Windhoek, 27 February 2013 -- A four-year Programme to accelerate the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 4 (Reduce Child Mortality) and 5 (Improve Maternal Health), funded by the European Union to the tune of €10 million (approximately NAD100 million) was launched in Windhoek today. 

Monday 27 February 2013 -- A three-day meeting on the implementation of the WHO-European Union Health Policy Dialogue Programme, ended today in Brazzaville, Congo. The programme supports selected countries in policy dialogue on national health policies, strategies and plans and universal coverage.

Abuja/Brazzaville, 22 February 2013 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, has concluded a 3-day official visit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In this Issue

1. Development of Sierra Leone 2013 Health Sector Annual Operational Plan
2. Sierra Leone develops Human Resource for Health Policy and Strategic Plan

Sierra Leone Newsletter: November-December 2012

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) has started adaptation of the generic WHO Disease Outbreak Communication Training Handbook to strengthen outbreak communication in the country. The process com-menced with review of the document to decide on the changes that need to be introduced to customize it to the Sierra Leonean context. The purpose of the handbook is to guide users to design and carry out communication and social mobilisation activities to create awareness, promote behaviour change to prevent and control disease outbreaks. 

Brazzaville, 15 February 2013 – The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, 

Nairobi, 04 February 2013 -- Kenya joined the rest of the world in marking World Cancer Day. The national event was commemorated as a media briefing, held at the Sarova PanAfric Hotel in Nairobi. The occasion was attended by senior government officials, development partners and various civil society groups. The Minister of Medical Services, Hon. Prof. Peter Anyang Nyong’o graced the occasion. 

The WHO Representative, Dr. Olusegun Babaniyi visited the Eastern Province Medical Office (PMO) from 12th-15th February 2013. The mission was undertaken to gain a better insight of how health development challenges were being addressed in the province and to identify areas for further collaboration and support through the Technical Cooperation Programme with Government. Dr. Babaniyi was welcomed to the province by the Provincial Minister, Hon. Malozo Sichone (MP), The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bert Mushala and the Provincial Medical Officer, Dr. Kennedy Malama.

The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, being funded by Partners in Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, was officially launched on the 05th February 2013 at Bots’abelo in Maseru district. The function was beautified by the presence of the Right Honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane, government ministers including the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Pinkie Manamolela, United Nations, Diplomatic corps and Non-Governmental Organizations Representatives, media and community at large. 

Lesotho recently completed a training session on the development of a National business continuity plan for the country, which was followed by the development of a draft plan. Present at the training were the International Health Regulations Manager Mr Khotso Mahomo, Chief Executive Disaster Management Authority „Mé Mojaki, StratMan Consultants, Government Officials and Representatives from non-governmental organizations. Dr. Mufunda, WHO Representative, opened the training session, which took place over 3 days.