Nairobi Kenya, 22 March 2013 -- As a build up to this year’s World TB Day (WTBD) Commemorations, the country took the opportunity to sensitize the public and the media fraternity on national issues related to the TB epidemic. This year’s national celebrations commemorated under the global theme “Stop TB in my lifetime” was held in Nairobi at a media briefing and a field event held at one of the informal settlements. Other events to mark the day were held at all provincial and district levels.

This year, the United Republic of Tanzania commemorated the World TB Day by holding a press conference and officially launching the national operational guidelines for engaging Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the TB control activities in the country.

On 18th June, 2013 -- Tanzania launched the national plan of action for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) during a high level sensitization meeting which took place in Dar es Salaam. The meeting was officiated by the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Hon. Dr. Hussein Mwinyi.

Brazzaville, 20 March 2013 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo,  has called for increased  commitment and better coordinated support by partners and donors to tackle neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) which affect mainly people living in rural areas.

Dr Sambo made the call in an address to the opening session of a consultative meeting on NTDs which began in Brazzaville on Wednesday.

Johannesburg, 20 March 2013 --The World Health Organization’s multi-stakeholder dialogue on noncommunicable diseases has ended in Johannesburg with a call for sustained dialogue to stem the tide of the diseases in the African Region.

Johannesburg, 18 March 2013 – The World Health Organization's Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo has underscored the urgent need to address the rising trend of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the African Region through multisectoral actions.

Brazzaville, 18 March 2013 -- A regional consultation convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the strategic use of anti-retroviral medicines (ARVs) in Eastern and Southern African countries will take place from 19 to 21 March in Harare, Zimbabwe. 

The three-day consultation will bring together more than 60 experts from nine countries, research institutions, and multilateral agencies, agencies in the United Nations system, donors and civil society.  

As part of its ongoing efforts to prevent measles and rubella, Rwandan health workers will vaccinate nearly five million children between the ages of 9 months and 14 years during the four-day measles-rubella vaccination campaign, which begins today in a village outside Kigali. In addition, girls attending school in Primary 6 and Secondary 3 grades will also receive their first doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to protect them against the leading cause of cervical cancer.

The Expert Review Committee on Polio Eradication and Routine immunisation in Nigeria met recently in Abuja for the 25th session since its inception. The committee reaffirmed its faith in the ability of Nigeria to stop polio from by end 2013.

Although, the polio eradication programme in Nigeria is faced by operationalas well as security challenges, the Expert Committee said that Nigeria can show the world something special adding that eradicating polio will be Nigeria's gift to the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) supported the Sierra Leone Roads Transport Authority (SLRTA) to validate the National Road Safety Strategic Plan (2013-2015) in a 2 day multi stakeholders’ workshop held from 13-14 March 2013 in Freetown.  Some of the partners at the meeting included the  Sierra Leone Police, insurance companies, motor drivers’ union and vehicle owners,  health officials and line ministries, the local councils, civil society and partners including WHO among others.