Brazzaville, 24 August 2007 -- The 57th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa is scheduled to take place from 27 to 31 August 2007 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

The Regional Committee, WHO’s Governing Body in the African Region, will consider, among others, a report on the work of WHO in the Region in 2006, to be presented by the Regional Director, Dr Luis Sambo.

Marburg haemorrhagic fever is a severe and highly fatal disease caused by a virus from the same family as the one that causes Ebola haemorrhagic fever. Both diseases are rare, but can cause dramatic outbreaks with high fatality. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine. Two cases of Marburg virus infection have recently been reported in Uganda. One of the people, a miner, died in July.

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Abuja, 17 August 2007 -- The new Nigerian Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange has said that women and children as well as malaria control would be the Ministry’s priorities during her tenure. Prof. Grange disclosed this when the WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Peter Eriki paid her a courtesy call in her office and also to brief her on the forthcoming WHO Africa Regional Committee meeting.

Nairobi, 10 August 2007 -- The Tobacco Control Bill that has been debated in Parliament for the last five years was passed yesterday. It is now awaiting the signature of the Head of State, H.E. President Mwai Kibaki to become law.

Mbabane, 9 August 2007 -- The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland the Right Honourable Mr Themba Dlamini today acclaimed WHO's technical and financial support in the formulation of the "milestone" National Health Policy document for the Kingdom of Swaziland.

Birnin Kebbi, 30 July 2007 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Peter Eriki has commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua for her commitment to the immunization programme in the country. The Rep. made the remark during a meeting with the First Lady in Birnin Kebbi, shortly before she flagged off the July 2007 Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) in the town.

24 July 2007 - On Saturday, February 24, 2007, the Epidemiological Unit, Sokoto State Ministry of Health hosted 71 religious leaders. It marked the beginning of a new phase in the collaboration of key stakeholders to interrupt transmission of the wild polio virus in the state. The atmosphere was businesslike and cordial.

Garba Kadi, Chairman of the State Immunization Team who coordinated proceedings, said it was the first time key religious leaders came together in the state in such number and diversity. The session was a remarkably frank brainstorming session.

Lilongwe, 20 July 2007 -- More than half of all child deaths due to pneumonia in Malawi could be prevented with the use of oxygen. This finding is based on an assessment of the Ministry of Health’s Child Lung Health Project in 16 Malawian hospitals. The Child Lung Health Project has been under way since 2000 thanks to a US$ 3 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The aim of the project is to reduce pneumonia deaths in infants by 30 percent.

29 JUNE 2007 | ACCRA -- A mission of Consultants from WHO Africa Region (AFRO) and Headquarters is in the country to make official contacts with the Ministry of Health including the Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Health Service for their full information and update on the Meningitis Vaccine Project.