insert_link Africa Uganda record increase in Covi-19 cases Uganda's Health Ministry has issued a warning following a recent surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The government has re-introduced preventive measures in some of the worst affected areas, adding the disease remains a threat. Isabel Nakirya reports. todayFebruary 7, 2024 17
insert_link Africa Cholera vaccine push underway in southern Africa The World Health Organization has warned that cholera cases are increasing globally, and there’s been an unprecedented spike in Africa. Dr. Fiona Braka from WHO’s regional office in Brazzaville, Congo, said that eastern and southern Africa have been badly affected. In just the first four weeks of the year, 10 African countries reported more than 26,000 cases and 700 deaths. todayFebruary 7, 2024 30
insert_link Health / Medical Screen time can seriously harm your eyes: here’s how to avoid it Ground Picture/Shutterstock Jacobo García Queiruga, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela and Belen Sabucedo Villamarín, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela Every day, more and more patients are seeking medical attention after spending long days in front of computer screens. The most common symptoms include irritated or itchy eyes, and a sensation of dryness or sand on the surface of the eye. These are the tell tale signs of dry eye disease, […] todayFebruary 7, 2024 13
insert_link Health / Medical NamBTS gives blood stock update The Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia has a critical shortage of blood since last year, with reserves declining. NAMBTS needs over 170 blood donations daily to meet the demand for blood in hospitals. We contacted Titus Shivute from the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia, for an update. todayFebruary 6, 2024 31
insert_link Health / Medical Stigma kills people with alcohol addiction sirtravelalot/Shutterstock Ashwin Dhanda, University of Plymouth One of my patients, Emma (not her real name), recently told me that she didn’t seek help for her alcohol problem because she was ashamed. She said that she didn’t want to waste anyone’s time on a self-inflicted problem. She lived with it for years, hiding bottles of alcohol so her partner wouldn’t find out. Only when she turned yellow and vomited blood did […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 12
insert_link Health / Medical The royals have historically been tight-lipped about their health – but that never stopped the gossip By Lisa J. Hackett, University of New England; Huw Nolan, University of New England, and Jo Coghlan, University of New England King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer. This is an unexpected announcement: it is unusual for the royal family to release details of medical conditions to the public. “Don’t let the daylight in” was how British essayist Walter Bagehot advised the British monarchy to deal […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 13
insert_link Health / Medical What happens if King Charles can no longer perform his duties? By Anne Twomey, University of Sydney King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis will turn minds to the question of what happens if he becomes unable to fulfil his constitutional duties. Buckingham Palace has announced he will continue performing his official paperwork and his weekly meetings with the prime minister throughout his treatment. But what happens if he becomes seriously ill? There are three options: counsellors of state, regency and […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 20
insert_link Health / Medical Thirty years of rural health research: South Africa’s Agincourt studies offer unique insights By Stephen Tollman, University of the Witwatersrand and Kathleen Kahn, University of the Witwatersrand In 1992 a group of academics from the University of the Witwatersrand introduced a health and socio-demographic surveillance system in remote, rural South Africa to track and understand health and wellbeing in these environments. This initiative built on pioneering work by a Wits team to establish a health systems development unit in a […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 25
insert_link Health / Medical WHO meeting report released on mental health content that supports young people The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report following a virtual roundtable meeting held on 4 October 2023, focused on exploring guiding principles for developmentally-appropriate online mental health content for young people. Twenty-two global health experts with backgrounds in digital media, child and adolescent mental health and suicide prevention participated in the discussions. Participants were diverse in gender and geographic locations, joining online from 16 different countries. Prior to […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 9
