol Policy at a ceremony that took place at Kantchito Primary School Ground at Bembeke in Dedza District. The guest of Honor for the auspicious occasion was Honorable Minister of Health, Mr Atupele Muluzi MP. Among the distinguished guests were the World Health Organization Representative Dr Eugene Nyarko, the Chief of Health Services, Dr Charles Mwansambo, the Chairman for Southern Africa Alcohol Policy Alliance, Mr Phillip Chimponda Francis and the Executive Director for Drug Fight Malawi, Mr Nelson Zakeyu just to mention a few.

Eritrea Launched the Health Sector Strategic Development Plan II (HSSDP II) 2017-2021

Health Sector Strategic Development Plan II
The Launching of the second Health Sector Strategic Development Plan (HSSDPII) was held on 2 June 2017 at Orotta National Referral Hospital Conference Hall. The development of the HSSDP II for Eritrea for the period 2017-2021 was led by the Ministry of Health, with the participation of other Government Sectors, Partners and relevant stakeholders. In it’s formulation, recommendations from the mid-term review previously conducted on key achievements and challenges during the implementation of the HSSDP I and health sector situation analysis were used.

Oral Cholera Vaccination campaign to combat cholera in South Sudan concludes despite security and access challenges

Jacqueline Maina, WHO Emergency Mobile Medical Team coordinator, administering Oral Cholera Vaccine in Kapoeta town. Credit WHO South Sudan
The first round of an Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign in four priority counties of South Sudan with active transmission of cholera, has successfully concluded despite security and access challenges in some areas. The vaccination campaign started on the 29 July, 2017 to 4 August, 2017 in the Kapoeta state including Kapoeta South, Kapoeta North, and Kapoeta East while in Tonj East the campaign started on 5 August, 2017 and ended on 12 August, 2017.

Retour volontaire de refugies Burundais

Retour volontaire de refugies Burundais

Ils sont 70 anciens réfugiés burundais qui ont volontairement décidé de rentrer chez eux. La cérémonie devant marquer leur accueil a eu lieu ce jour 14 août 2017 sur le pont de passage entre la République Démocratique du Congo et le Burundi à Gatumba. On notait également la présence d’officiels des deux pays frères et plusieurs fonctionnaires des Nations-Unies et de quelques ONG.
 

Taking stock of lessons learnt from the Cholera outbreak response in Tanzania

Participants engaged in the planning and preparatory session prior to the AAR
The United Republic of Tanzania is battling an outbreak of Cholera that has since August 2015 affected 26,046 people and claimed 410 lives. Ending the outbreak and preventing its spread beyond Tanzania's borders is a high priority for WHO. To that end, WHO and partners support a well-coordinated multisectoral response through the National Cholera Task Force which plans, coordinates and support subnational authorities.

Seventy seven percent (77%) of children 12 – 23 months in Nigeria did not receive all routine immunization – Survey findings

Dr Rachel Seruyange making a speech on behalf of the WHO Country Representative Dr Wondimagegenehu Alemu

Abuja, 10 August, 2017 - A major survey finding from 2016 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey/National Immunization Survey Coverage (MICS/NICS) reveals that seventy seven percent (77%) of children aged 12 – 23 months in Nigeria have not received all the routine vaccinations as recommended by the national EPI schedule while forty percent (40%) of children in this age group did not receive any vaccinations putting  it  to be far below the ninety percent (90%) national target that has been set by the country.

The United Republic of Tanzania launches the National Action Plan for Health Security

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“Building resilience, strengthening global health security!” was the theme during the historical launch of the Tanzania National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS). The journey towards the NAPHS started after completion of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) in February 2016. This year, Tanzania made giant strides in strengthening the implementation of IHR core capacities.

Cross River sets agenda with first state health summit

Dr Alemu (with microphone) addressing participants at the Summit
The first Cross River Summit anchored on Human Resource for Health (HRH) on Primary Health Care (PHC) revitalization with the theme ‘Translating Health Policies and Plans into Action” was conducted in Calabar, the state capital on 7-8 August, 2017.

World Breastfeeding Week launched in Harare

March through Highfield to raise awareness

Harare: 3 Aug. 2017 - World Breastfeeding week was launched in Highfield, Harare under the theme Sustaining Breastfeeding Together. The event, which was attended by the Highfield community of nursing mothers, UN agencies, and other players in child health and nutrition, aimed to mobilise stakeholders to work together to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new ways to invest in, and support breastfeeding for a more sustainable future. The launch comes amid calls by stakeholders to improve the exclusive breastfeeding rates in Zimbabwe.