December 2021 – Page 4 – Science Africa

African Scientists Intensify Research on Marine Life Supporting Blue Economy

By Peter Musa Scientists from Africa have joined hands with those from the rest of the world to intensify research on threats facing oceans and inland waters, whose co-existence supports the Blue economy. As nations exercise their liberties in mining fortunes within blue economy, marine scientists and conservationists warn that the remaining ocean and marine […]

04 Dec, 21

Botswana Making Strides in Elimination of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

By Sharon Atieno Globally, 15 countries have been certified for eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. None of them had an epidemic as large as Botswana. The country has the world’s fourth highest HIV prevalence (20.3%) but has made significant strides in fighting the virus. So much so, that the World Health Organization (WHO) awarded Botswana the […]

04 Dec, 21

Kenya:Rescue Centre Gives Hope to GBV Victims in Bungoma

By Treezer Michelle The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which will run from 25 November to 10 December 2021, is “Orange the world: End violence against women now! The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is an annual international campaign that is used as an organizing […]

COVID-19: Africa Intensifies Omicron Variant Detection, Prevention as Cases Rise

By Mary Hearty African countries are stepping up measures to detect and control the spread of the Omicron variant as weekly new COVID-19 cases in the continent rise by 54% due to an upsurge in southern Africa. The Omicron variant has now been detected in four countries, with Ghana and Nigeria becoming the first West […]

03 Dec, 21

Kenya: Bungoma Increases Hospital Births through Payment of Traditional Birth Attendants

By Peter Oliver Ochieng In a bid to encourage women in Bungoma County to give birth in hospitals, birth companions, previously known as (Traditional Birth Attendants – TBAs), will be paid for every pregnant woman they ensure delivers in a health facility as opposed to delivering in homes, which contributes to high mortality rates due […]

15.2 Million More Vaccines for Africa

By Mary Hearty The Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation have announced the delivery of 15.2 million vaccines purchased under the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative to help scale up COVID-19 vaccination efforts across Africa. Through Saving Lives and Livelihoods, the Mastercard Foundation is committed to purchase vaccines for […]

AstraZeneca: Scientists find Cause of Blood Clotting after Vaccination

By Saumu Juma A team of scientists have found that the cause of blood clotting in some people after being vaccinated by Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is due to a protein in the blood which is attracted by a key component in the vaccine. According to the experts from Cardiff and Arizona State Universities in United States, […]

Kenya: FAO Launches Green Cities Initiative in Mombasa

By Sharon Atieno Mombasa County becomes the third city in Kenya to launch the Green Cities Initiative (GCI) which aims to improve the livelihoods and well-being of urban and peri-urban populations by addressing urban challenges including urbanization, agri-food systems limits and climate change. Besides Mombasa, Kisumu and Nairobi cities in Kenya are among the 12 […]

02 Dec, 21

Nigeria Urges Africa to Follow its Lead on GM Cowpea

By Joseph Opoku Gakpo Nigeria is urging the rest of Africa to follow its lead and approve genetically modified (GM) cowpea (beans) to help ensure food and nutrition security on the continent. The Nigerian scientists and government officials who developed and approved the world’s first genetically modified (GM) cowpea say their successful commercial release of […]

WHO: Process Launched to Draft Protection Convention against Future Pandemic

By Faith Atieno On the 1st of December, the World Health Assembly agreed to kick start a global process to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. In a Special Session-the second-ever since WHO’s founding in […]