Tag: africa

Single Dose Oral Cholera Vaccine Strategy Bears Fruit On the African Continent

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Following indications of Global Shortages of the Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV), the International Coordinating Group (ICG), the body which manages emergency supplies of vaccines announced a temporary suspension of the standard two-dose vaccination regimen in cholera outbreak response campaigns, using instead a single-dose approach. Despite fears from countries currently battling Cholera, the one-dose strategy has proven to be effective in responding to outbreaks, even though evidence on the exact duration of protection is limited, and protection appears to be much lower in children.  With a two-dose regimen,…

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Fragile Health Systems Expose Africa To Untold Climate Change Disasters Says AMREF

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa For a long time, discourse on climate change has revolved around the effects of Climate Change on the environment in particular air pollution, an issue most prevalent in the Global North. Very little focus was being given to the impact of climate change on the health and well-being of the human population. However, for the first time in many years, African health Ministers and their counterparts from around the world converged in Dubai for the COP28 where they delivered a strong message regarding the impact climate change…

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Africa must rope in private sector in funding HIV Programs

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere WITH the discourse on funding for HIV programs being dominated by the Government and donor partners, a leading Malawian researcher says involving players is critical through innovative means such as taxes and levies. While countries such as Zimbabwe came up with the innovative AIDS levy, it has been an envy of many African countries. Professor Ann Maureen Phoya while addressing the media at an ICASA press conference Wednesday said the private sector should be roped in the HIV response financing. “We also need to raise money through…

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Alcohol abuse and under nutrition increasing TB mortality and morbidity in Africa

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere AFRICA must also address the issue of undernourishment to prevent mortality in TB patients, a tuberculosis World Health Organization Africa regional office official  has said. Head of the Green Light Committee for TB at WHO Afro Dr Jean-Louis Abena told delegates during a session at the ICASA conference that the issue of undernutrition and alcohol use disorder are proving to be a thorn in the flesh for the continent. “But this year, undernutrition becomes one of the most contributing factor that make people become ill in TB. And…

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Zim revises One Health AMR Action Plan

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabwe has completed its revised edition of the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) One Health Action Plan, the Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said. With assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development, as well as the Ministry of Environment spearheaded the process which began in May this year. In addition to helping to build evidence-based policies…

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ICRC Concerned By Effects Of Food Crises In Africa

Michael Gwarisa

THE International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRC) has scalped efforts to avert to devastating effects of food security in Africa where 146 million people1 are suffering from acute food insecurity (IPC 3 and above) and require urgent humanitarian assistance. By Staff Reporter In a statement, Patrick Youssef, the Regional Director, Africa ICRC and Mohammed Omer Mukhier Regional Director, Africa IFRC said, “At a time of intense global humanitarian need and competing demands, Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing one of the most alarming food crises in decades. 146 million people1…

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Strive Masiyiwa Blows Top Over Vaccine Apartheid…As Africa Battles Third Wave Without Vaccines

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWEAN business mogul and African Union special envoy, Dr Strive Masiyiwa has taken a swipe at the COVAX facility’s for sidelining Africa and failing to deliver the 700 million vaccine doses to the continent as was initially agreed early this year. By Michael Gwarisa COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization (WHO). However, according to Dr Masiyiwa, the facility has not been…

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COVID-19 Pushes Africa To Back Of The Queue In Accessing Essential Health Services Says WHO

Healthtimes

THE prevailing COVIND-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities to accessing health care services for low and middle income countries with the biggest impact being felt in African countries, the World Health Organisation  (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti has said. By Staff Reporter In her World Health Day 2021 address, Dr Moeti said African countries have been pushed to the back of the queue in terms of accessingCOVID–19 test kits, personal protective equipment as well as vaccines. This World Health Day, WHO is calling on everyone to participate…

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Africa to get 220 million Covid-19 vaccine doses

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organization (WHO) has said that once a Covid-19 vaccine is approved, Africa will get at least 220 million initial doses. The first batch will prioritise front-line healthcare workers and vulnerable groups, according to the WHO Africa Program Area Manager Richard Mihigo. He said distribution will be based on the population of each country. Mr Mihigo said all 54 countries had expressed interest in a Covid-19 vaccine. Africa has a population of more than 1.3 billion people. The global vaccine initiative, called COVAX, intends to help purchase and…

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After COVID-19, what will Africa look like in 2030 and 2063?

NewsRoom

THE COVID-19 pandemic, one of the world’s most significant events, has resulted in cessation of economic activities that will lead to a significant decline in GDP, an unprecedented social disruption, and the loss of millions of jobs. According to estimates by the African Development Bank, the contraction of the region’s economies will cost Sub-Saharan Africa between $35 billion and $100 billion due to an output decline and a steep fall in commodity prices, especially the crash of oil prices. By Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka More fundamentally, the pandemic has brutally exposed…

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