Johannesburg, 30 April 2015 - The World Health Organization is stepping up efforts to accelerate the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTD) in the African Region. Health experts, donors, development partners and affected countries have reached a consensus on the main components of the framework for establishing a new NTD entity.

Abuja, 30 April 2015 - The Government of Japan has  extended a USD 620,000 grant to the World Health Organization in March 2015 to support a project for Ebola virus disease (EVD) preparedness and response in 10 high risk states in Nigeria.

In November 2014, the Government of Japan pledged to provide an additional package of USD 100 million with a view to rebuilding the health system of the affected countries and stabilizing the societies of those countries being ravaged by the Ebola disease. 

Under the theme ‘Vaccination: A gift for life’, Seychelles joined the rest of the African region to celebrate African Vac-cination Week from the 24th to 30th April 2015. This year’s commemoration in the Seychelles focused more on raising awareness and reinforcing immunisation health messages to various target groups, with the objective of further strengthening immunization programmes and coverage in the country.

April 30 2015, Nairobi - The World Immunization Week (WIW) in Kenya kicked off with strong calls for commitment, responsibility for the protection of children’s life and the need to decisively address resistance to immunization programmes.

Monrovia, 28 April, 2015 - The Ministry of Health (MOH) / National Malaria Control Program in collaboration with its partners on Saturday, 25th April, 2015 commemorated World Malaria Day 2015 and launched the distribution of 2.8 Million Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets. The commemorative event was held in Monrovia at the City Hall.

It is estimated that about three million children under five years of age die each year in the African Region and a significant number of these deaths could be prevented by vaccines. Yet one in five children does not receive them. Lack of service delivery in remote areas or lack of information about the effectiveness of vaccines is a major reason many do not receive them.

27 April, 2015: Bangui - A drastic shortage in funding is jeopardizing free access to health care services being provided by the World Health Organization and partners in the Central African Republic for hundreds of thousands of people.

Zaria, Kaduna 27 April 2015 - As part of efforts to adequately  respond to the recent isolation of circulating vaccine derived polio virus (cVDPV) from the environment in Zaria, Kaduna state, WHO and other Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners have solicited  the support of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zaria, Dr Shehu Idris to mobilize communities for the upcoming targeted polio campaign of combined inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) scheduled for 27 April – 2 May, 2015.

Ghana adopted a Food Safety Policy on 27 April, 2015 at a Stakeholders Meeting held in Accra ahead of World Health Day 2015 with the theme Food Safety from Farm to Plate. The policy was developed with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).