Brazzaville, 12 November  2012 -- A meeting on  "One Health" gets underway today (Monday, 12 November) in Libreville, Gabon, to discuss ways of further strengthening the prevention and response to threats posed by emerging diseases of zoonotic origin in the WHO African Region. 

Over the last few years, public health, animal health and environmental authori-ties have made considerable progress at the international level in identifying mechanisms for collaboration to minimize risks associated with the emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases emanating from animals. 

The Lesotho Ministry of Health has recently concluded meetings on Annual Operational Plans 2013 with hospital representatives from throughout the country. The first planning exercise was conducted in Leribe from 22/10-26/10/12 with representatives from Mokhotlong Government Hospital and District Health Management Team (DHMT), Butha-Buthe Hospital and DHMT, Leribe Hospital and DHMT, Berea Hospital and DHMT, Maseru DHMT, Seboche, Mamohau, Maluti, Scott and St Joseph’s Hospitals.

Harare, 12 Nov. 2012 -- Today the new WHO Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr David Okello presented his credentials to the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi at his Munhumutapa Building offices.

Pretoria, 17-21 September 2012 -- National Department of Health has concluded a five days’ Workload Indicator of Staffing Needs (WISN) Trainer of Trainers (TOT) training in Pretoria, South Africa. Opening the training, the Director General for Health, Ms Precious Matsoso, observed the WISN training as important and urgent ammunition to enable her to respond to a number of Human Resource (HR) issues and to inform policy decisions. The purpose of the training was to train the core team that would be competent in the WISN tool and its application.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) validated its central and districts level 2013 annual operational plans in Freetown from 8-9 November 2012. The plans were validated in a 2 day workshop held for the health sector partners including the MoHS national level officials, District Health Management Teams, the local councils authorities and development partners including the UN, donor and Non-Governmental Organizations to contribute in the finalization of the plans that will guide operations of the sector.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation launched three documents on Reproductive and Child Health programme on 7 November 2012. The documents included Reproductive, Newborn and Child Health (RNCH) Policy 2011-2015, RNCH Strategy 2011-2015 and a Strategic Plan for Adolescent and Young People’s Health & Development 2011-2015. The Acting Minister of Health and Sanitation Hon. Borbor Sawyerr launched the documents. State functionaries, UN agencies and other development partners, and health implementing partners attended the ceremony.

Monrovia’s Star of the Sea Health Centre is the first health facility in Liberia to offer women psychosocial and legal support alongside health services.

The Ministries of Health of Sierra Leone and Guinea conducted a 3 day cross border meeting on cholera and other priority diseases prevention and control, in Makeni Sierra Leone from 31 October to 2 November 2012.

31 October 2012, South Sudan – The construction of the new maternity wing in Bor hospital being undertaken by the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health of South Sudan, with funding from the Canadian Interagency Development Agency (CIDA) is near completion, says Dr Abdi Aden Mohamed, WHO Representative, South Sudan Office.