WHO reports unprecedented progress against 17 neglected tropical diseases, thanks to a new global strategy, a regular supply of quality assured, cost-effective medicines and support from global partners.

Brazzaville, 15 January 2013 – The African Advisory Committee on Health Research and Development has concluded its 27th session in Brazzaville, Congo with a range of recommendations aimed at improving health research in the Region.

Inside this issue:

Polio Campaign activities launched in 2012
Cross - Border Collaboration for Polio Eradication Activities
Rotarians praised during the debriefing of Cross border Synchronized SIAs
Ethiopia Observed World AIDS Day
Annual Review Meeting ended with recommendations to scale up Blood Transfusion Services
Training, Communication and Advocacy Workshops conducted on NTDs to boost Promotion, Prevention and Control

My name is Peter John Kisma, I am a polio campaign supervisor. I started doing this work in 2008 in Munuki Payam as a vaccinator. In 2009 I became a team leader and later a Boma supervisor. As a Boma supervisor I monitor the work of my teams at the payam level. When I was a team leader, I monitored and ensured that the teams assigned under my supervision were vaccinating all children in the Boma where we were allocated.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in collaboration with its health sector partners validated 2013 Sector Annual Operational Plan (AOP) in a two day workshop held on 8-9 January 2013. The AOP was developed by consolidating 19 Local Council Health Plans, 21 Hospital Plans and the Central Level Plan which were individually validated and finalized in November 2012 with the input of the health sector partners. The initial validation processes helped the sector to align and endorse plans at all levels based on the available resource envelop.

10 - 14 December 2012, Durban South Africa -- WHO and the Department of Health of the Republic of South Africa organized a practical training course on ship sanitation inspection (SSI) and issuance of ship sanitation certificates for States Parties in the African Region. The purpose of the training was to build countries' capacity in the implementation of the International Health Regulations.

17 December 2012 – Monrovia, Liberia – Women living in Africa face a formidable range of threats to their health throughout their life time.

Johannesburg -- In continuing the implementation of the 2011 Post Introduction Evaluation of New Vaccines (PIE) recommendations for South Africa, WHO and the South African Department of Health held a national training attended by national and provincial EPI, Cold Chain and Depot managers to improve Effective Vaccine Management. The workshop was facilitated by Ms Diana Chang Blanc (WHO HQ) and Mr Serge Ganivet (WHO IST-ESA) with funding from the US Centres for Disease Control.

On 13th December 2011 -- The WHO and UNFPA Representatives on behalf of the United Nations Systems through Joint Programme 2 (JP 2) on Maternal, Newborn and Child mortality reduction, handed over to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, four ambulances and emergency obstetrics, newborn and child care equipment worth US$ 600,252 equivalent to Tshs 1,019,829,160.

14 December 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -- In a handover ceremony hosted at WHO Ethiopia Country Office, Mr. Nahu-Senaye Araya, Chairman, Rotary International National Polio plus Committee (NPPC), Polio plus Program handed over a check of ETB 3.5 million to Dr Khaled Bessaoud, Acting WHO Country Representative and Ms. Patrizia DiGiovani, Deputy UNICEF Country Representative to support Polio Eradication activities in Ethiopia.