Kazakhstan joins growing international network of lung health advocates
By Michael Gwarisa Kazakhstan has joined the International Respiratory Coalition (IRC), strengthening a growing global network working to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases. The newly established Kazakhstan Respiratory Coalition brings together clinicians, patients, researchers, public health professionals and policymakers to identify priorities for improving lung health in the country. Respiratory diseases
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Gavi’s Next-Generation TB Vaccines Could Extend Protection Beyond BCG to Adolescents and Adults
By Michael Gwarisa For more than a century, the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has been the world’s main vaccine against tuberculosis, protecting millions of children from severe forms of the disease. But the vaccine’s limitations have become increasingly difficult to ignore. While BCG remains an important tool for protecting infants and young children, it has
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Fiji’s HIV Epidemic Has Moved Beyond Its Initial Risk Group
By Michael Gwarisa Fiji has moved from describing HIV as an outbreak initially concentrated among people who inject drugs to declaring a national HIV emergency, as new data show the epidemic spreading beyond the population at the centre of the country’s initial response. The change marks a significant development in an HIV epidemic that has
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Zika-Carrying Mosquito Breeds in London, Raising Climate Change Concerns
By Michael Gwarisa A mosquito capable of transmitting Zika, dengue and chikungunya has bred in residential areas of east London for the first time, raising fresh concerns about how rising temperatures could change the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. The discovery of Aedes aegypti, commonly known as the yellow fever mosquito, does not mean that Zika
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New UK Visa Rules Allow Exploited Care Workers to Leave Abusive Employers Without Losing Status
By Michael Gwarisa Thousands of migrant care workers in the United Kingdom facing exploitative or abusive working conditions could now have a crucial lifeline after the British Government changed visa rules to allow recognised victims of modern slavery to leave abusive employers without putting their immigration status at risk. The move could be particularly significant
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Once-Weekly HIV Pill Matches Daily Treatment in Landmark Phase III Trials Ahead of AIDS 2026
By Michael Gwarisa A once-weekly pill for HIV treatment has performed as well as standard daily therapy in two landmark Phase III clinical trials, bringing researchers a step closer to offering people living with HIV the world’s first complete once-weekly oral treatment regimen. The findings from the ISLEND-1 and ISLEND-2 studies will be presented at
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US Suspends Entry of Travelers From Uganda, DRC Over Ebola Outbreak Fears
Michael Gwarisa The United States has imposed emergency travel restrictions on travelers from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Sudan following a growing outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, drawing concern from African health authorities who warned against punitive measures that could undermine outbreak response efforts. In an order issued
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Bahamas Eliminates Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in Landmark Public Health Achievement
Michael Gwarisa In a significant public health milestone for the Caribbean, The Bahamas has been certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, marking a major step forward in the country’s long-running fight against the virus. The certification places The Bahamas among a small but growing group of countries
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Biggest Global Vaccine Catch-Up Delivers Over 100 Million Childhood Doses, but Millions Still Miss Routine Immunisation
Health Correspondent A global vaccination recovery drive launched in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has delivered more than 100 million vaccine doses to an estimated 18.3 million children across 36 countries, helping close dangerous immunity gaps caused by years of disrupted immunisation services. The initiative, known as The Big Catch-Up (BCU), was launched during
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Iran Conflict Could Push Condom Prices Up 30 Percent, Warns Manufacturer
Michael Gwarisa The world’s largest condom manufacturer, Karex Berhad, has signalled a potential 30 percent rise in condom prices due to pressures linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The company cautioned that prices could climb even further if the war continues to disrupt access to key raw materials needed for production. This development could
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