Traditional medicine appears in epidemic-era policy discussion

Repeated ivermectin distribution and surveillance supported elimination.

Ecuador became the second country verified free of river blindness after Colombia.

The announcement recognized interrupted transmission, with monitoring still relevant.

WHO reports President Boni Yayi addressing the regional committee on this date during a debate on stronger health systems.

At the Cotonou meeting, Boni Yayi asked African countries to consider conventional and traditional medicine in health cooperation.

The Benin president connected traditional and conventional care with partnerships among countries of the Global South.

Cuba became the first country validated for eliminating mother-to-child HIV and syphilis transmission as public-health problems.

Testing and treatment during pregnancy formed part of the services WHO assessed.

The validation recognized work to prevent both infections passing from mother to child.

The finding does not mean that every possible individual transmission had become impossible.