Harare, 18 June 2012 -- The Honourable Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr. H. Madzorera, in conjunction with City Health Departments, UNICEF, WHO, and other partners, launched the National Immunization Days (NIDs) on 18th June in Harare.

NIDs are selected days when measles and polio vaccines as well as vitamin A supplements are given to children between the ages of 0 – 59 months and are extra doses which supplement and do not replace the doses received according to routine immunizations.

Banjul, 15 June 2012 -- The WHO Country Office (WCO) concluded a two-day staff retreat at Seaport Residence Hotel in Bijilo, yesterday. The retreat, better described as a workshop, was held on 13 - 14 June 2012, and was attended by the WR, programme officers and two staff from the Country Support Unit (CSU).

The main objectives of the meeting were:

Mutare, 14 June 2012 -- Zimbabwe’s young “blood heroes” were acknowledged and honored as the country joined the rest of the world in celebrating world blood donor day under the theme “Every Blood Donor is a Hero”.

This year’s commemorations were held at Sakubva 2 High School in Mutare. Sakubva 2 High School donated the highest number of blood units in the Manicaland province and nationally in 2011. For coming out tops, the school received a floating shield, certificate, and a top of the range PC and Color Printer.

Kigali, 14 June 2012 - The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, paid an official visit to the Republic of Rwanda at the invitation of the Government.

The visit took place from 11th - 13th June 2012

This year, the World Blood Donor Day was commemorated nationally in the northern region of Tanzania, Kilimanjaro.

The occasion was officiated by the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Hon. Leonidas Gama on behalf of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Hon Dr. Hussein Mwinyi and attended by the Lordship Mayor of Moshi Municipal, regional officials, ministry of health officials, WHO staff, CDC, DANIDA and other partners, voluntary blood donors, the media and the Kilimanjaro community members.

Major events on WBDD, 2012

Brazzaville, 14 June 2012 – Countries in the African Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) should intensify their efforts to raise public awareness on the importance of blood donation and the recruitment and retention of new donors in order to ensure availability of blood in a sustainable way in national blood transfusion services.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) with support from SABIN Vaccine Institute, WHO and UNICEF, held a one day symposium to raise awareness of Members of Parliament (MPs) on the importance of vaccination and solicit their support for sustainable immunization financing (SIF).
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon Chukuma Johnson delivering the key note address said, “parliamentarians must not underestimate their critical role in achieving the goal of health care financing.”

Sierra Leone launched a National Cancer Registry and the Sierra Leone Cancer Charity on 12 June 2012 in Freetown. Mr Mamoud Tarawallie, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, launched the Registry and the Charity on behalf of H.E the President of the Republic.

Kigali, 11 June 2012 -- On the invitation of the Government of Rwanda, the WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Luis Gomes Sambo is paying an official visit to Rwanda from 11 to 13 June 2012.

6 June 2012 – Human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is currently on the rise in South Sudan. The disease is transmitted by tsetse fly and is 100% fatal without treatment. It is endemic in Greater Equatoria State. 

A person recently-affected by the disease may not feel any symptoms for months or may present with symptoms that mimic other common diseases such as malaria.