UNICs promote UN Issues

On 20 February 2008, a one-day workshop for journalists on bilharzias disease was organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Population and the UN Information Centre Sana'a. The workshop was held in preparation of the 11 March 2008 launch of the national campaign to combat bilharzia, a disease still endemic in Yemen. The event was attended by a large number of Yemeni journalists, representing TV channels, radio, Saba news agency and printed media.

Schistosomiasis, or bilharzia, is a human disease caused by parasitic worms called schistosomes, and is common in the tropics where ponds, streams and irrigation channels harbour bilharzia-transmitting snails. The disease affects about 200 million people worldwide, and more than 650 million people live in endemic areas.

Please click here to go to the WHO information page on Schistosomiasis.

On World Health Day 2005 (Wednesday 06 April) the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Yaounde co-organised with the Ministry of Public Health a joint UN-Cameroon Government Press “Rencontre”. The WHD’s theme was “Make every mother and child count”. The event provided another opportunity for visibility of the UN System in Cameroon and proof of partnership with the Government, the Media and Civil Society.

The Minister of Public Health, Urbain Olanguena Awono, presented the activities envisaged by the Cameroon Government to address maternal and child health, and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The World Health Organization Representative, Dr Mambu-ma-Disu, made an introductory remark on the World Health Report 2005. The Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cameroon read the message of the UN Secretary-General, for the World Health Day (in English and French). A press-conference followed. The Resident Representative of UNICEF, Mme Coulibaly Ndiaye, made contributions regarding UN System/Cameroon government partnership in the health sector.