New York, 25 September 2015 | The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan announced the removal of Nigeria, the then only remaining endemic country in the African Region, from the list of polio endemic countries at the Polio Oversight Board Meeting in New York, USA.

25 september 2015 - WHO announced today that polio is no longer endemic in Nigeria. This is the first time that Nigeria has interrupted transmission of wild poliovirus, bringing the country and the African region closer than ever to being certified polio-free.

One morning, Emma Laudon asked her son, Joseph, why he did not want go to school that day. He told her he had a bad headache and could not drink water or eat food. Later, he began to vomit and foam at the mouth.

A visit to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi, revealed Joseph had rabies. He was exhibiting signs of hydrophobia or fear of water – an advanced symptom of the disease. Because of hydrophobia, saliva was accumulating in his mouth and he was unable to swallow.

Countries in the WHO African Region have made meaningful progress towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but this is insufficient to reach the MDG targets. Much more needs to be done to sustain the gains so far whilst pursuing the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Maiduguri, 24 September, 2015 - The Borno State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia has commended the World Health Organization for coordinating early response to the cholera outbreak reported in the internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri the state capital during the 37th  epidemiological week.

Ethiopia marked a major milestone in its path towards zero TB death in children by launching its National Childhood TB Prevention and Control Roadmap on 30 July 2015 in Addis Ababa. The roadmap aims to guide implementation and strengthen prevention and management of childhood TB in the country. 

Abeokuta, Ogun 22 September, 2015 - The Ogun state Deputy Governor Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga  in south-west Nigeria has offered to become an ambassador for disease surveillance during an advocacy meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO) state team on 22 September, 2015 at the Government House in Abeokuta.

Chief Onanuga assured the team which also presented her with surveillance roll-up banners that “I will strategically display the banners in my office and also be an ambassador for disease reporting in the state”.

Polokwane, 22 September 2015 - The WHO Representative in South Africa, Dr Sarah Barber, has issued a statement of support to the National Department of Health which is holding a two-day conference in Polokwane to commemorate World Environmental Health Day (WEHD) on 26 September. The Country Office also provided technical support for this meeting which over 600 environmental health professionals and key stakeholders are expected to attend.

Entebbe 22nd September 2015:- The Workshop ended on a good note with countries discussing their specific roadmaps on how they are going to make delivery of HIV & AIDS services to children and adolescents better. Each country came up with 10 priority programs upon which they will base to deliver HIV & AIDS to children and adolescents. 

Harare, 21 Sept. 2015 - WHO Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello yesterday paid a courtesy call to the new Deputy Minister for Health and Child Care, Mr Aldrin Musiiwa at his Kaguvi Building office.  Prior to his appointment, Mr Musiiwa has been a Member of Parliament for Chakari Constituency in Mashonaland West Province, and was a member of the Health Portfolio Committee in Parliament. The new Deputy Minister assumed his new position earlier this month following the recent cabinet reshuffles.