South Africa News

Pretoria, 07 December 2012 -- Print, radio and television Journalists from seven priority Anglophone countries attended the WHO African Region’s media training on Neglected Tropical Diseases held in Johannesburg, South Africa, 4 to 6 December. The training focussed on:

1. Explaining NTDs’ importance in health and broader socio-economic development to help journalists identify news stories for more frequent coverage.

2. Improving journalists’ knowledge on NTDs concepts and terminology for accurate NTDs reporting.

Pretoria, 10 December 2012 -- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) welcome last week’s publication by the Government of South Africa of the Regulations Relating to Foodstuffs for Infants and Young Children, based on the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and World Health Assembly Resolutions.

Johannesburg -- In continuing the implementation of the 2011 Post Introduction Evaluation of New Vaccines (PIE) recommendations for South Africa, WHO and the South African Department of Health held a national training attended by national and provincial EPI, Cold Chain and Depot managers to improve Effective Vaccine Management. The workshop was facilitated by Ms Diana Chang Blanc (WHO HQ) and Mr Serge Ganivet (WHO IST-ESA) with funding from the US Centres for Disease Control.

10 - 14 December 2012, Durban South Africa -- WHO and the Department of Health of the Republic of South Africa organized a practical training course on ship sanitation inspection (SSI) and issuance of ship sanitation certificates for States Parties in the African Region. The purpose of the training was to build countries' capacity in the implementation of the International Health Regulations.

Brazzaville, 5 March 2013  -- About 200 participants will meet from 18 to 20 March in Johannesburg, South Africa, for  the first ever stakeholders’ dialogue to address risk factors for noncommunicable diseases  (NCDs) in the World Health Organization (WHO)  African Region. The theme of the meeting is: “Today’s risk factors are tomorrow's diseases.”

WHAT: Stakeholders’ dialogue to address risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the WHO African Region. The theme of the meeting is: “Today’s risk factors are tomorrow's diseases.” 

WHEN: 08:00 am – 10:00 am, Monday 18 March, 2013 

WHERE: Birchwood Hotel, Viewpoint Road, Bartlett, Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

The National Department of Health (NDOH), Communicable Diseases Control Cluster (CDC) initiated once a year nationwide influenza vaccination campaign beginning 2010 targeting specific groups of people who are at increased risk for severe influenza. 

The National Department of Health is planning to carry out two immunisation rounds during 2013.  First round will cover Polio and Measles starting between 29 April and 17 May.  Second round will cover only Polio and will run between 17 and 28 June 2013.  The WCO is supporting the NDOH to successfully carry out the planned immunisation. 

The conference theme is Building on Successes: Integrating Systems. According to the conference chair, Koleka Mlisana, Associate Prof and Head: Dept of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal and NHLS, “it is … time for all of us to ‘Build on all … successes’ as we tackle TB and HIV co-infections and move to the next phase  of  conquering TB and HIV & AIDS.” The conference provides an opportunity for participants to showcase the great work and contribution they are making in achieving “our common goal of an HIV free world”.

"The ICASA conference remains one of the most important events in the calendar of the year, contributing towards overcoming the HIV and TB epidemics that grip our region. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected region with over 22 Million people living with HIV and AIDS and the highest Tuberculosis rates world-wide. Through scientific advancements in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of HIV significant progress has been made to reduce the mortality and morbidity of AIDS.