WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan touched down on 23 April 2012 for a four-day visit to Namibia. Dr Chan’s visit coincided with World Malaria Day, 25 April which was commemorated under the theme, “Sustain Gains. Save Lives. Invest in Malaria.” The high-level mission not only focused on malaria but used the opportunity to discuss issues related to maternal and child health, health systems strengthening, human resources for health, among other priority issues.

Addis Ababa, 23 April 2012 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, on Monday (23 April) called for sounder health policies underpinned by primary health care values and principles to address inequities in health.

24 April 2012 -- A new global strategy aims to reduce measles deaths and congenital rubella syndrome to zero. The strategy comes with the publication of new data using a state-of-the-art methodology showing that efforts to reduce measles deaths have resulted in a 74% reduction in global measles deaths, from 2000 to 2010.

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he Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners officially launched the African Vaccination Week (AVW) on 21 April 2012 under the theme: “An unimmunized child is one too many. Give polio the last push”.

Conakry, 20 April 2012 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, has urged countries in the ECOWAS sub-region to accelerate efforts towards addressing the  recent outbreaks of polio and meningitis (W135).

The 13th World Congress on Public Health  will take place from 23 to 27, April 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme; “Towards Global Health Equity: Opportunities and Threats”. This Congress offers unique opportunities to discuss global, continental and national public health issues among the global public health community and other key stakeholders. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, will deliver the Keynote address.

Windhoek, 19 April 2011 -- WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan will touch down on 23 April 2012 for a four-day visit to Namibia. Dr Chan’s visit coincides with World Malaria Day, 25 April which will be commemorated under the theme, “Sustain Gains. Save Lives. Invest in Malaria.” The high-level mission will focus on efforts to accelerate malaria control and elimination, among other priority issues.

Zvishavane, 13 April 2012 -- The Right Honorable Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was speaking at the commemoration of World Health Day in Zvishavane where he was the Guest of Honor. Zimbabwe commemorated World Health Day on 13th April under the theme Ageing and health: Good health adds life to years at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane.

The Sierra Leone Health Sector Steering Group (HSSG) held one of its regular meetings at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) on Tuesday 17 April 2012. The meeting was Chaired by the Hon Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation and co-chaired by the Director of Planning and Information. In welcoming the partners, the Director of Policy, Planning and Information, Dr Magnus Gborie said that the regular meetings have helped to strengthen coordination among health partners in supporting the Joint Programme of Work and Funding (JPWF) 2012-2014.

Brazzaville, 17 April 2012 -- African countries are gearing up for this year's launch of the African Vaccination Week (AVW) which will be observed throughout the region from 23 to 28 April under the theme "An unimmunized child is one too many. Give polio the final push."