Health / Medical

South Africa leads the continent in offering more paternal leave to fathers. How to make sure both parents benefit

By Wessel Van Den Berg, Stellenbosch University A South African high court has ushered in a new era of parental leave with a landmark ruling that new parents can share four months of parental leave, previously available only to mothers. The case against the Minister of Labour was initiated by Werner and Ika van Wyk as first respondents, and advocacy group Sonke Gender Justice as third respondent. My organisation Equimundo: […]

12 December, 2023 13

Entertainment

Gene drive technology unlocks innovative potential solutions at the intersection of climate change and public health

The inaugural 'Day of Health' at the UN Climate Conference (COP-28) highlighted the dramatic impact of climate change on health, diseases and in particular on malaria. Heads of State and climate experts converged in Dubai to emphasise the indisputable link between climate and health, echoing WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus's statement that climate change is a pressing public health issue. As we grapple with the harsh reality of half […]

12 December, 2023 19

Environment

Is prenatal ultrasound causing fetal damage? researcher documents the link

In her compelling book, The Dark Side of Prenatal Ultrasound, researcher and birth advocate Jeanice Barcelo offers “a ground-breaking analysis of the documented facts concerning the dangers of prenatal ultrasound.” She states, “Despite the medical establishment repeating the mantra that ultrasound is ‘just sound waves’ and therefore ‘perfectly safe’ during pregnancy, in truth, ultrasound is based on non-ionizing radiation, and many thousands of studies have confirmed that this type of radiation […]

12 December, 2023 15

Health / Medical

NAMBTS urges Namibians to donate blood this festive season

In a crucial call to action, the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NAMBTS) is urging all eligible blood donors in the country to make a commitment to donating blood regularly, aiming to ensure the well-being of thousands of patients as the festive season approaches. Despite persistent efforts to replenish blood supplies over the past weeks, NAMBTS reports that the blood reserves remain critically low, particularly for O-positive and O-negative […]

8 December, 2023 12

Health / Medical

HIV, AIDS, and COVID-19 leading causes of death in working-age population

A new report from the Namibia Statistics Agency shows that HIV and AIDS, COVID-19, and other communicable diseases remain the leading causes of death among the economically active population in the country. In 2020 alone, HIV and AIDS accounted for 13.5% of deaths among adults aged 15-59, while COVID-19 became the leading cause of death in 2021, accounting for 15.1% of fatalities in this age group.

6 December, 2023 20

Health / Medical

Namibia’s infant mortality rate rises

Statistician-General, Alex Shimuafeni, has reported a concerning rise in the country's infant mortality rate from 49 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 54 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2021. The increase is attributed to communicable, perinatal, and nutritional conditions. The Namibia Press Agency reports that more than half of the infant deaths were males, and the Oshana and Omaheke regions recorded the highest number of infant deaths […]

6 December, 2023 10

Health / Medical

Ex-premier Johnson set for grilling at UK Covid inquiry

Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson will face tough questioning at a public inquiry Wednesday over his government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, after a barrage of criticism from his former aides. Johnson, who has been accused of indecisiveness and a lack of scientific understanding, is expected to admit that he "unquestionably made mistakes" during two days of grilling in London. Nearly 130,000 people died with Covid in the UK […]

6 December, 2023 8

Health / Medical

Namibia’s leading causes of death revealed

The Namibia Statistics Agency has revealed that between 2018 and 2021, the country’s death toll rose from 18,939 to 24,117, and in 2020, hypertensive diseases were cited as the primary cause of death, while COVID-19 took the lead in 2021, followed by HIV and lower respiratory infections. The Khomas and Oshana Regions witnessed the highest number of deaths, while Kavango West and Kunene reported the lowest mortality rates. Here is NSA […]

5 December, 2023 112

Health / Medical

UFS Molecular Virology group researching rotavirus vaccines for Africa as part of international consortium

Prof Trudi O’Neill (second from the right) and Prof Albie van Dijk (third from the right) from the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted a meeting with their colleagues in September as part of the international consortium. The Molecular Virology group at the University of the Free State (UFS) is part of an international consortium that works towards addressing rotavirus infections on the African […]

5 December, 2023 22