A Call to Close the Immunization Gap

Windhoek,  28 April 2016 – The sixth African Vaccination Week (AVW) has been launched in Ganta, Nimba County of Liberia, on 25 April 2016 in the presence of high level officials and respected community leaders. The AVW is commemorated by African Countries during the week of 24–30 April 2016 with the theme, “Close the Immunization Gap. Stay Polio Free.”

Victoria, Seychelles, 29th April 2016 - Following its commitment to implement the Global Polio Eradication Strategy, on the 1st of September 2015 Seychelles  joined the global effort to introduce the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) into its routine immunization schedule. The vaccine is being administered to all children at the age of four months along with their second dose of DPT-HepB-Hib and oral polio vaccine (OPV2).

Measles is a highly infectious viral disease caused by a Morbillivirus. It only affects humans and rapidly spreads among individuals who have not been vaccinated. It is also the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among children worldwide.

Victoria, Seychelles, 29th April 2016 - Equitable and sustainable health financing is a key component of any health system and disease-specific preventive programmes. In the Seychelles, primary health care is free at the point of use for all citizens. To efficiently deliver this service, health care is financed almost entirely through general taxation and social security contributions. The Ministry of Health (MoH) receives one of highest budgetary allocations every year. In 2014 for example MoH received Rs535,400,00.

Port Harcourt, 28 April 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative (WR), Dr Rui Gama Vaz is in Rivers state to meet with His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike and engage the political leadership in strengthening health systems and for the attainment of   the Organization’s reform agenda.

Accra, 28 April 2016 - The national cholera prevention campaign was launched on 28 April 2016 at Agbogbloshie in Greater Accra Region of Ghana.  The Prevention Campaign supported by WHO, USAID/Global Communities, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health targets to reach all people and communities across the country.

Kampala 28th April 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Uganda hosted a WHO/Center for Disease Control (CDC) meeting to discuss on-going WHO/CDC collaborative work.

The meeting was attended by WHO Country office staff led by the Country Representative as well as CDC staff led by their Country Director Dr. Steven Wiersma and Dr. Michael St. Louis, the CDC/Atlanta Regional Director for Africa.

Bulambuli 26th April 2016 - Uganda, like over 100 countries introduced the Inactivated Polio Virus (IPV) vaccine into its immunization programme. The introduction precedes the formal switch from tOPV to bOPV scheduled for Friday April 29, 2016 to be implemented in public and private health facilities. 

Lira, 27th April 2016 - Uganda commemorated the 10th World Malaria Day 2016 at the Golf Course grounds in Lira District under the theme “End Malaria for Good”, calling on the communities to Test, Treat and Track malaria cases.  The choice of Lira district to host the commemorations was based on the fact Lira District is one of the 14 districts implementing Indoor residual Spraying (IRS) using carbamates; derived from carbamic acid and kill insects in a similar fashion as organophosphate insecticides.  However, in effort to manage insecticide resistance, anoth

26 April 2016, Geneva - As efforts to bring an outbreak of yellow fever in Angola under control continue, WHO is reminding all travellers to the country that they are required to receive the yellow fever vaccination and to have a valid certificate of vaccination to prove that they are protected from the disease and to prevent its further spread.