Dakar, 20 October -- The majority of communities in four selected African countries still prefer to have babies delivered at home rather than in health facilities, according to the findings of a study conducted in four countries by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Brazzaville, 15 October 2003 -- The second meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Regional Reproductive Health Task Force is to take place from 20 to 24 October in Dakar, Senegal. 
Established by WHO in 2002, the 20-member multidisciplinary, broad-based group of experts is charged with strengthening coordination mechanisms among key actors and partners in the area of reproductive health in the African region. It also works to enhance the overall effectiveness of reproductive health activities at the regional and national levels.

The theme for World Mental Health Day this year draws the attention of the international community to the threat that emotional and behavioural disorders pose to the mental health of children and adolescents because they do not receive quality care from the early years of life. 
This lack of care results in mental disorders which, in the long run, leaves indelible marks on, and reduces the capacities of, the affected individual and, hence, of the society as a whole, in terms of safety and productivity.

Following years of civil war in Liberia, access to safe drinking water and a coordinated health response are at the core of WHO's work in the country.

This series of feature stories is about people living with HIV/AIDS. Each story is very different. Some tell a tale of people struggling with the debilitating effects of HIV and the fear of an early death.

Other stories are much more positive. Thanks to a breakthrough in the delivery of antiretroviral medicines, individuals are not only beating HIV, they now have renewed hope for the future, for themselves and for their families.

Johannesburg, 5 September 2003 -- The 53rd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa ended Friday in Johannesburg with the adoption of six resolutions, including one endorsing a strategy on women's health which focuses on the health conditions that are exclusive to, or more prevalent in, women. 

Johannesburg, 4 September -- Almost half of the 600,000 pregnancy-related deaths recorded worldwide occur in Africa which has only 12% of the worlds population, and only 17% of the global annual births, says a discussion paper to be reviewed at a roundtable of African health and development experts and officials scheduled for Thursday in Johannesburg. 

Johannesburg, 3 September -- Man-made disasters and natural hazards such as armed conflicts, floods, drought, famine, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions cost Africa $15 billion in 2002. 

Johannesburg, 3 September -- Food-borne illness presents a major and continuing challenge to Africa as it adversely affects health, lowers economic productivity, and in several cases results in death and disability. 
This is contained in a report presented Monday by the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Ebrahim M. Samba, to the 53rd session of WHO Regional Committee for Africa taking place from 1 to 5 September in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Johannesburg, 3 September 2003 -- Mortality rate from road traffic accident injuries in Africa is the highest in the world, costing the Region $7.3 billion or 1% of its Gross Domestic Product annually, the World Health Organization says in a report released Monday in Johannesburg.