Pretoria, 28 May 2012 -- More than 200 million women aged 15 years or older are at risk of developing cervical cancer in the African Region. Annually 71,000 cases are diagnosed, resulting in 62,000 deaths.

Rwanda launched officially the rotavirus vaccine (Rotateq) in its routine immunization program on 25th May 2012. The launching ceremony took place in Musanze District, Northern Province, alongside the Mother and Child Health Week with has been organised from 24 to 25 may 2012. The Guest of Honour of this ceremony was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health.

The United Nations Agencies was represented by WHO Representative in Rwanda, Dr Delanyo DOVLO, who delivered the speech on behalf of all UN agencies and for GAVI.

“Move for Health Initiative”

Banjul, 25 May 2012 -- Hundreds of people from different walks of life - students, teachers, Ministry of Health and WHO staff, volunteers, media personnel, community and opinion leaders, men and women – took to the streets of Brufut town yesterday to participate in a five-kilometer walk marking the launching of “Move for Health Initiative”.

This initiative, conceived by SCANAID Senior Secondary School, is one of the bye-products of the recently concluded WHO Health Academy Project in the Gambia.

Professor Thérèse N'Dri-Yoman, Minister of Health and HIV/AIDS control of has been elected as the as the World Health Assembly's new president. Five vice presidents were also appointed from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Paraguay, Republic of Moldova, and Solomon Islands, representing their respective regions.

The Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority (SLRTA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, WHO and other stakeholders in the Road Transport Industry held a three day workshop in Bo from 22-24th May 2012. The objective of the Workshop was to develop a Road Safety Policy for the country and eventually a National Road Safety Strategic Plan as part of efforts to address the rising road crashes in the country.

Harare, 24 May 2012 -- Traditional medicine has an undeniable potential that should be developed particularly through improving the safety, efficacy and quality of traditional medicines and through protecting intellectual property and African biodiversity as well as promoting South-South partnership.

Brazzaville, 23 May 2012 -- The number of wild poliovirus (WPV) cases in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region dropped from 657 in 2010 to 350 in 2011 representing a 47% decline.

Harare, 21 May 2012 –- Experts from about 20 countries of the WHO African Region and partners agencies today started a three-day workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe, on research and development of traditional medicine particularly for the treatment of malaria, HIV/AIDS, sickle-cell disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

20 May 2012 – With over 376 226 returnees reported across South Sudan, WHO has stepped up its support and response across all states.

This has involved prepositioning medical supplies and medicines in all 10 states, training health workers on communicable disease surveillance, response and case management, and ensuring the immunization of all returnee children.

In Juba alone, over 10 500 returnees are expected to arrive, and 1890 have already arrived by air and another 1971 by boat.

Harare, 18 May 2012 -- The Regional consultation on traditional medicine practices, practitioners and products ended in Harare on Friday with renewed calls for further investment in traditional medicine.