Brazzaville/Geneva 17 May 2010 -- The 63rd Session of the World Health Assembly begins in Geneva, Switzerland today. The weeklong event will discuss a range of public health issues including

Washington/Brazzaville, 11 May 2010 -- The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo has said that in spite of progress made since the adoption of the Abuja Declarations, more needs to be done to address the health challenges facing the African continent.

He made these remarks at an event on “Assessing Progress on the Abuja Declarations on Health” organized by the Center for Strategic International Studies in Washington, USA. It was attended by diplomats, policy makers and global health professionals.

10 May 2010 -- “What brings us here today are some sobering statistics. The fact that maternal mortality in sub-Saharan African is the highest in the world, estimated at 900 per 100,000 live births … that one out of 26 women in sub-Saharan Africa is still at risk of dying during childbirth, or becoming infertile as a result of it.”

This was said by the Honourable Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr H. Madzorera in his statement to mark World Malaria Day. “This year Zimbabwe will strive to attain the target of universal coverage of long lasting insecticidal net through procurement and distribution of close to 2 million nets before December 2010”, Dr H Madzorera said. The year 2010 is important in the history of malaria prevention and control in in Zimbabwe and the whole of Africa because the progress towards achieving the 2010 Abuja Targets is going to be measured at the end of it.

Tanzania has been honoured to host this year’s World Malaria Day commemorations at which took place on 25th April 2010 in Dar Es Salaam.

World Health Day was nationally commemorated under the theme “Urbanization and Health” on the 11th of April 2010 at the Bahti Meskerem Square, in the capital city, Asmara.

The message from the Minister of Health was delivered by Dr Mismay Gebrehiwet, Advisor to the Minister. Dr Mismay said that this year’s theme arises from the fast growing health hazards associated with the rapid urban growth. These demand for a timely and careful urban planning which have the potential to meet the needs of the growing populations’ for basic public health and other services.

Brazzaville, 25 April 2010 – WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, on Sunday made a passionate appeal for increased engagement of communities to support ongoing malaria prevention and control efforts, and its eventual elimination as a major public health problem in the African Region.

25 April 2010 -- Zambia joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Malaria Day (WMD) on 25th April under the theme “Counting malaria out”. The focus on the importance of engaging communities in the fight against malaria characterised the commemoration in Zambia.

Dakar/Brazzaville, Friday 23 April 2010 -- More than 77 million children in 16 countries will be vaccinated against polio from tomorrow (Saturday) in the critical second round of a synchronized effort to stop a polio outbreak across west and central Africa.

However, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone have postponed their campaigns until 7 May after vaccine delivery was delayed by the closure of airspace in Europe due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland. Existing stockpiles in the other 16 countries will allow this vaccination campaign to go ahead.

WHO donates 1 Ambulance, 4 Vehicles, Blood Banks, Refrigerators, Laboratory Equipments, Teaching AIDS, Motor Bikes and other supplies to Ministry of Health and Sanitation