Lesotho has the third highest HIV prevalence in the world and more than one in five adults are HIV-Positive. The impact of HIV on individuals, families and the whole nation is being felt as adults become too sick to work and children orphaned by AIDS are left to run households.

Nationally the cholera incidence continues to show an upward trend particularly in Western Area which accounts for the majority of cases (49%). As of the 27 August 2012 the national cumulative for all ten districts is 13,918 cases with 232 deaths (CFR=1.7). Western Area(183), Bombali (20) and Tonkolili (17) reported the highest number of cases. Cholera outbreak has been confirmed in Kenema district in the East of the country bringing the number of affected districts to 11. Reported data indicate 16 cases with no deaths.

Nationally the cholera incidence continues to show an upward trend particularly in Western Area which accounts for the majority of cases (49%). As of the 26 August 2012 the national cumulative for all ten districts is 13,659 cases with 231 deaths (CFR=1.7). The following districts continue to report high number of cases; Western Area (210) , Bombali (31) and Tonkoli (31).

Cholera situation in Sierra Leone - 26August 2012

23 August 2012 -- An outbreak of Ebola in western Uganda in July/August 2012 has affected many lives. WHO has provided expertise and documentation to support investigation and control of the disease. As part of the response, WHO and partners are supporting people who have tested negative or recovered from Ebola to reintegrate into community life.

As of 24 August, 2012, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in Sierra Leone has reported a total of 12,819 cholera cases with 224 deaths since January 2012, affecting 10 of the 13 districts in the country. The overall case fatality rate is 1.7% but has reached 14.6 % in Moyamba district. The majority of the cases, 48% have been reported from Western area where the capital city, Freetown is located. The highest number of new cases for the day were 190 and 40 reported in Western Area and Bombali respectively. None of the districts reported any deaths.

The number of cholera cases in Sierra Leone has increased to 12,456 with 224 deaths as of August 22. The case fatality rate remains at 1,8%. Western Area reported the highest number of cases 198 and 2 deaths.

Cholera situation in Sierra Leone - 23August 2012

For More Information contact:

World Health Organization, 21 A and B Riverside Drive, off King Harman Road, Freetown

Inside
• 2012 World Health Day commemoration demonstrates healthy life styles to prevent NCDs among civil servants cover page and page 1

• Midyear message from Dr Felicitas Zawaira World Health Organization Resident Representative page 2

• 2012 World Health Day commemoration demonstrates healthy life styles to prevent NCDs among civil servants...continued on page 3

• Malawi calls for a world free of TB on World STOP TB Day 2012 page 4—5

• News in pictures page 6

Libreville, 15 August 2012 --  The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, has concluded a three-day official visit to the Republic of Gabon at the invitation of the Government. The visit took place from 13th – 15th August 2012.

The Regional Director met with the national authorities of the country, including Mr Dominique Guy Noël Nguieno, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Francophonie, NEPAD and Regional Integration and the Hon Minister of Health, Professor Leon Nzouba.

On 17 August 2012, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Province Orientale in Eastern DRC. 

As of 20 August 2012, a total of 15 (13 probable and 2 confirmed) cases with 10 deaths had been reported. The reported cases and deaths have occurred in 3 health zones as follows: 12 cases and 8 deaths in Isiro, including three (3) health care workers who have died; 2 cases and no deaths in Pawa; and 1 fatal case in Dungu. 

On World Humanitarian Day, 19 August, WHO honours the thousands of people working in emergencies and humanitarian response throughout the world, such as Dr Alaa Abu-Zaid, Coordinator of the Health Cluster, Mogadishu, Somalia

For more than 20 years, Mogadishu has endured a chronic emergency situation, including the influx of thousands of internally displaced people fleeing insecurity and food shortages in southern parts of Somalia. In 2011, the country faced one of the worst famines in years.