Polio this week - As of 12 June 2013

On the occasion of the 38th Annual Meeting of the IDB Board of Governors held in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan, a number of financing agreements have been signed under which the Bank shall participate in financing new development projects in (10) member countries (in addition to the Republic of Kosovo) for a total amount of USD230.9 million , The details are as follows:

1 . The Republic of Tajikistan

Loan for USD10 million, to participate in phase-3 in the Dangara Valley Irrigation Project with the objective of poverty reduction among the population.

ECOWAS has called for more support from the UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) for effective implementation of the region’s gender, child and humanitarian policies.

The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Toga McIntosh told a visiting delegation led by the fund’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa Mr. Benot Kalasa, that the organization "is desirous of working with you in this area and facilitating project implementation and coordination for greater impact."

BALTIMORE, MD, May 20, 2013 – Today, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and its partners will start a campaign to distribute more than 3 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets throughout the West African nation of Guinea. The effort is part of a nationwide campaign with the aim to provide one bed net for every two people in Guinea, a country with a population of 11 million.

N°: 129/2013

13 mai 2013 [Nzerekore - Guinea]

Une équipe multidisciplinaire de la Commission de la CEDEAO vient d’effectuer dans la région administrative de Nzérékoré, en Guinée, une mission destinée à évaluer les résultats du Projet d'appui à la CEDEAO pour le Développement et la Paix (PADEP) dont l’objectif sectoriel est de contribuer à la promotion de la paix et du développement dans les Etats membres.

• Two new wild poliovirus (WPV) cases are officially reported this week, both from Nigeria, bringing the total number of WPV cases in 2013 to 26 (compared to 53 at this time last year). Additionally, a new circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case is reported in Pakistan. Please see country-specific sections below, for more information.

• Multi-country immunization campaigns took place this week (26-29 April) across West Africa. Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone all participated, aiming to reach nearly 30 million children under the age of five years with oral polio vaccine (OPV).

Despite tough challenges in fragile countries, World Bank analysis reveals glimmers of hope

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2013—Despite enduring political and economic challenges, 20 fragile and conflict-affected states have recently met one or more targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and an additional six countries are on track to meet individual targets ahead of the 2015 deadline, according to a new analysis by the World Bank Group released today.

In parts of West Africa, the Peace Corps is expanding opportunities for its Volunteers to receive training in combating hunger and undernutrition.

Peace Corps Volunteers are closely integrated with the communities they serve, often supporting local community health workers or even providing counseling themselves to caregivers responsible for the health and nutrition of family members.