Maputo, 14 September 2012 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, is expected in Mozambique as from tomorrow, 15 September 2012, for an official four-day visit to the country on the invitation of the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Ministers of Health from the East African Community Countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda) and delegates gathered from 11 to 13 September, 2012, at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, for the Regional Conference on Social Health Protection in the East African Community (EAC) .

In Sierra Leone, the cholera outbreak is ongoing. As of September 11, 2012, a cumulative of 17,538 cases with 261 deaths giving a case fatality Rate of 1.5% was reported by the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control.

According to daily reports, district that reported the highest number of cases include: Western Area (115), Bo (19) and Tonkolili (17). Western Area where the capital city Freetown is located continues to report most of the cholera cases.

On 11th September, 2012, the Government of United Republic of Tanzania (Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) and Prime Minister’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG)) in collaboration with the WHO Country Office officially launched the initiative to strengthen district health services in Tanzania. The launch was officiated by the Deputy Minister PMORALG, Hon. Kassim Majaliwa (MP) in Dodoma.

As of 10 September 2012, the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation were 17,319 and 259 deaths respectively. Twelve (12) of the 13 districts in the country are now affected.

On 10 September 2012, Western Area continued to report the highest number of cases (140), followed by Bombali (20), Tonkolili (14) and Kambia (13). One death was reported from Kenema district. The national case fatality ratio is now 1.5.

The World Health Organization is supporting a five day theoretical and bench training of laboratory scientists and technologists on identification of bacterial pathogens, at the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL) in Freetown.

Banjul, 06 September 2012 -- The tenth edition of the African Traditional Medicines Day was planned, coordinated and commemorated by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the WHO Country Office and the national Traditional Healers Association of The Gambia (TRAHASS). It was launched at the Kanifing Municipal Council’s Grounds on Friday 31st August 2012.

The cholera situation in Sierra Leone has still on the rise. Cumulatively, the districts are reporting over two hun-dred cases per day. Majority of the cases are occurring in the Western Area (urban and suburban communities of the Capital, Freetown) where the outbreak was first confirmed in June 2012.

Cholera Situation in Sierra Leone, 6 September, 2012

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06 September 2012 / Pretoria -- Seventy Health Workers representing national and nine provincial health departments completed a three day Risk Communication Training Workshop organized jointly by the National Department of Health (NDoH), the WHO Country Office (WCO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC). The training focused on building capacities in communication systems, processes and skills required to detect, assess, inform and respond to public health emergencies in a timely and effective manner.

« Fatality rate especially high in some countries »

Dakar/Brazzaville, 5 September 2012 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s agency, UNICEF, are warning that the current cholera emergency in West Africa is set to get much worse as rains and floods create the conditions for the disease to spread faster and further.