Africa joins global efforts to fight noncommunicable diseases

18 March 2011 -- In an effort to address the growing problem of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), technical experts and Ministers of Health in the African region will gather from 4 to 6 April in Brazzaville, Congo, for the first African regional consultation on NCDs under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss the region’s response to the crisis.

- Urges Harmonised and Holistic Technical Support for Developing National Health Policies, Strategies and Plans

Lusaka, 14 March 2011 -- A cross-border meeting between Angola, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and Zambia is taking place in Lusaka from 14th to 18th March 2011. The five-day meeting has been convened by the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Zambia to provide a forum for discussing and formalizing inter-country strategies for the common cross-border disease threats and use of fake and counterfeit drugs.

11 March 2011, Nairobi --The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis G. Sambo, today in Nairobiheld discussions with the Kenyan Minister for Public Health and Sanitation, Hon. Beth Mugo, and theMinister for Medical Services, Hon. Anyang’ Nyong’o. Present at the meeting were the WHO Country Representative, Dr Abdoulie Jack, and the Permanent Secretaries of both Ministries.

WHO African region became live on GSM as from January 2011. The Region has progressively moved into training Regional, IST staff members and WHO Country Office staff on the use of this global system to ensure smooth activity implementation is maintained and supported at all levels within the region.

Tanzania_GSM_training_21st_25th_feb2011

WHAT: Media Invitation to the Launch of First Lady Campaign on Male Involvement in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT)

WHO: His Excellency, President of the Republic of Namibia, Mr Hifikepunye Pohamba; First Lady of the Republic of Namibia, Ms Penehupifo Pohamba, Honourable Prime Minister M Nahas Angula; Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Nchabi, Kamwi; Honourable Governor of Khomas Region Samuel Njoma, WHO Representative, Dr Magda Robalo, UNICEF Representative, Mr. Ian MacLeod

WHEN: Date: 10 March 2011: Time: 09H00 – 12H00

Kenya is experiencing rapid change in the epidemiology of malaria as a result of scaled up malaria control and prevention interventions. At present over two thirdsof the country has malaria prevalence of less than 10%.

The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitationin collaboration with partners will distribute approximately 10 million nets in four provinces (Nyanza, Western, Coast and Rift valley) covering a population of 20 million. The activity is expected to deliver nets to achieve universal coverage by providing one net for every 2 persons in these regions.

Brazzaville, 7 March 2011 -- In the last week of April 2011, the African Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) will observe the first African Vaccination Week (AVW).

The establishment of the week is in response to a resolution adopted by Ministers of Health at the sixtieth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in 2010 “to institutionalize an annual African Vaccination Week for sustaining advocacy, expanding community participation and improving immunization service delivery.”

Theme, ‘’TB, TB/HIV and other lung diseases: challenges to the attainment of MDGs in Africa’’

The 18th African Union conference of the international union against tuberculosis and lung disease (IUATLD) was held from 3-5th March, 2011 in Abuja Nigeria. This biennial conference brings together stakeholders on TB and Lungs Diseases and provides ample opportunity for interaction and sharing of information and best practices for the control of these diseases

Windhoek, 1 March 2011 -- Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the major public health concerns in Namibia with 13 332 TB cases reported in 2009. The emergence of drug-resistance tuberculosis (DR-TB), which is more difficult to treat, is on the rise. TB is also the world’s biggest killer of people living with HIV. In Namibia, 60% of TB patients are HIV positive.Namibia is one of the few countries, in which patients can receive free comprehensive care for both TB and HIV.