Banjul, 17 May 2012 -- The WHO Country Office (WCO) yesterday briefed the Gambian delegation to the 65th World Health Assembly (WHA). “Such a briefing session is now a tradition of the WCO to prepare country delegates to this important global WHO governing body”, Dr Thomas Sukwa, WHO Representative (WR) to the Gambia, reiterated in welcoming delegates to the WCO.

The Sub-national polio immunizations days campaign commenced to administer Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to children 0-59 months in selected communities on 11 May 2012. The campaign will end on 14 May. It will focus mainly on “hard to reach areas” and areas “poorly covered or missed” in the previous polio national immunization days campaigns. The campaign was officially launched in Freetown by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Mr. Tamba Borbor Sawyer.

14 May 2012 – Dr Michael Milly Hussein, Minister of Health, pledged support and commitment for the implementation of the human resources for health policy and strategy of South Sudan. The pledge came during a validation meeting for the policy and strategy in Juba, on 14 May 2012. The validation workshop is part of the process of developing a new human resources for health policy and strategy.

Banjul, 14 May 2012 -- The last week of April 2012 witnessed two important health events in the Gambia. The first was World Malaria Day and the second, a sub-regional laboratory training workshop on pneumococcal surveillance and pediatric bacterial meningitis.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) conducted a stakeholders’ consultative meeting from 8-9 May 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to seek stakeholders input, build consensus and develop a road map in finalizing the draft National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy and Strategic Plan for Sierra Leone.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kisito Daoh, in his opening statement said that the meeting should serve as an opportunity for stakeholders to make inputs into the documents which will inform & advise the Ministry in addressing HRH challenges.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) conducted a stakeholders’ consultative meeting from 8-9 May 2012. The purpose of the meeting was to seek stakeholders input, build consensus and develop a road map in finalizing the draft National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy and Strategic Plan for Sierra Leone.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kisito Daoh, in his opening statement said that the meeting should serve as an opportunity for stakeholders to make inputs into the documents which will inform & advise the Ministry in addressing HRH challenges.

In this Issue:

1. Ghana introduces Pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines

2. 2nd Edition of African Vaccination Week launched in Ghana

3. Pre-launch visit at AYIKUMA CHPS COUMPOUND

4. Post-launch visit at MAMPONG, CHPS COUMPOUND

On 26 April, 2012 Ghana made history as the first African country to simultaneously introduce pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines into its national immunization programme in a bid to fight pneumonia and diarrheoal diseases, each of which ac-counts for approximately 10 per cent of under-five deaths in the country.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) and WHO held their joint monthly technical consultation meeting on Tuesday 8 May 2012. The meeting was co-chaired by the WHO Representative, Dr Alemu and the Chief Medical Officer of MoHS, Dr Kisito Daoh, and was attended by directors and programme managers of the MoHS and technical officers of the WHO Country Office.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) with technical and financial support of WHO conducted a three day health sector Human Resource Working Group consultative workshop from 3-5 May 2012. The Working Group deliberated on the draft Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy, Strategic Plan and Profile for Sierra Leone.

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) with technical and financial support of WHO conducted a three day health sector Human Resource Working Group consultative workshop from 3-5 May 2012. The Working Group deliberated on the draft Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy, Strategic Plan and Profile for Sierra Leone.