WHO/AFRO - Media Advisory

Dr Sambo to meet the Diplomatic Corps in Brazzaville, Congo

muzendal@afro.who.int (Linda Muzenda) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:13:16 +0000

For the fourth time, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, will this month, play host to more than 100 representatives and members of the diplomatic community accredited to the Republic of Congo. The forum has been institutionalized as a unique platform for sharing experiences in the broad field of development cooperation and, in particular, in the area of health development. Similar meetings with the diplomats were held in 2006, 2011 and 2012.

WHAT? Meeting between World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis G. Sambo, and the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Republic of Congo.

WHEN? Friday, 15 February 2013

WHO? In attendance will be: the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health and other high-ranking Officials of State, 20 Heads of Diplomatic Missions, 3 Consuls General and Heads of 22 International Organizations.

WHERE? Main Conference Hall, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville

WHY? The general objective of the meeting is to share with the Diplomatic Corps the health situation in the WHO African Region one year after their last meeting with the Regional Director in February 2012.

Specifically, Dr Sambo will brief the diplomats on the health situation in the Region, including Climate Change, and update them on the implementation of the decision to establish the African Public Health Emergency Fund The forum will also provide an opportunity for participants to exchange views on health in Africa.
__________________________________________________________________

For more information, please contact:

Boniface Biboussi ; + 242 055515238/066558550; biboussib@cg.afro.who.int; bbiboussi@yahoo.fr
Joana Teixeira ; tel : +47-241-39382 ; teixeiram@afro.who.int
Samuel Ajibola ;tel :+47-241-39378 ; ajibolas@afro.who.int

Launch of the Report on Women’s Health in the African Region & the WHO World Malaria Report 2012

muzendal@afro.who.int (Linda Muzenda) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:22:25 +0000

Women’s health is the result of interaction of different factors: biological, psychological, socio-cultural influences, environmental and occupational conditions and economic development. The health of women is the foundation for social and economic development in the African Region but women in Africa bear a disproportionately large share of the global burden of disease and death, particularly in maternal morbidity and mortality.

The unacceptably high level of maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, calls for a fundamental rethinking of approaches to improving women’s health informed by an understanding of the sociocultural determinants that are so important in shaping it.

This and other recommendations are highlighted in a report titled--‘Addressing the Challenge of Women’s Health in Africa’ to be launched by the World Health Organization in Monrovia, Liberia.

The WHO World Malaria Report 2012, which includes the latest data from 104 endemic countries and a range of partners, will also be launched at the same event. The report reveals the success stories and challenges being faced by countries fighting one of the world’s leading infectious killers. It also highlights the impact and risks from cuts in international funding for essential programmes.

WHAT: Launch of the Report on Women’s Health in the African Region – ‘Addressing the Challenge of Women’s Health in Africa’ & the WHO World Malaria Report 2012

WHEN: Monday, 17 December 2012 – 8am (GMT)

WHERE: Monrovia City Hall, Liberia

WHO: President Johnson-Sirleaf
Distinguished Honorary President, Women’s Health Commission, Chair, African Leaders Malaria Alliance

Dr Luis Sambo
WHO Regional Director for Africa

Dr. Walter T. Gwenigale
Minister of Health and Social Welfare

Ms. Karin Landgren
Special Representative of UN Secretary General

Hon. Julia Duncan Cassell
Minister of Gender and Development, Liberia

Mrs. Joy Phumaphi
Executive Director, African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA)

Accessing the Reports:

The reports will be available under embargo which will lift at the start of the launch in Monrovia, Liberia. Monday 8 AM GMT

For further information, journalists may contact:
Collins Boakye-Agyemang, Boakyec@afro.who.int, +472 413 9420

Dr Sambo to deliver Keynote Address at the 13th World Congress on Public Health, Addis Ababa

saboug@afro.who.int (Sabou Ghislain) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:08:04 +0000

The 13th World Congress on Public Health will take place from 23 to 27, April 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme; “Towards Global Health Equity: Opportunities and Threats”. This Congress offers unique opportunities to discuss global, continental and national public health issues among the global public health community and other key stakeholders. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, will deliver the Keynote address.

Ethiopia is the second African country to host this World Congress, after the one organized in Arusha, Tanzania in 1997.

WHAT? The 13th World Congress on Public Health is expected to deliberate on important and defining public health issues through evidence based and transparent interactions among the global public health community, researchers, academicians, scientists, and public health officials.

WHO? The Congress is co-organized by the Ministry of Health - Ethiopia, Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA). In attendance will be the Ethiopian Minister of Health, Dr Tedros Adhanom; WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis G. Sambo; the President of World Federation of Public Health Associations, Professor Ulrich Laaser; the President of Ethiopian Public Health Association, Dr Tewabech Bishaw; heads of UN Agencies, representatives of stakeholders, public health associations and other agencies. More than 3000 participants from different disciplines are expected to participate.

WHERE? Millennium Hall, Addis Ababa

WHY? The general objectives of the Congress are to contribute towards protecting and promoting public health at global, continental, and national levels and to create a better understanding of Africa’s public health challenges within global public health.

In its all, five plenaries and more than one hundred pre-organised and free sessions on a multiplicity of public health issues will be held over a five-day period. The World Congress will provide participants an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experiences and learn from one another.

For more information please contact:

Email: who-wro@et.afro.who.int;
P.O. Box: 3069;
Fax: +251115514037;
Phone: +251 553 1550

Dr Sambo to meet the Diplomatic Corps in Brazzaville, Congo

saboug@afro.who.int (Sabou Ghislain) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:25:26 +0000

In what has now become institutionalized as a unique platform for sharing experiences in the broad field of development cooperation and, in particular, in the area of health development, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, will this month, play host to more than 50 representatives and members of the diplomatic community accredited to the Republic of Congo in Brazzaville.

This is the third in a series of annual meetings between WHO and the Congo-based diplomatic community. The previous event was held on 11 February 2011.

WHAT? Meeting between World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis G. Sambo, and the Diplomatic Corps in Brazzaville, Congo.

WHEN? Friday, 10 February 2012

WHO? In attendance will be: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, high-ranking officials of the Congolese Government, 20 Heads of Diplomatic Missions, 3 Consuls General and Heads of 22 International Organizations. These Brazzaville-based diplomats are expected to be joined in the one-day meeting by Officers on the Health Desks of 15 African Diplomatic Missions accredited to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, headquarters of WHO.

WHERE? Main Conference Hall, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville

WHY? The general objective of the meeting is to strengthen policy and strategic dialogue between WHO and the diplomatic community with a view to advancing Africa’s socio-economic development, particularly in the field of health.

Specifically, participants will share and exchange information on the implementation of WHO’s

Strategic Orientations in the African Region for 2010 – 2015. They will also be briefed on the objectives and implications for the African Region, of the ongoing reform at WHO.

For more information, please contact:

AFRO Communications Team

Sam Ajibola +4724139378
E-mail: Ajibolas@afro.who.int

World Conference on Social Determinants of Health

ajibolas@afro.who.int (Samuel Ajibola) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:56:48 +0000

WHAT: World Conference on Social Determinants of Health

WHEN: 19 – 21 October, 2011

WHERE: Forte de Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

WHO: More than 100 countries, including 34 from the WHO African Region are expected to attended the conference.

WHY: The conference aims to build support for the implementation of action on social determinants of health to reduce inequities. It will also provide a global platform for dialogue on how the 2008 rec-ommendations of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health could be taken forward. Specifically, the conference will provide a process for the sharing of national experiences and techni-cal knowledge on addressing social determinants of health.

Conference themes –

The main themes that will be tackled during the Conference are:

governance to tackle the root causes of health inequities: implementing action on social determinants of health;
the role of the health sector, including public health programmes, in reducing health inequities;
promoting participation: community leadership for action on social determinants;
global action on social determinants: aligning priorities and stakeholders;
monitoring progress: measurement and analysis to inform policies on social determinants.

The Second African Regional Conference on Immunization. (ARCI)

saboug@afro.who.int (Sabou Ghislain) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:47:37 +0000

What: The Second African Regional Conference on Immunization (ARCI)

Theme: “Reaching every child with immunization.”

The specific objectives of this conference are:
1. To review the progress in implementation of immunization programme activities in the Region and propose the way forward;
2. To exchange technical updates and up-to date scientific developments;
3. To identify and advance research questions in the area of immunization in the African Region;
4. To improve advocacy and partnerships in immunization and related activities.

When: 6-8 December 2010

Where: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Venue: Ouaga 2000

Who: Experts in immunization, public health specialists, vaccine research and development experts, donors and partners.

Details:

The conference is being organized by the World Health Organization. The first plenary session with the sub-theme, “Eradication of Poliomyelitis in the African Region - Progress, Challenges and Opportunities”, will include presentations and discussions on the global polio eradication effort, the status of polio eradication in the African region and how the global milestones for polio eradication are being monitored

Other parallel sessions will focus on progress towards attainment of the milestones for polio eradication, namely “Interrupting Endemic and Re-established Transmission of polio in Africa (Strategic Plan Milestones 2 & 3) as well as “Preventing New International Spread and Outbreaks (Strategic Plan Milestone 1).

The second day will be devoted to the theme, “Reaching Un/Under-Immunized Children in the African Region - Progress, Challenges and Opportunities”. Under this theme there will be sessions on delivery of routine immunization services in the region, status of new vaccine introduction and immunization financing.

Technical Contact:

Dr Deo Nshimirimana E-mail: Nshimirimanad@afro.who.int

Media contacts:

Collins Boakye-Agyemang Email: Boakyec@afro.who.int
Rodrique Barry Email: Barryr@bf.afro.who.int
Flavienne Issembe E-mail: Issembef@afro.who.int

Luanda Gearing up for the Second Inter-Ministerial Conference on Health And Environment in Africa

muzendal@afro.who.int (Linda Muzenda) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:11:20 +0000

The Government of Angola is hosting the Second Health and Environment Inter-Ministerial Conference on Health and Environment in Africa from 23-26 November 2010. The conference is organized jointly with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) under the theme “Health and Environment Strategic Alliance on the move”.

The conference will bring together more than 300 participants including government officials from 52 countries in Africa, civil society representatives, development partners and the United Nations agencies.

At the four-day Inter-Ministerial Conference on Health and Environment, Ministers will take stock of the progress made since the signing of the Libreville Declaration two years ago. They are also expected to define regional priorities and required actions. One of the major expected outcomes of the Inter-Ministerial is the adoption of a Statement for Africa on climate change and health for the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Cancun, Mexico, December 2010.

The Conference aims to sustain the political commitment made by Ministers at the Libreville Conference in 2008, on enhanced inter-sectoral actions and co-benefits for human health and the environment, as part of their engagement towards sustainable development in the African region.

WHAT: You are invited to cover all the open sessions of the Inter-Ministerial Conference including opening and closing ceremonies, plenary sessions, side events.

The conference is structured in two segments. A two-day scientific and technical conference comprised of scientific government experts and ministerial advisers will take place to discuss the scientific evidence and programmatic issues.

Immediately following the scientific conference, a two-day ministerial conference will review the report of the scientific conference to consider the regional synthesis report and its recommendations, the proposed regional priorities and proposed arrangements for the health and environment strategic alliance.

WHERE: Main Conference Hall of the Talatona Conference Centre -Luanda

WHEN: 23 – 26 November 2010

Note for Correspondents:

Briefing sessions with the Media will be organized every day at 6.30 pm.

Contacts for more information and interviews:

Jose Caetano (WHO) on Tel: 926 546 698 or 912 220 543
Sam Ajibola (WHO) on Tel: 937 555 326;
Angele Luh-Sy (UNEP) on Tel. 937 148 568;
Flavienne Issembe (WHO) on Tel: 937 555 228;
Joana Teixeira (WHO) on Tel: 937 555 313

Related Links

:: Implementation of the Libreville Declaration on Health and Environment in Africa - Luanda Commitment [English pdf 16.81kB] [Français] [Portuguese]

:: African Ministers of Health and Environment Joint Statement on Climate Change and Health [English pdf 39.36kB] [Français] [Portuguese]

:: The Health and Environment Strategic Alliance for the Implementation of the Libreville Declaration [English pdf 26.19kB] [Français] [Portuguese]

Media advisory: Launch of the Commission on Women's Health in the African Region

saboug@afro.who.int (Sabou Ghislain) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:28:29 +0000

What? Launch of the Commission on Women’s Health in the African region.

When? 14 April 2010

Where? City Hall, Monrovia, Liberia

Who? Liberian President Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf who is also the Honorary President of the Commission on Women’s Health in the African Region will launch the 18- member multidisciplinary body. The other main speakers at the launch include WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, the Minister of Health of Rwanda and current chair of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, Dr Richard Sezibera and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Liberia, Mrs Ellen Loj.

Also expected to attend the launch are Liberian cabinet ministers and other senior government officials; Heads or Representatives of Diplomatic missions accredited to Liberia ; representatives of UN Agencies, bilateral and bilateral organizations, and members of the secretariat of the Commission.

Why? Maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at 900 per 100 000 live births, and remains the highest in the world. On an average, one out of every 26 women is at risk of dying during childbirth in the region compared to one woman in every 7,300 in developed countries. Against this background, the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, at its fifty-eighth session in 2008, adopted Resolution AFR/RC58/R1 requesting, among others, the Regional Director to establish a Commission on Women’s Health.

In response to this resolution, the Regional Director established a multi-disciplinary Commission of 18 members comprising high level political per-sonalities, including parliamentarians; representative of the African Union; so-ciologists, economists, epidemiologists, public health physicians, researchers , and obstetricians and gynecologists.

The main terms of reference of the Commission are to generate evidence on the key factors influencing the current state of women’s health in Sub-Saharan African countries and make appropriate recommendations. The Commission’s recommendations are expected to address what needs to be done from the po-litical, socio-economic, cultural and health systems perspectives to improve women’s health, and in particular, to reduce the present unacceptable level of maternal mortality.

For more information, please contact:

Technical contact:
Dr. Andrew Kosia – Tel: +47 39102 – E-mail: kosiaa@afro.who.int

Media contact:
Eric Johnson – Tel : (231) 7-77513516 E-mail : Johnsone@lr.afro.who.int
Samuel Ajibola – Tel : +47 241 39378 – E-mail: ajibolas@afro.who.int
Collins Boakye-Agyemang – Tel : +47 241 39420, E-mail : boakyec@afro.who.int

Regional Consultative Meeting on the Frameworks for the Implementation of the Ouagadougou and Algiers Declarations

muzendal@afro.who.int (Linda Muzenda) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0000

Brazzaville, 20 April 2009 -- In April 2008, WHO, in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS, The World Bank, the African Development Bank and the host country Burkina Faso organized the International Conference on Primary Health Care (PHC) and Health Systems, from 28 to 30 April in Ouagadougou.

The conference resulted in the adoption of the Ouagadougou Declaration on Primary Health Care and Health Systems in Africa: Achieving Better Health for Africa in the New Millennium.

Furthermore, from 23 to 26 June, WHO and the Government of Algeria jointly organized the Ministerial Conference on Research for Health in the African Region held in the Algerian capital. The conference resulted in the adoption of the Algiers Declaration.

Signatories to the Ouagadougou Declaration and participants in the Algiers conference which adopted the Algiers Declaration requested WHO to support the development of frameworks to implement both declarations which were later endorsed by the Fifty-eighth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in September 2008.

It is against this backdrop that WHO is bringing together a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders to examine drafts of the implementation frameworks of the Ouagadougouand Algiers Declarations.

What ? Regional Consultation on the Frameworks for the Implementation of the Ouagadougou Declaration on Primary Health Care and Health Systems in Africa and the Algiers Declaration on Research for Health.

When? 21 - 23 April 2009

Where? Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Who? The consultation will be attended by Ministries of Health, policy makers and health system managers; some Members of the Expert Group on PHC and the African Advisory Committee on Health Research and Development; representatives of training and research institutions, NGOs, public health associations, community and international organizations and WHO Staff.

Why? The consultation aims to:

1. Build consensus of the format and content of the Frameworks for implementation of the Ouagadougou and Algiers Declarations;
2. Ensure that the main priorities highlighted in the Ouagadougou and Algiers Declaration have been taken into account in the Frameworks:
3. Identify best ways and means for supporting the implementation of the Frameworks;
4. Agree on mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Frameworks.

For more information on the consultation, please contact:
Dr Chris Mwikisa: E-mail - mwikisac@afro.who.int; Tel +47241 39388

Dr Saidou Pathé Barry: E-mail - barrys@afro.who.int; Tel +47 241 39337

Dr Derege Kebede: E-mail: kebeded@afro.who.int; Tel: +47 241 39176

Dr Issa Sanou : E-mail - sanoui@afro.who.int; Tel: +47 241 39419

International Conference on Primary Health Care and Health Systems in Africa

muzendal@afro.who.int (Linda Muzenda) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0000

18 April 2008 -- The WHO Regional Office for Africa, in collaboration with development partners and the Government of Burkina Faso, is organizing an International Conference on Primary Health Care (PHC) and Health Systems in Africa. The Conference coincides with the 30th Anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration adopted in 1978 and the 60th Anniversary of WHO established in 1948.

What ? International Conference on Primary Health Care and Health Systems in Africa: Towards the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

When ? 28-30 April, 2008

Where ? Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (Venue: Ouaga 2000 Conference Centre)

Who ? The President of Burkina Faso, H.E. Blaise Compaore, is expected to open the conference which will be attended by more than 500 participants from within and outside Africa. The participants include Ministers of Health, policy and decision-makers and managers of health services; researchers, academicians, and social anthropologists; bilateral partners; representatives of training institutions and ministries operating in the area of health (e.g. education and finance ministries); and representatives of multilateral institutions, international organizations, civil society and the private sector, among others.

Why ? The conference will;

Examine lessons learnt in 30 years of PHC implementation in the African Region
Identify strategic orientations for scaling up essential interventions to achieve health related MDGs using the PHC approach for strengthening health systems.
Renew commitment of all countries in the region in moving forward PHC to strengthen health systems
Promote regional partnerships to strengthen health systems and PHC implementation

It is also expected to galvanize the spirit of Alma-Ata and renew commitment to the attainment of the health millennium development goals through

Re-affirming the PHC principles of accessibility, public participation, appropriate technology and intersectoral action
Sustaining the stewardship role of governments at central and local levels
Scaling up universal access of quality health services, based on the successful models in the region
Making partnerships work at the community, national, regional and global levels and collectively contribute to improving the health outcomes of people in the African Region.

The Conference is expected to adopt a new Regional Declaration, similar in spirit to Alma-Ata, which would propose the development and implementation of public policies and strategies at both regional and national levels to continue to improve the health of people in the African Region.
***
For more information about the conference please visit the conference web site http://www.afro.who.int/phc_hs_2008/index.html and/or contact:

Dr Amidou Baba-Moussa
babamoussaa@bf.who.int
Tel:+226 50 306 509

Dr Alima A.J. Diarra
diarra@afro.who.int
Tel: +47 241 392

Dr Saidou Pathé Barry
barrys@afro.who.int
Tel: + 47 241 39337

Mr. Rodrigue Barry
barryr@bf.afro.who.int
Tel: + 226 70 21 43 12

Mr Samuel Ajibola
ajibolas@bf.afro.who.int
+47 241 39378

Mr. Collins Boakye-Agyemang
boakyec@afro.who.int
Tel: +47 39420

Madam Flavienne Issembe
issembef@afro.who.int
Tel: +47 39352

Madam Joana Teixeira
teixeiram@afro.who.int
Tel:+47 39382

Note to Editors and Correspondents:

Accreditation of journalists: Reporters, cameramen and photojournalists will be accredited on arrival. To facilitate this, they are kindly requested to bring along 2 passport size photographs.

Plenary and parallel sessions: These are open to journalists. Closed sessions will be communicated to journalists covering the conference.

Press Centre / Press Briefings and Conferences /Request for press interviews
A Press Centre equipped with PC terminals with internet access will be available at the Ouaga 2000 Conference Centre. The press corps will be duly informed of Press Briefings and scheduled Press Conferences by WHO Communications Officers who will be on hand to assist journalists with arranging interviews with delegates.

Background Notes for Editors

The Alma-Ata Declaration

The Alma-Ata Declaration defined Primary Health Care as

“essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and the country can afford to maintain at every stage of their development in the spirit of self- reliance and self-determination”

The Decaration was adopted in 1978 at a meeting on primary health care convened by WHO and UNICEF in Alma-Ata, capital of the Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan in the former Soviet Union. The meeting was attended by 134 countries and 67 international organizations.

The slogan Health for All by the Year 2000 was created at the 30th World Health Assembly in 1997 (a year before Alma-Ata) as a vision for the attainment by all peoples of the world by 2000 of a level of health that would permit them to lead socially and economically productive lives as a main social target of governments, international organizations and communities.

The Alma-Ata Declaration endorsed PHC as the main strategy for attaining the target, and re-affirmed WHO’s definition of health in 1946 as: “state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

The ideology behind Primary Health Care
The ideology behind PHC is based on the recognition that health promotion and protection are essential for sustained economic and social development and contribute to better quality of life.

Pillars of PHC: PHC is regarded as a cost-effective approach and its principles include social justice, equity, human rights, universal access to services, community involvement and priority to the most vulnerable and underprivileged.

Core elements of PHC: PHC envisaged universal coverage of basic services such as education on methods of preventing and controlling prevailing health problems; promotion of food security and proper nutrition; adequate safe water supply and basic sanitation; maternal and child health care, including family planning; vaccination against major infectious diseases; prevention and control of locally endemic diseases; appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries, and provision of essential drugs. Since Alma-Ata other elements have been added to this list by individual countries. One such element added by most countries is Mental Health