Tsitsi Masiyiwa Leads Launch of $500 Million Fund to Save Newborn Lives Across Africa
By Michael Gwarisa In a monumental step toward improving maternal and newborn health in Africa, Tsitsi Masiyiwa has led the launch of the Beginnings Fund, a $500 million initiative aimed at saving the lives of newborns and their mothers across sub-Saharan Africa. Announced by her husband, billionaire philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa, the fund was borne out
Read MoreMalaria Linked to Childhood Cancer in New Study
By Michael Gwarisa A groundbreaking new study published in The Journal of Immunology has unveiled how Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the deadliest strain of the parasite, contributes directly to the development of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) — the most common childhood cancer in equatorial Africa and New Guinea. The findings offer the strongest evidence yet linking malaria
Read MoreAfrica CDC to Convene Emergency Meeting to Review Mpox Public Health Status
By Michael Gwarisa Following a sustained decline in reported Mpox cases across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to convene an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) meeting with experts to determine whether Mpox should still be classified as a public health emergency. In August 2024, Africa CDC declared Mpox
Read MoreAfrica CDC to Convene Emergency Meeting to Review Mpox Public Health Status
By Michael Gwarisa Following a sustained decline in reported Mpox cases across Africa, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to convene an Emergency Consultative Group (ECG) meeting with experts to determine whether Mpox should still be classified as a public health emergency. In August 2024, Africa CDC declared Mpox
Read MoreRampant Sexual Networks Hinder Mpox Response in Africa
By Michael Gwarisa Efforts to curb the spread of Mpox among African Union member states remain a challenge due to widespread and interconnected sexual networks, HealthTimes has learned. Uganda currently leads in new Mpox cases, accounting for 50% of all recorded infections in Africa over the past six weeks. The majority of cases in Uganda
Read MoreCheckUp Health’s AI-Powered Healthcare Innovation Earns International Recognition
By Staff Reporter CheckUp Health, a pioneering AI-powered healthcare platform founded by Zimbabwean entrepreneur Fungai Ndemera, has gained international acclaim after being shortlisted as a finalist in two categories at the prestigious Medilink Midlands Business Awards 2025 in the UK. The nominations—Delivering Innovation into Health and Care and Advances in Digital Healthcare—underscore CheckUp Health’s commitment
Read MoreAfrica CDC Hosts Mental Health Leadership Program In Harare to Address Growing Crisis in Africa
By Michael Gwarisa A 10-day Mental Health Leadership Program has kicked off in Harare, Zimbabwe, amid growing calls for governments to prioritize mental health as a public health emergency, HealthTimes has learned. The training program, aimed at equipping leaders from various sectors with the necessary skills and capacity to address the growing burden of mental
Read MoreAfrica CDC Confirms Mpox Vaccine Production to Start in 2025
By Michael Gwarisa The Director-General of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC), Dr. Jean Kaseya, told a media briefing that local production of the Mpox vaccine on the continent will commence this year, although he did not provide specific timelines. In 2024, Africa CDC partnered with Bavarian Nordic to enhance vaccine manufacturing capabilities
Read MoreNigeria Leads Africa in Skin Bleaching, with 77% of Users Engaging in the Practice
By Michael Gwarisa Nigeria has the highest prevalence of skin bleaching in Africa, with 77% of its population using skin-lightening products, a new report has revealed. The November 2023 Regional Fact Sheet on Skin Bleaching in Africa, compiled by the African Health Observatory (AHO) under the World Health Organization (WHO), warns that the widespread practice
Read MoreIn Uganda, Fake Doctors Cause Serious Damage
By Apophia Agiresaasi, GPJ Uganda KAMPALA, UGANDA — Days after an emergency cesarean section at a private clinic, Barbara Kwarikunda experienced excruciating pain. “I couldn’t eat,” she says. “I would feel pain whenever someone touched me. My stomach was swollen. I felt like something was bursting in my uterus.” Visits to the clinic didn’t help.
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