Ethiopia’s Ambassador for Nutrition Calls for Acceleration of Nutrition Efforts at the Household Level
Bahir Dar. 25 November 2014. A high-level Nutrition Advocacy Mission urged for sustained efforts to accelerate nutrition interventions and multi-sectoral linkages in Ethiopia. The round table was convened by WHO on this occasion to sensitize government delegates and partners on the Accelerating Nutrition Improvements project and other UN Renewed Efforts Against Child Hunger and undernutrition (REACH) activities supporting the implementation of Ethiopia's National Nutrition Programme.
Trachoma Elimination Program Launched in Uganda
Buwenge, 26th November 2014:- The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust Initiative to support trachoma elimination in Uganda was launched in Buwenge at Kagoma Primary School Grounds. The Chief Guest, Hon. Elioda Tumwesigye said that the most important aspect of dealing with trachoma was to first agree on its magnitude. He said, “Trachoma is more in women and children than in men.
WHO Director-General visits Mali to bolster UN support to the Ebola outbreak
Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, visited an Ebola treatment centre in Bamako, Mali. She met with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Prime Minister Moussa Mara, and other government leaders to discuss Mali’s ongoing Ebola outbreak response and ways United Nations organizations could enhance their support.
The visit occurred as the Government announced a new case of Ebola and said 2 more suspected patients were being tested.
Addressing Social Determinants of Health through Community Care Coalitions in Tigray
Addis Ababa. 21 November 2014 – A project established by the Tigray Region’s Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs (BoLSA) in 2009 to address social determinants of health at community level improves access to healthcare and ensures social protection through Community Care Coalitions (CCCs).
International Health Conference calls for Africa-based Solutions
An international Africa health conference opened in Nairobi, Kenya, with calls for research-based interventions, Africa-suitable solutions and leadership to enable Africa overcome its health challenges that include the tragedy of Ebola which has left over 5000 people dead mainly in West Africa.
The three-day conference under the theme, ‘Evidence to Action: Lasting Health Change for Africa,’ is an initiative of Africa Medical Research Foundation, Amref, and co-sponsored by WHO.
When Ebola came calling: how communities in Sierra Leone faced the challenge
When Ebola first swept through Port Loko District, Sierra Leone the rash of sudden inexplicable deaths was so shocking local people explained it as "a witch plane crash."
But as husbands, wives, aunts, uncles and children began to sicken and die they realized this was not a supernatural event but something very human that would take human actions to reverse.
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Polio Sero-Prevalence Surveys-Confirming Population Immunity as crippling disease disappears.
Abuja, Nigeria 20 November 2014 - By the end of October 2014 Nigeria had recorded tremendous progress with 87% reduction in wild polio virus (WPV1) burden and 78% reduction in geographic spread of the virus. Indigenous transmission of WPV3 has not been reported in the country for 23 months. Also, the genetic clusters circulating in Nigeria have declined from 8 in 2013 to only 1 in 2014 representing 88% reduction.
WHO Representative Visits Uganda’s Prime Minister
Kampala, 19th November 2014:- The World Health Organization Representative for Uganda, Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu visited the Prime Minister of Uganda Dr Ruhakana Rugunda at his office in Kampala. During this visit, they discussed various health challenges facing the country.
WHO bags Award at the Launching of National TB Prevalence Survey Report and 2015 -2020 Strategic Plan
Abuja, Nigeria, 18 November, 2014 - The Federal Government has conferred an Award on WHO for its meritorious service, outstanding technical assistance and unflinching efforts in resource mobilization for tuberculosis (TB) management in Nigeria at the launching of the National TB Prevalence Survey Report and the National Strategic Plan for TB control 2015-2020, in Abuja on 18th November 2014. The Award was presented by the Honorable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan.
Ebola: identifying the cause of death
17 November 2014 -- Dead bodies can be very contagious when it comes to Ebola, but that does not mean that every deceased person has died due to the disease. In order to speed up the process of identifying the cause of death of each patient, WHO is working closely with the Liberia Institute for Biomedical Research to train burial teams on how to collect an oral swab from deceased patients safely.