Neglected tropical diseases persist in the world’s poorest places: four reads about hurdles and progress

Neglected tropical diseases persist in the world’s poorest places: four reads about hurdles and progress

By Nadine Dreyer, via The Conversation It’s sobering to reflect that “neglected tropical diseases” are referred to as “neglected” because they persist in the poorest, most marginalised communities even after being wiped out in more developed parts of the world. A variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins, cause neglected tropical diseases, which include dengue, chikungunya, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis and yaws. They inflict tremendous suffering because […]

January 30, 2024 17

Africa

Kenya’s healthcare workers abuse a third of teen mums from informal settlements – study

By Anthony Idowu Ajayi, African Population and Health Research Center and Caroline W. Kabiru, African Population and Health Research Center Adolescent pregnancy is a global public health concern: in 2022, about 13% of girls and young women gave birth before the age of 18. Compared with women in their early 20s, adolescents are more susceptible to maternal deaths. Pregnancy-related complications are among the leading causes of death […]

January 30, 2024 42

Health / Medical

Popularly known as ‘gas station heroin,’ tianeptine is being sold as a dietary supplement – with deadly outcomes

Neptune’s Fix, a tianeptine-containing “Elixir” as it’s labeled, is one of the most common of these products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration C. Michael White, University of Connecticut The Food and Drug Administration is upping the urgency of its warnings for consumers to avoid purchasing or consuming tianeptine – commonly called “gas station heroin” – a synthetic drug typically sold in tablet or powder form and available for purchase online […]

January 30, 2024 15

Health / Medical

Namibia observes World Leprosy Day

World Leprosy Day is being celebrated today in the Zambezi region under the theme, " Beat Leprosy, End Stigma and Advocate for Mental Well-being". According to the Health Ministry, Namibia has achieved global leprosy elimination status since 2004, with less than one case per 10,00 population. Here is the Governor of the Zambezi Region, Lawerence Sampofu.

January 29, 2024 36

Health / Medical

UK Government plans ban on disposable vapes

The UK government is set to ban disposable vapes, as part of a drive to tackle the rising number of children vaping. Figures from the Action on Smoking and Health charity suggest 7.6 percent of eleven- to 17-year-olds now vape regularly or occasionally, up from 4.1 percent in 2020. Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, says they are taking bold action to ban disposable vape.

January 29, 2024 38

World

Yemeni children face severe malnutrition crisis, warns WHO

The World Health Organization representative Dr. Arturo Pesigan warned Tuesday that roughly half of all Yemeni children under the age of five are malnourished — a total of 2.4 million, while 17.8 million people in the country require health support.

January 24, 2024 36

Health / Medical

Cervical cancer cases eliminated in women vaccinated at 12-13

Recent analysis from Scotland reveals that women vaccinated against cervical cancer at ages 12 or 13 show no cases of the disease, regardless of the number of doses received compared to unvaccinated women. The high-risk human papillomavirus vaccine has proven effective, according to Rolf Hansen, CEO of the Cancer Society of Namibia.

January 23, 2024 48

Health / Medical

WHO concerned that countries will miss deadline for pandemic treaty

The World Health Organization Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says countries risk missing a May deadline for agreeing on a legally binding treaty on fighting pandemics to shore up the world's defences against new pathogens after the COVID-19 pandemic killed more than 7 million people.

January 23, 2024 23

Africa

Cameroon rolls out world’s first Malaria vaccine

Cameroon is rolling out the world's first routine vaccine programme against malaria, in a global fight projected to save thousands of children's lives across Africa. Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports from Accra.

January 22, 2024 75