HEALTH - The African Mirror

May

2024

Radical “Ramaphosa Care” bill signed into law in SA

SOUTH Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill that aims to provide universal health coverage, hailing it as a major step towards a more just society two weeks before an election that is expected to be fiercely competitive. The National Health Insurance (NHI) Act takes aim at a two-tier health system, in which a publicly funded sector that serves 84% of the population is overburdened and run down while some people have access to better treatment through private insurance. Opponents have vowed to challenge it in court and described it is a ploy for votes - which the presidency denied…

May

2024

By TAMSIN BRADLEY

Female genital mutilation is on the rise in Africa: disturbing new trends are driving up the numbers

HEALTH

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Salamatu Jalloh had her whole future to look forward to. But in January 2023, her lifeless body was found wrapped in a pink and blue shroud on an earthen floor in a village in northwest Sierra Leone. Salamatu and two other girls bled to death after participating in a secret Bondo society initiation into womanhood. The ceremony, which lasted for several weeks, began with a sense of excitement and anticipation – a rare occasion in this rural community to celebrate girls. But at its core was a violent act: the cutting and removal of the girls’ external genitalia. Their…

May

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Namibia commended in HIV and Hepatitis B battle

HEALTH

NAMIBIA is making significant strides in combating the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B from mother to child, showcasing the effectiveness of government-led initiatives in addressing these two global health challenges, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). On Monday (May 6), the WHO awarded Namibia with “silver tier” and “bronze tier” certifications for its progressive trends towards reducing hepatitis B and HIV, respectively. According to Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa, this achievement highlights the growing ability of African states to achieve vital health milestones through “committed political leadership and effective implementation of public health priorities.” “With concerted…

May

2024

By PERCY DABANG

At least 42 die from measles outbreak in northeast Nigeria

HEALTH

AT least 42 deaths have been recorded from a measles outbreak in just over a week in Nigeria's northeastern state of Adamawa, the state's health commissioner said. Measles is a highly contagious, airborne virus that mostly affects children under the age of 5. It can be prevented by two doses of vaccine and more than 50 million deaths have been averted since 2000, according to the World Health Organisation. Felix Tangwami, the Adamawa health commissioner, said the measles outbreak had mostly affected two local government areas where 42 deaths were recorded out of nearly 200 suspected cases. "Measles vaccines have…

May

2024

By IDRIS MOHAMMED

Nigeria is pioneering a new vaccine to fight meningitis – why this matters

HEALTH

NIGERIA recently became the first country to roll out a new vaccine (called Men5CV) recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which protects people against five strains of meningococcus bacteria. The Conversation Africa asked Idris Mohammed, a professor of infectious diseases and immunology and former board chair of Nigeria’s National Programme on Immunisation, to explain the new vaccine and its likely impact. What is meningitis? Meningitis is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, usually caused by infection. It can be fatal. Meningitis can be caused by several species of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. The…

May

2024

By The African Mirror

Safeguarding our future: Protect communities from vaccine-preventable diseases

HEALTH

AFRICAN Vaccination Week took place from 24 to 30 April, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) launched by the Department of Health which aims to provide life-saving vaccines to every child, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status. Since its inception, the EPI has made outstanding achievements, including eradicating smallpox in 1978 and the current drive to eradicate poliomyelitis. Through immunisation campaigns, there have been significant reductions in morbidity and mortality, particularly in children, due to vaccine-preventable diseases like tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis, influenza, measles, rubella, yellow fever, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping…

Apr

2024

By PULCHERIE ADJOHA

West Africa’s Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone launch malaria vaccination

HEALTH

BENIN, Liberia and Sierra Leone launched large-scale malaria vaccine programmes on Thursday under an Africa-focused initiative that hopes to save tens of thousands of children's lives per year across the continent. The three West African countries are the latest to participate after successful rollouts of routine malaria immunization for children in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, the global vaccine alliance GAVI said in a statement. The World Health Organization-approved vaccine is meant to work alongside existing tools such as bed nets to combat malaria, which in Africa kills nearly half a million children under the age of 5 each year.…

Apr

2024

By SUSAN GOLDSTEIN

Sugar in baby food: why Nestlé needs to be held to account in Africa

HEALTH

NESTLÉ has been criticised for adding sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries. The Swiss food giant controls 20% of the baby food market, valued at nearly US$70 billion. Nadine Dreyer asked public health academic Susan Goldstein why extra sugar is particularly bad for babies and how multinationals targeting low-income countries with sweeter products get away with it. Why has Nestlé been criticised? Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, sent samples of Nestlé baby-food products sold in Asia, Africa and Latin America to a Belgian laboratory for testing. The laboratory found in many…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Congo Republic declares mpox epidemic

HEALTH

THE Republic of the Congo has declared an epidemic of mpox after 19 cases were confirmed across five departments, including the capital Brazzaville. No deaths have yet been recorded, Health Minister Gilbert Mokoki said in a statement on Tuesday. He called on the public to take precautions including avoiding close contact with suspected cases, avoiding contact with animals and avoiding handling game meat with bare hands. The World Health Organization (WHO) has named the virus mpox to replace the older term monkeypox, citing concerns of stigma and racism associated with the name. Mpox was first detected in humans in the…

Apr

2024

By ALESSANDRA PRIORESCHI

Read, sing, dance and funny faces: expert tips on how you can help your baby’s development through play

HEALTH

PLAY is how children learn about the world, explore their environments, and engage in physical activity. It’s also essential in nurturing children’s social, emotional and cognitive capabilities and is an important component of bonding with caregivers. Playtime for children is as important for their development as exercise is for adult health. Guidelines have been developed in South Africa, which closely follow international guidelines, for how much sleep, physical activity and sedentary time children should get each day from when they are born. Children under the age of two should spend as much tummy time – time spent on their tummies…