The African region has made progress over the past decade to strengthen mental health systems, including investments to improve care, health workforce as well as national policies to steer the delivery of vital services. However, the pace of the progress is slow and further efforts are needed to address mental health challenges and ensure well-being. Notable advancements in the region include a 14% improvement in the ratio of mental health specialists to population in the six years to 2020, as well as the introduction of mental health care training for…
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Zambia records first mpox case: Health minister
Zambia’s Health Minister Elijah Muchima announced Thursday the first-recorded mpox case in the country. The 32-year-old Tanzanian male patient traveled from a neighboring country last month and presented symptoms earlier this month. He is currently admitted to a health facility in the Central Province. Given the patient’s extensive travel history and interaction at multiple points in Zambia, there is a heightened risk of local transmission and potential cross-border spread. Following the confirmation of his test results, the Ministry of Health, through the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), has heightened…
Read MoreMercy Ships and West African College of Surgeons Collaborate to Elevate Surgical and Anesthesia Training in Africa
By Own Correspondent In a landmark collaboration, the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) has granted an accreditation to Mercy Ships’ (www.MercyShips.org) surgical and anesthesia training programmes. This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both organizations towards advancing medical education in the region, offering medical trainees unparalleled opportunities to gain specialized qualifications through their experience aboard the international charity’s hospital vessels. The clinical and scholarly endorsement from WACS has been celebrated by Mercy Ships as a huge milestone in continuing to deliver of the organization’s Education Training and Advocacy (ETA)…
Read MoreZimbabwe Amongst African Countries With Growing Disabling Hearing Loss Burden
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) has projected an increasing burden in disabling hearing loss in Africa at the back limited capacity to handle hearing loss ailments, an ill-equipped workforce amongst a host of other factors. Data from 43 African countries show that while 36 countries provide EHC services at the tertiary level, similar services are not offered at primary care level. This is despite the fact that the common causes of hearing loss are mostly preventable through simple public health interventions, or measures to mitigate the risk…
Read More3-Month Dapivirine Vaginal Ring for HIV Prevention Demonstrates Superior Drug Release Compared to 1-Month Ring
By Staff Reporter Lima, Peru – The Population Council, an international nonprofit research organization, announced today at HIVR4P 2024, the 5th HIV Research for Prevention Conference, the results of a phase I open-label randomized crossover relative bioavailability trial (IPM 054). The trial found that a 3-month dapivirine vaginal ring delivers the active antiretroviral drug, dapivirine, at higher levels than the 1-month dapivirine vaginal ring. The trial, conducted among  124 women in South Africa, suggests that the longer-acting ring will be as effective as the 1-month ring, offering a more cost…
Read MoreWHO approves first mpox diagnostic test for emergency use, boosting global access
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the first mpox in vitro diagnostic (IVD) under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure, an important step in improving global access to mpox testing. The approval for emergency use of the Alinity m MPXV assay, manufactured by Abbott Molecular Inc., will be pivotal in expanding diagnostic capacity in countries facing mpox outbreaks, where the need for quick and accurate testing has risen sharply. Early diagnosis of mpox enables timely treatment and care, and control of the virus. Limited testing capacity…
Read MoreGhana To Host ICASA 2025
By Staff Reporter The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) is delighted to announce that Ghana has been selected as the host country for the 23rd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), which will take place in from 3rd to 8th December 2025 at the Accra International Conference Centre. This prestigious event will convene global leaders, community, researchers, advocates, and healthcare professionals to further the continent’s fight against HIV/AIDS, STIs, Hepatitis, Malaria, TB, emerging viral infections and strengthening Africa’s Health systems. Since its inception…
Read MoreCPHIA 2024 Edition Postponed Due to Mpox
By Michael Gwarisa The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced the postponement of the 2024 Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), which was originally set to take place in Morocco from 26 to 29 November 2024. In a statement, Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Africa CDC Director General said the decision had to be made to protect people from infection. This difficult but necessary decision was made following consultations between H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, and Professor Khalid Aït Taleb, Morocco’s…
Read MoreUnited States Donation of 50,000 Mpox Vaccine Doses Arrives in DRC
The United States, through USAID, completed the delivery of 50,000 doses of the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to support its efforts to respond to the ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox. Speaking on the development,United States Agency for International Development Spokesperson, Benjamin Suarato said the vaccines would go a long way in minimising he impact of Mpox on the continent. This important milestone is the result of months of U.S.-led efforts with partners on multiple continents which have not only…
Read MoreAfrican CDC and WHO launch joint continental plan to scale up mpox outbreak response
KINSHASA – In a significant step to strengthen and accelerate the response to the ongoing the mpox outbreak, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) today launched a joint continental response plan for Africa to support countries’ efforts to curb the spread of the virus, save and protect lives. The launch of the Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan follows the declarations of a public health emergency of continental security (PHECS) on 13 August 2024 by Africa CDC, and a public health emergency…
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