Regional Director News

Over 500,000 children have been protected against eight killer but vaccine-preventable diseases -tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, measles and hepatitis B, and homophillus influenza B - throughout the country during the 2nd African Vaccination Week (AVW).

One of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aims at improving maternal health - MDG 5. The two targets of this goal are reducing by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio; and achieving, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health.

Abidjan, 23 July 2009 -- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis G. Sambo had an audience with the Ivorian Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Dr Allah Kouadio Rémi, at the Minister’s residence in Toumodi, about 220 kilometers north of the capital - Abidjan.

The new head of the UN health agency should carry on the reforms begun by outgoing chief Dr Margaret Chan and encourage Member States to prioritise funding to handle outbreaks and emergencies.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti paid an official visit to the Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta, USA. She was met on arrival by Dr Tom Frieden and other senior executives of the CDC.