Rising malaria cases heighten concern about global warming
1/12/2023: Implementation of global malaria strategy is off-track and health experts are concerned that climate change could further increase incidence of the disease. Malaria cases and deaths have still not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Source: Devex
Health needs to be embedded in national climate change plans
23/11/2023: Ahead of COP-28, the World Health Organization has published its 2023 review of actions needed to ensure that people’s health is fully integrated into national plans to fight climate change. 91% of countries' nationally determined contributions now include health considerations, compared to 70% of those reporting in 2019.
Source: World Health Organization
Mass emigration is leaving huge gaps in Africa’s health sector
15/6/2023: According to the World Health Organization Africa has a ratio of 1.55 health workers — physicians, nurses, and midwives — per 1,000 people, barely a third of the recommended ratio needed to deliver essential health services. Some African countries are working to ban the emigration of health practitioners.
Source: Devex
Maternal mortality: why has progress stalled?
10/5/2023: A new report by UN agencies shows that, from 2016 to 2020, the global rate of maternal mortality barely changed. If that pace of progress continues, the rate in 2030 will be 222 per 100,000 live births – over three times the target of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Source: Inter Press Service
Global endeavour to restore child immunization progress
24/4/2023: The pandemic saw essential immunization levels decrease in over 100 countries, leading to outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, polio and yellow fever. Global and national health partners have joined forces to boost vaccination among children.
Source: World Health Organization
New mRNA vaccine hub launched in Cape Town
21/4/2023: The World Health Organization's new mRNA vaccine technology facility in Cape Town plans to offer equitable access to COVID-19, malaria and HIV/AIDs vaccines in low- and middle-income countries. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted major disparities in access to health care in different parts of the world.
Source: DW
African countries embrace first malaria vaccine
23/3/2023: The new vaccine has been criticized for its relatively high costs and low efficacy but the World Health Organization reports a more than 10% drop in child deaths in three pilot countries. At least 28 further African countries are planning to introduce the vaccine this year.
Source: Devex
Covid vaccine doses stranded in East Africa
19/3/2023: Up to 40 million Covid-19 vaccines could go to waste in East Africa as the fight against the virus slows down due to apathy and logistical hitches. The region’s countries cannot dispense of the vaccines due to lack of support for their inoculation programmes.
Source: The East African
Why do 800 mothers die from preventable causes every day?
7/3/2023: New research from UN agencies reveals that progress on ending preventable deaths has slowed over the last five years, putting at risk the 2030 sustainable development goal for maternal health. Maternal deaths continue to be largely concentrated in the poorest parts of the world and in countries affected by conflict.
Source: Inter Press Service
Africa’s maternal deaths compel action to meet Global Goals
3/1/2023: The effects of COVID-19 on Africa’s health sector have disrupted antenatal and postnatal care for women and newborns. The shortage of health workers and equipment is undermining the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal for maternal mortality across the continent.
Source: Inter Press Service