Ministry of Health And Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development Issue a Joint Press Statement on Rift Valley Fever Outbreak.

Nairobi, 15 January 2007 -- The Director of Medical Services, Dr. James Nyikal and the Director of Veterinary Services Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, Dr. Joseph Musaa addressed a major Press Conference to provide update on the Rift Valley Fever outbreak in the country since it was confirmed on 21 st December 2006.

Harare, 21 December 2006 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Luis G Sambo paid an official visit to Zimbabwe from 17 – 21 December 2006, to meet the national authorities of Zimbabwe as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) Staff.

Brazzaville, 11 December 2006 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, on Monday briefed heads and representatives of more than 40 diplomatic missions, bilateral and multilateral organizations as well as donor agencies accredited to Congo on the activities of WHO.

Brazzaville, 6 December 2006 -- Focal Persons in the WHO African Region responsible for Health Information, Research and knowledge Management are gathered in Brazzaville, Congo, for their first meeting to discuss the use of evidence for developing policy for health interventions

“This meeting is an important milestone in our work”, the Director of Programme Management at the WHO Regional office for Africa, Dr Paul-Samson Lusamba – Dikassa told participants at the opening of the workshop Tuesday.

Brazzaville, 5 December 2006 -- Malnutrition has reached alarming proportions particularly among vulnerable groups. Each year, 3.5 million children aged below 5 years die of malnutrition in the African region.

Lisbon, 29 November 2006 -- The first workshop for journalists from African countries with Portuguese as official language (PALOP) took place in Lisbon, Portugal from 27–29 November 2006. It was organized by the African AIDS Vaccine Programme with the support of WHO and UNAIDS.

The workshop aimed primarily to update journalists from PALOP countries on progress in AIDS vaccine research currently being conducted worldwide.

The African Regional Health Report: Africa is Developing Solutions for Fighting Disease and Improving Health, New WHO Report Finds

Addis Ababa/Geneva/London, 20 November 2006 -- The signs are everywhere, across the continent: Africa is finding African approaches to solving its health problems.

Addis Ababa, 20 November 2006 -- The first report to focus on the health of the people living in the 46 countries of WHO African Region was launched Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Simultaneous launches of the report, titled The Health of the People: The African Regional Health Report, were held at press conferences in London and WHO Headquarters in Geneva.

Africa is finding African approaches to solving its health problems — that is the message of Africa's Working. This photo essay series was developed in concert with The Health of the People: The African Regional Health Report — the first comprehensive analysis of the state of the health of the 738 million people living in the WHO African Region.

The success stories chronicled in the series offer hope that over time the region can address the challenges it faces, given sufficient international support.

Brazzaville, 9 November 2006 -- The Regional Director, Dr Luis G. Sambo, on behalf of the WHO staff in the African Region, has congratulated Dr Margaret Chan on her appointment as the new Director-General of WHO. He has also reassured Dr Chan of his commitment to reinforce his collaboration with her to address the African Region's health challenges.

Dr Chan, of Chinese nationality, joined WHO in 2003 as Representative of the Director-General for Avian influenza and later became the Assistant Director General for Communicable Disease.