]]>It is a great honour and a privilege for me to welcome you to the WHO Regional Office for Africa on the occasion of the annual briefing meeting between WHO and the diplomatic missions accredited to the Republic of Congo. For this year, we have the immense pleasure to have in our midst several representatives of diplomatic missions of African countries accredited to the United Nations Office in Geneva to whom I would like to express warm welcome. But, first and foremost, permit me to express to you and your respective families my best wishes for the new year 2012.
Today, like on the previous occasions, the purpose of our meeting is to share with you information concerning the health situation in the African
]]>There is growing evidence that the WHO African Region is facing a major public health challenge due to the rising burden of cancer. It is projected that by 2030, Africa will bear some 1.6 million new cancer cases with 1.2 million deaths. The most common cancers in the Region are cancers of the cervix, breast, liver, prostate, Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Among the many preventable cancer risk factors are: tobacco; harmful use of alcohol; unhealthy diet; physical inactivity; certain chronic infections; some harmful chemicals such as pesticides and asbestos, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Scientific knowledge, gathered over many decades, indicates that at least one-third of all cancer cases can be prevented. Prevention offers the most cost-effective, long-term strategy for the control of cancer. For example, effective implementation of the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control can ultimately decrease the
]]>Available information suggests that around 450 million people worldwide suffer from a mental or behavioural disorder. Studies conducted in Africa, so far, show that at least 1 in 6 people who visit primary health care facilities suffer from some form of mental disorder. Schizophrenia prevalence in our Region is estimated to be nearly 1%. This condition leads to serious disability and puts a considerable burden on the families and communities of affected persons. Mood and substance abuse disorders are becoming an increasing concern in the Region. Moreover, natural disasters, conflicts and other forms of social unrest are common causes of mental disorder. Due to stigma and discrimination, mental disorders have been overlooked quite often.
Since the adoption of the Regional strategy for mental health, over a decade ago, there has been little increase in the number of countries with national mental health policies and plans. To date only 50% of countries in the Region have national mental health policies. There is still inadequate investment in mental health services because the human and financial resources currently provided to tackle
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]]>Although the deadline of 2015 is only four years away, deaths of women especially during and shortly after delivery remain a major challenge for the WHO African Region notwithstanding all the efforts made at global and regional levels. The Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG5) was set to reduce maternal mortality ratio by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. Yet, between 1990 and 2008, the ratio decreased by only 1.7% in the African Region. Estimated at 640 deaths per 100 000 live births, the average
]]>The theme for this year's African Traditional Medicine Day celebration underscores the World Health Assembly resolution on medicinal plants; the Regional Strategy on Traditional Medicine; the Plan of Action on the Organization of African Unity Decade (2001–2010) for African Traditional Medicine; and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. The adoption and ratification of these policy frameworks by countries of the Region has placed the conservation, rational and sustainable use of medicinal plants in the arena of public health.
]]>World Blood Donor Day, this year, is being commemorated under the theme: "More blood. More life". This theme highlights two important and complementary aspects: (i) the need to collect more blood; (ii) the need to ensure the availability and accessibility of blood to a larger number of patients to save their lives.
]]>Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of disease, disability and death. Smoking is responsible for 90% of lung cancer, 70% of chronic bronchitis and emphysema; and 25% of ischemic heart disease. Moreover, money spent on tobacco is often money that can be better spent on vital needs such as shelter, education and food. The economic impact of disability, lost productivity and early deaths due to tobacco contributes to the burden of poverty, retarding national development and further widening health inequities. Thus, tobacco control is not only a public health priority but also a key development issue.
The theme for World No Tobacco Day this year is: The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Convention was adopted in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic including the high and increasing toll of tobacco-related disease and death, especially in the low- and middle-income countries. The treaty aims to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke. In force since 2005, the WHO Framework Convention currently has more than 170 Parties of which 41 are from the African Region.
The WHO Framework Convention is international law.
]]>It is a privilege and a great honour for me to take the floor on the occasion of this official opening ceremony of the 12th Ordinary Assembly of Health Ministers of member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Your Excellency Mr Prime Minister, your presence at this gathering is a reflection of the interest that you continue to show in the health of the people of Togo and a strong evidence of the activeness of ECOWAS and your desire to foster peer consultation in order to address issues of importance to health. Permit me to say, “Thank you”, for your presence in our midst. My delegation and I are grateful for the warm hospitality and welcome that the people of Togo have extended to us since our arrival here in Lome. We also thank the Togolese Government and ECOWAS for inviting us to take part in these deliberations.
Excellencies,
Ladies and
At the special event on Malaria held on 22 September 2010 in New York during the UN Summit on the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon declared: "As we assess progress on the MDGs, our record on malaria stands as an example of successful implementation and effective collaboration”. We in the African Region want to echo this statement and say: ‘Together, we can achieve more’.
]]>Antibiotics have been in use for over 70 years with positive outcomes in patients. Due to prolonged and at times suboptimal use of these drugs, targeted germs have developed resistance. The other reasons for drug resistance include the use of fake and counterfeit medicines, poor prescribing habits and non compliance to prescribed treatment. If not properly managed, resistant germs may spread and cause severe diseases. However, attempts have been made to overcome drug resistance through the development of newer medicines and combining multiple drugs in the treatment of single germs.
]]>The World Health Organization is highly honoured by the presence, in our midst, in this conference room, of His Excellency the Cabinet Minister at the Office of the President of Congo, personally representing His Excellency Mr Denis Sassou N’Guesso, President of the Republic of Congo. We appreciate the importance that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Congo attaches to the health of the African peoples; and we are grateful to the Government and People of Congo for their hospitality and support which have made it possible to organize this ministerial consultation on
]]>On behalf of the World Health Organization, I am most honoured to address you at this first ever Sabin Vaccine Institute Colloquium on Sustainable Immunisation Financing. I would like to single out and thank most sincerely Dr Ciro de Quadros the Vice President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute for organizing this forum and inviting WHO to be part of the deliberations.
Since the adoption of the Millennium Declaration, countries have been working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Success in achieving these goals and realising the right to health implies that these goals are addressed in a comprehensive way. This requires, in one hand, the strengthening of health systems for universal access to health care; and, on the other hand, addressing the social and economic determinants of health through more articulated actions across all sectors.
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The low priority given to
Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in the WHO African Region. The 2010 WHO Global TB Control Report indicates that the African Region, accounting for about 12% of the world population, recorded 23% of notified TB cases worldwide in 2010. The high TB burden is linked to the emergence of new challenges such as TB/HIV co-infection and multidrug-resistant TB.
Despite the fact that Member States have almost universally adopted the “Stop TB strategy”, full implementation of this strategy is still weak. For instance, only 49% of the estimated TB cases are detected annually. In 2008, only 12 countries in the Region reached the internationally-recommended target of detecting at least 70% of estimated new cases. The Region is also not in full control of treatment as only 13 countries attained the internationally-recommended treatment completion target of having at least 85% of those on treatment complete their recommended
]]>This year’s theme which focuses on preventive measures helps raise people’s awareness of cancer and how to prevent, detect or treat it.
Among the many risk factors causing cancer are: heredity, lifestyle, mainly the use of tobacco; unhealthy diet; exposure to ultraviolet radiation; the presence of harmful chemicals such as pesticides and asbestos in the working and general environments, and chronic infections.
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