Johannesburg to host 2024 Africa Children’s Summit

Johannesburg to host 2024 Africa Children’s Summit

The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund says the 2024 Africa Children’s Summit will play a vital role in empowering the continent’s children. The SABC reports that the summit will be held in Johannesburg from 9 to 12 August. The fund’s CEO Doctor Linda Ncube-Nkomo, “The summit is a platform for children’s voices to be heard and what we want to get out of it is a reversal of what happens, where […]

April 22, 2024 56 2

Africa

Insurance payouts expected for some Southern African drought hit countries

A drought driven by the El Nino weather pattern is likely to trigger insurance payouts to four southern African countries that took out cover with an agency of the African Union. Bloomberg reports that Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique will receive payments at the end of the harvesting season, according to current projections, African Risk Capacity said in a statement but the payments are unlikely to meet regional needs.

April 22, 2024 24

Africa

Blue whales: first discovery near Seychelles in decades – what our study found

By Jeremy Kiszka, Florida International University Blue whales are fascinating animals. At 24-30 metres in length (longer than a basketball court) they are the largest creatures on Earth. They are also among the rarest. Estimates suggest that there are only around 5,000 to 15,000 blue whales left in the world. Their populations experienced a 89-97% decline due to commercial whaling activities worldwide that started in the North […]

April 22, 2024 18

Africa

Lagos’ slum dwellers are excluded from decisions that affect them. 3 ways to change that

By Oluwaseyi Omowunmi Popogbe, Crawford University Lagos is a city of two halves: money dripping in the corridors of corporate offices, and stagnant water dripping in the slums that are home to over 20 million. Residents of informal settlements grapple with the daily challenges that come with inadequate infrastructure, limited access to essential services, and social exclusion. Social exclusion means being excluded from participating wholly in the […]

April 22, 2024 11

Africa

13 Dead and 40 Injured in Road Accident in Nigeria

Thirteen people have died, and 40 others injured in an accident in Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria. The incident occured around 11pm on Saturday as reported from Jos by our Nigeria correspondent Tesem Akende.

April 22, 2024 12

Africa

How to get vaccines to remote areas? In Sierra Leone they’re delivered by foot, boat or motorbike

By Niccolo Francesco Meriggi, University of Oxford In Sierra Leone almost 59% of the population live in remote, rural areas. Roads may be non-existent or in bad condition, making it very difficult for rural dwellers to access healthcare. This is one of the key reasons why COVID-19 vaccination rates in the country are low. During an innovative vaccine programme mobile vaccine clinics were dispatched to the furthest […]

April 19, 2024 25

Africa

Researchers urgently call for action against the DRC’s new Mpox strain

Scientists have identified a new strain of the mpox virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo that spreads rapidly among humans. The researchers are calling for swift action to avert another global mpox outbreak. The disease previously known as monkeypox was reported in several countries in Europe and North America in 2022. Chris Ocamringa has more from Kinshasa.

April 18, 2024 81

Africa

Burna Boy, Siya Kolisi, William Ruto are among world’s most influential people

Afrobeats megastar Burna Boy, Kenya's President William Ruto, and captain of South Africa's national rugby team Siya Kolisi are leading the group of Africans who have been recognised by Time magazine among the world's most influential people. The BBC further reports that Burna Boy was featured in the icons category, Kolisi was recognised for his leadership through “wisdom and humility”, and President Ruto was named for spearheading Africa's climate action.

April 18, 2024 28

Africa

How to end hunger in sub-Saharan Africa: fight inequality, gender imbalances and climate change

By Helen Onyeaka, University of Birmingham A greater part of Africa’s population can’t afford a healthy diet than any other regional population. Food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa is caused by climate change, high levels of poverty, rapid population growth, low economic growth, inadequate infrastructure and conflicts. Women are the backbone of agricultural labour in the region. The problems of limited access to land, water and technology faced […]

April 18, 2024 17