WHO-Afro Calls For Collaborative Cross-Border Surveillance for Mpox In Africa
By Michael Gwarisa While Mpox cases have been on a downward trend in most World Health Organisation (WHO) regions, the same cannot be said for Africa as cases have been increasing every month since the beginning of 2024. With over 99,000 laboratory-confirmed cases, and 208 deaths having been confirmed globally since January 2024, the total
Read More#JUSTIN: Africa CDC Declares Mpox A Public Health Emergency of Continental Security
By Michael Gwarisa The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), marking the first such declaration by the agency since its inception in 2017. This declaration, under Article 3, Paragraph F of the Africa CDC Statutes, empowers the
Read More
#BREAKING: WHO Hints On Declaring Mpox Public Health Emergency Of International Concern
By Michael Gwarisa WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned of a more deadly and highly infectious Mpox strain spreading across Africa and other parts of the world. This follows revelations that the mpox outbreak that has been raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the past several
Read MoreNamibian Doctor Develops Groundbreaking Digital Health Solution For Africa
By Michael Gwarisa Doctor Esperance Luvindao, a Namibian Medical Doctor, in partnership with OSAAT Africa Health Foundation and MENGA Healthcare Technology have unveiled MENGA, a digital health solution that will address health access related barriers across the African region. Invented by Dr. Luvindao, the plat form will assist patients throughout African Semi-Rural Areas and suburbs
Read MoreNew IAS President Welcomes Decision To Rotate International AIDS Conference
By Michael Gwarisa Newly elected International AIDS Society (IAS) president, Beatriz Grinsztejn says the decision to rotate hosting of the International AIDS Conference. This comes amid indications that Rwanda will be hosting the 2025 edition the annual International AIDS Conference. The move is set to reduce incidences of Visa related challenges experienced by attendees mainly
Read MoreAfrica CDC and Africa Public Health Foundation Forge Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Health Systems
By Staff Reporter Nairobi, Kenya. July 25, 2024 – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Africa Public Health Foundation (APHF) have signed an agreement to support strengthening health systems in Africa Union Member States. APHF was established to enable investments in public health activities that support Africa CDC’s goals and
Read MoreHIV vaccines tested in PrEPVacc fail to reduce infections
The results of the PrEPVacc HIV vaccine trial conducted in Eastern and Southern Africa, which ran between 2020 and 2024, show conclusively that neither of the two experimental vaccine regimens tested reduced HIV infections among the study population. Vaccinations in the PrEPVacc trial were stopped in November 2023 (and publicly announced in December 2023) when
Read More
Dr Agnes Mahomva Appointed to WHO Afro’s Emergencies Technical Advisory Group
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s Public Health Advisor to the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva together with 16 other African health leaders have been appointed to the African Region, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa Emergency Preparedness & Response Technical Advisory Group (EPR-TAG). The independent body serves as the principal advisory group to
Read MoreAll Set For Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference
By Michael Gwarisa An estimated 250 delegates are set to grace the fifth edition of the Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference (SARSYC) that will run from July 17-19, 2024 in Gaborone, Botswana. The conference will attract speakers from diverse young people groups as well as experienced public health experts, development partners and government
Read More
AMR Threatens SDGs Attainment In Africa
By Michael Gwarisa The World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows that Africa remains heavily burdened with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) compared to all WHO Regions. Africa also has the highest mortality from AMR despite the region having the lowest prevalence of resistance. In 2015, after realising the need for urgent action to combat the growing scourge
Read More